From the President

A MYRIADOF OPPORTUNITIESFOR LEARNING, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP & RECREATION

After completing my first year as president of Ripon College, I must confess that the time is passing much too fast. This campus is a vibrant community of scholars. Every day offers a myriad of opportunities for learning, service, leadership and recreation. I continue to be amazed at the dedication of our faculty, the engagement of our students and the loyalty of our alumni. Would there be 12 more hours to the day, I would still be hard pressed to take advantage of all the opportunities offered on our campus.

One of the greatest assets that helps to define Ripon and ensure our future is the college’s governing board. This body of 41 volunteers gives significantly in time, talent and resources to Ripon College. In addition to three annual meetings, numerous committee meetings and individual consultations, every single board member made a contribution to the Annual Fund for 200304 with a grand total approaching $1 million. Their total giving for all purposes to the College was approximately $2.4 million. I have served a number of institutions of higher learning over the past two decades. Without hesitation, I can attest that the Ripon College Board of Trustees is the most engaged of any with which I have had experience. Sam Pickard ’55, who shepherded the college through some very difficult times, capably led the Board for the last six years. Dena Willmore ’67, our first female board chair, succeeded Sam this year. I have been struck by Dena’s energy, vision and commitment to Ripon. I can assure you that the progress made under Sam Pickard’s watch will grow exponentially under Dena Willmore’s leadership.

Ripon has a strong reputation largely based on the success of our alumni. We are fortunate that so many of our graduates have found success in their careers, family and in service to the nation and their communities. We have a reputation of educating leaders for public and private service. Our graduates have excelled in the arts and sciences. As a testament to the strength of their educational experience, more than an average of 40 percent of our alumni have made a gift to their alma mater on an annual basis (nearly twice the national average) during the last 15 years. We recently recognized 14 new Benefactors who have made extraordinary gifts over their lifetime to Ripon College. Our alumni recognize that these gifts are investments in the future of deserving students, our future leaders. One of our recent graduates, Kristen McCullough ’04, comments:

“Scholarships aren’t just about making college affordable, though at Ripon it certainly makes a difference. Scholarships are about celebrating, about rewarding and recognizing achievement, and the willingness of Ripon to do such things for so many years means they understand the vital importance of that feat.”

We must continue to invest in our students.

Ripon, like most extraordinary liberal arts colleges, faces many challenges. As president, I will have to address these challenges to unleash the almost unlimited potential of this institution.

■ We need to grow and stabilize our enrollment to a size that both guarantees the intimacy that is a hallmark of our educational program and, at the same time, will also allow us to pay competitive salaries to attract and retain the best faculty and staff.

■ We have to commit ourselves to one of our greatest distinctions, the community created by having a resident student body. This will require significant enhancements to our current student residence facilities as well as the development of independent living options (i.e., apartment-style housing).

■ Our classrooms and our library need to be upgraded to accommodate the best that a learning community can offer. We have to preserve our historical facilities as a testament to our past. Our programs and facilities should reflect our commitment to environmental responsibility.

■ We need to ensure that capable students have access to the high-quality education offered at Ripon College regardless of true cost. This means that we have to significantly increase our endowed and annual scholarships.

■ We have a responsibility to incorporate ethical leadership into the fabric of our campus culture.

There is much to be done.

Ripon College is fortunate to lay claim to a wonderful cadre of alumni, trustees, faculty and staff. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Ripon at this sanguine time in history. I look forward to working with you to fulfill the aspirations of our community. I am excited about the possibilities. Our students deserve no less.

Dr. David C. Joyce President joyced@ripon.edu