MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

President Jane Fernandes with students during the Class of 2020 Welcome Week.

Photo by Jenna Schad

Friends,

The 2019-20 academic year at Guilford College was remarkable in so many ways, as is reported in this issue of Guilford College Magazine. It is safe to say that the College we love dearly has experienced a year like no other and we will be working diligently in the new fiscal year to sustain Guilford for the long term.

Beginning last August, we enjoyed successes in the academic realm built on well-laid plans and the incredible work of our faculty over the past few years. Principally, we launched our innovative experiential initiative The Guilford Edge, which gained great traction with a large class of students entering as first years, as well as upper class students. Along with our returning students, they experienced a completely refreshed curriculum and academic calendar that included intensive opportunities in the 3-week term that opened fall semester. In that term many students studied abroad, and collaboration among faculty across departments enriched the learning experience. While adjustments to the new approach were significant, enthusiasm was building as we moved from fall to spring semester.

We made great progress in our efforts to support our students in the academic journey and postcollege planning. Our Guilford Guides, the group of professional advisors established a year earlier, built good relationships with many students. This contributed to an excellent rate of student retention between the prior and current school years and the semesters this year. In October, we launched our Volunteer Program as part of our updated alumni engagement efforts. Over the next six months nearly 200 alumni, parents and friends enrolled as volunteers, with the requisite orientation and follow up, and they supported students in their career considerations through one-on-one conversations as well as panel discussions. Advancement partners with Guided Discovery in matching alumni with students.

This was also a year in which we experienced an eight percent increase in enrollment of our first-year class compared to the previous year, while many other colleges reported enrollment declines! And, we witnessed yet another year of increased philanthropic support of the College by our alumnae/i, parents and benefactors, resulting in nearly $8.4 million — 30 percent more than the fiscal year goal — for key priorities including scholarships, programs, facilities and faculty development.

Unfortunately, expenses associated with the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic compounded our financial position in the first year of delivering a new strategic initiative. Enrollment of first year students was indeed higher compared to the previous year — a very commendable eight percent, whereas enrollment of first year students nationally was down by an average of 10 percent. Similarly, our retention of current students saw an increase. Nonetheless, our enrollment projections were higher than actual figures and as a result, our finances were shaky going into the crisis caused by the pandemic. In response, we instituted a spending freeze and enacted staffing decisions that have affected our College and members of our community in ways that are very painful and difficult.

This is not the first time Guilford has experienced tough times and tight finances in its 183 years, or even in the past generation. However, the College is resilient and strong, and we will work very hard to emerge as a more vibrant institution, enlisting the support and encouragement of our alumni, parents and friends. I am confident that better days are ahead.

Jane K. Fernandes