Updates following the Board of Trustees Meeting—February 2024
February 14, 2024
Dear Members of the Trinity College Community,
Now that our students have returned after the winter break, the energy on campus is back to its rightful place and our winter scholar-athletes are excelling, setting the stage for a promising spring semester and an enthusiastic ending to our Bicentennial celebration (more on that below). The start of the semester also signals the February meeting of the Board of Trustees, which was held virtually last Friday. Consistent with my long-standing practice, I write today to share more about what was discussed.
Board Actions
Our faculty is at the heart of designing—and leading—a distinctive, relevant liberal arts education built for the 21st century. We can’t celebrate their scholarship and teaching achievements enough. At the meeting, the board approved tenure for Michael Hatch, associate professor of fine arts. We then recognized tremendous years of education, academic service, and research, awarding emeriti status to retiring faculty members Daniel Blackburn (Thomas S. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Biology), Adrienne Fulco (associate professor of legal and policy studies), Adam Grossberg (professor of economics), Anthony Messina (John R. Reitemeyer Professor of Political Science), John Platoff (professor of music), Richard Prigodich (Scovill Professor of Chemistry), Miguel Ramirez (Ward S. Curran Distinguished Professor of Economics), and Paula Russo (associate professor of mathematics). Congratulations, and thank you.
The board also voted to approve two new charter trustees for midterm appointments. The College will benefit from the experience that Diane “Dede” DePatie Consoli ’88, P’19, ’22 and Joanna Jeanne Scott ’82, H’09 will add to the board’s expertise. We welcome you.
Admissions
Matthew Hyde, dean of admissions and financial aid, reported that Trinity has secured its largest applicant pool in a decade. To date, 7,582 candidates have applied to become a Bantam, marking increases in both domestic and international applications. Our total applicant pool is up 38 percent over our three-year average, and we received applications from 143 countries of citizenship and 49 states (come on, South Dakota!). Overall, this is terrific news! We also experienced an increase in our Early Decision pool, further demonstrating Trinity’s strength in the marketplace as a first-choice college. The talented Class of 2028 is coming together nicely.
Following the June 2023 Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action admissions policies, the board discussed the importance of having a better understanding of the lived experiences of our applicants. We shared more information on the new opportunity for prospective students to complete an optional admissions essay that will allow them to express themselves more freely through the lens of their own, authentic stories.
Campus Climate
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Anita Davis, Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management Joe DiChristina, and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Sonia Cardenas provided trustees with an update about the work that is underway to support dialogue and understanding on campus in politically charged times. Institutions of higher education nationwide, including Trinity, continue to grapple with how to better foster an inclusive campus experience for all of its members. The Task Force on Campus Climate at Trinity is one way that we will help to move this work forward; I’m happy to report the successful first meetings of the LGBTQ+ and Arab, Jewish, Muslim, and Palestinian committees of the task force, which took place last week.
During the board meeting, trustees engaged in small-group exercises to discuss our values and strategies, as well as barriers to improving campus climate. We also discussed the board’s role in helping to shape the campus climate. It was a productive discussion, and it is clear the board cares deeply about this work.
Along these lines, I’ve been thinking about how we at Trinity can provide a framework, or structure, to promote small-group discussions focused on discourse across difficult boundaries. As Trinity is a global community rooted in the liberal arts, I believe that we can model for larger society how to learn boldly, to analyze issues carefully, to draw evidence-based conclusions, to express independent opinions, and to disagree without animosity. I look forward to introducing a community conversation series more formally soon.
Additional Updates
• We provided an update on our Bicentennial festivities. Tickets are on sale for Trinity’s Bicentennial Gala, to be held on Saturday, May 11. I hope many of you will be able to join us for a night to remember as we celebrate the conclusion of a truly once-in-a-lifetime year for our community and to raise funds for financial aid for Hartford-area students to attend Trinity.
• The board continued its conversation on the need to articulate the College’s priorities and to update our governing documents and policies as we continue our commitment to the principles of shared governance. Robust discussions among representatives of trustees, administrators, and faculty are underway. You will hear more about this important, necessarily collaborative work in the upcoming months.
• After discussions with the president’s Planning and Budget Council, Dan Hitchell, vice president of finance and chief financial officer, shared an outline of Trinity’s five-year financial forecast. The financial environment facing higher education is dynamic, often volatile, and our models must be updated frequently to continue to support our mission. With sound financial planning and increasing and diversifying revenues, along with innovation and bold action, we can continue to lead Trinity toward a sustainable financial future. And we must remain true to our mission. The larger discussion of the FY25 budget will occur during the April board meeting.
• Finally, Carrie Pelzel, executive director of the All In comprehensive campaign, reported on our campaign progress. Alumni, parents, and friends of Trinity have committed $359 million, and we continue to push forward initiatives for faculty distinction, financial aid, the Trinity student experience, entrepreneurship, and learning beyond the classroom. The board then discussed the crucial role of the Trinity College Fund in providing incremental resources beyond tuition and endowment income, and strategies for strengthening the College’s reunion giving program.
With your support, we’re helping to lead Trinity into its third century with a greater ability to enhance the academic experience, to renovate the campus, to broaden financial aid to include middle-income families, and to strengthen the experience for faculty, students, families, and alumni. Your gift goes a long way in propelling Trinity forward—and securing its strong, bright future.
In a shorter-than-usual board meeting, we still covered a great deal as we progress in advancing our strategic priorities. And I know that the board is looking forward to its return to campus in April as we continue our work ’neath the elms.
Onward,
Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College Professor of Neuroscience
