Planning committee issues draft

Author: Liz Campbell

The Planning Steering Committee convened during the holidays to make final revisions to the planning process report, officially releasing its Strategic Plan Draft on Jan. 4. Relying on reports and recommendations from 15 task forces and committees, surveys of several groups in the Middlebury extended community, meetings with groups and students on campus and more than 80 hours of its own meetings throughout the summer and fall, the Committee has completed a comprehensive report with specific recommendations for the future of the College.

The framework for a new strategic plan, the first since 1992, was established shortly after Ronald D. Liebowitz became president of the College on July 1, 2004, and has aimed to reevaluate the educational mission, identity and aspirations of the College.

"Perhaps the major point is that the College is at a stage in its history where we need to emphasize what we have called our 'human dimension,'" said Dean of Planning John Emerson. "Our most precious resources are our superb students, distinguished faculty, committed staff members and loyal and supportive alumni and parents. Together, these human beings create and support a rich array of educational opportunities that make the Middlebury experience unique and quite wonderful."

In order to focus to a greater extent on the human dimension of the institution's life, the Committee outlined several major recommendations centered on a primary objective, the College's commitment to the personalized education of undergraduates. More specifically, the planning process is seeking to strengthen the curriculum, attract an increasingly diverse student body and expand upon the Middlebury's financial aid contributions to foster access to the College for all admitted students.

The first major recommendation addressed by the Committee in the draft is to continue to foster the strength and experience of the student body. This initiative includes enhancing the College's financial aid programs in order to ensure a stronger and more diverse student body that will support the best possible educational experience for all students.

In addition to this proposal, the Committee also recommended improving opportunities and support for the faculty and staff. Among the top priorities are increased research funding and staff support and a greater integration of faculty and staff members into the educational life, including the commons system, at Middlebury. The draft states that "by focusing on the important human dimensions, we will ensure that members of our community stay connected with each other and with the College's educational mission."

Essential to the enhanced interaction between students and faculty and staff is a reduction in Middlebury's current student-faculty ratio from nine to one to approximately eight to one. This proposal would allow every academic major at Middlebury to pursue some independent senior work as a requirement in the curriculum.

Residential life at Middlebury was also discussed by the Committee as an essential aspect of the undergraduate experience. The draft emphasized the development of a more vibrant residential atmosphere and a more seamless connection with the College's academic programs. Emerson said, "We recognize that a very significant part of the education takes place outside the classroom. At Middlebury, the residential commons should support both our formal educational programs and the rich array of special programming and informal interactions that contribute to the college experience. It should also support student leadership opportunities, and contribute to a vibrant social life for the community."

Conversely, the Committee also examined its graduate and specialized programs, including the Language Schools, Schools Abroad, the Bread Loaf School of English, the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference and the newly affiliated Monterey Institute of International Studies, that distinguish the College from other liberal arts institutions. Focusing on the challenges relating to these programs, the Committee made specific recommendations that seek to bring these programs into a more cohesive relationship with one another and with the undergraduate program.

While the Steering Committee has made significant progress in outlining objectives for the future of the College, it has been somewhat constrained by limited resources. As Emerson emphasized, "I would acknowledge the challenge that is inherent in trying to support the very high aspirations of our community, using resources that are not infinite. We have needed to choose from among many imaginative proposals and initiatives those that will best support our mission and our future strength."

The draft has nonetheless considered the opinions of faculty, staff and students in the decision-making process and has thus developed a comprehensive and collaborative report reflecting all attitudes throughout the College. Planning Committee member J.S. Woodward '06 said, "The biggest point throughout the process was to emphasize the importance of involving the members of the community in the decisions that are made, both currently and in the future. In order for change to be effective, it must be accepted by all of the stakeholders, whether student, faculty, staff or neighbor."

Emerson remarked, "I think we take pride in reaching this milestone of having a draft as a basis for engaging the community, but our task is certainly not yet completed."