A Message from the President of Mills College By Elizabeth L. Hillman AS MANY LOYAL READERS of the
ties to excel, as evidenced by our recent
Quarterly well know, challenges related
citation as a top producer of Fulbright
to enrollment and finances are not new
Scholars (see below for more).
to Mills College. While we’re now in the
As Mills embraces changes in our
first spring of a brand new decade, those
undergraduate and graduate curricula,
challenges have not abated. The over-
we also recognize that a rapid increase in
all demand for college degrees contin-
our enrollment is unlikely; indeed, despite
ues to grow because of both increased
all the changes to date, we are now enroll-
affordability and accessibility and the
ing about 20% fewer students than we did
economic payoff of a college degree
just five years ago. In the years ahead, our
has never been higher, yet liberal arts
enrollment—and the economic model that
and women’s colleges face increasing
supports the success of our students—will
headwinds. Just as the battle to make
continue to be constrained by rising
the Mills campus environmentally sus-
competition in higher education as well
tainable—the focus of an article in this
as alternative educational pathways; the
issue—is one that we must win, so is the
widening divide between highly selective
battle to find a sustainable economic
colleges and universities and those that,
structure in which Mills can serve its
like Mills, are committed to access; and
students and pursue its mission.
the shifting preferences of students who
The College’s efforts to adapt and respond to the changing climate of
often select online, low-residential, or
this summer, and we are seeking deeper
very low-cost programs.
collaboration with UC Berkeley. Many
higher education have, of course, been
Because of this new climate, Mills has
other women’s colleges are likewise
fervent and extensive. In just the past
been actively courting strategic partners
altering their programs to serve more
three years, we’ve reset tuition to better
to create synergies, build new revenue
students by opening new enrollment
communicate the actual cost of a Mills
streams, and reduce costs. Sharing our
and revenue possibilities. The College’s
education, restructured academic pro-
campus with other mission-congruent
location in the suddenly fast-growing
grams to offer innovative paths to the
partners and considering the possibil-
and diverse city of Oakland, the thriving
most sought-after majors, explored adult
ity of building on undeveloped parts of
economy of the San Francisco Bay Area,
degree completion to open doors for stu-
the campus will enrich our academic
and Northern California’s diverse higher
dents with some college credits but no
programs while engaging the commu-
educational sector offer us many oppor-
degrees, and launched Mills’ first-ever
nities around us. For example, the Starr
tunities for creative, strategic partner-
fully online degree, a master’s degree
King School for Ministry will join several
ships that can provide the sustainable
in educational leadership. There’s a lot
other non-Mills programs on campus
future our mission demands.
to be excited about—M POWER, our signature undergraduate experience, has great potential to improve retention; interest continues to grow globally in STEM equity (Mills sends the same percentage of its biology majors into PhD programs as Stanford!), which will accelerate interest in Mills’ science programs; and the promise of the new tech economy to elevate the liberal arts by prizing creativity and transforming the jobs and professions of the future. The support and engagement of our Mills alumnae and friends continues to provide the foundation to all of these efforts, and they make a tremendous difference in our students’ and faculty’s abili-
A Note from the Editor We sent this issue of Mills Quarterly to the printer in mid-March, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began to drastically change life at the College. Classes went online for the rest of the 2019–2020 school year as the entire Bay Area was placed under a shelter-in-place order, and Commencement was postponed as the extent of the crisis remained unknown. By the time you’re reading this, life will have undoubtedly changed even more. For the most part, this issue is basically the same one we sent to print. We were able to make some last-minute changes (including this note), but you may still spot some details that we didn’t get to in time. Please forgive us, and know that we are working diligently—from home—to cover this situation in its entirety in our summer issue. We send our gratitude to everyone fighting the pandemic and helping out however they can. Wishing good health to you and yours. –Allison Rost, Managing Editor
SPRING 2020
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