Taking the LEAD: Case Statement

CHARTING A BOLD COURSE FOR THE FUTURE

Along the Tidewater peninsula lies St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a place of inspired education and boundless horizons. With more than 180 years of history as a renowned learning institution, today, we recognize our role and responsibility as The National Public Honors College. During a time when the virtues of a liberal arts education are questioned, we must be forwardthinking and deliberate about how we prepare students to thrive as responsible and thoughtful citizens and leaders.

THE LEAD INITIATIVE

Through the LEAD (Learning Through Experiential and Applied Discovery) Initiative, we must empower our students to chart their course with purpose. With an ever-changing landscape demanding versatile skills, our students deserve an educational voyage that equips them not just for a job, but for a lifelong journey of curiosity and adaptability. We are breaking the boundaries of preparing our students for their first job and their second and third careers. Embedded in this journey is a commitment to affordability, accessibility and diversity, so all students can take advantage of these real-world experiences.

The LEAD Initiative allows students to take advantage of an honors education seamlessly blended with professional training. Through a purposeful combination of educational courses and hands-on experiences, LEAD weaves professional skill development into each student's chosen major, providing the wind in their sails to navigate the intricate currents of the modern world. It bleeds into all aspects of a St. Mary’s College education and helps foster “The St. Mary’s Way,” a beloved College tenet that includes a lifelong quest for disciplined learning, an ethic of service, a spirit of caring and a commitment to shaping values for a changing world. It is complemented by the Honors College Promise: a commitment to provide every student with an internship, undergraduate research opportunity, or international experience here (globalization at home) or abroad.

LEAD casts a lifeline to students, equipping them with experiential learning opportunities that ignite the fire of curiosity, turning theory into practice. Just as a mariner learns by feeling the sea beneath them, our students will flourish by engaging and experiencing the world, making connections and creating works that benefit society.

TAKING THE LEAD

To ensure that our students can take advantage of the LEAD Initiative, we are Taking the LEAD and embarking on a $20 million comprehensive fundraising campaign. The campaign will provide critical funds to fuel an experiential, liberal arts honors education that will ensure the success of our students. In preparing our students for tomorrow, we must act today to fully implement all that LEAD can offer.

In the evolving landscape of higher education, ensuring our competitiveness is not merely a goal—it’s a necessity. Taking the LEAD is not only a vessel of opportunity; it’s our compass for charting a course toward sustained excellence. Through the campaign, we will invest in programs and initiatives that align with emerging trends and allow us to stay relevant in a dynamic world. We will meet the challenges of a changing world while remaining true to the principles and rigor of a public liberal arts honors education.

THE RISING TIDE

This campaign is anchored in the The Rising Tide 2023 strategic plan. The Rising Tide aspires to create an innovative academic identity that attracts and retains the brightest minds and empowers every student for success through experiential learning opportunities. We envision a sustainable, vibrant and diverse student body that embodies our commitment to inclusivity. An enriching community is one where myriad voices converge and allow differences to become unifying strengths. Through The Rising Tide, we will transform our institution into a sought-after regional resource fostering engagement between students and the community.

Taking the LEAD seeks to transform our institution into a regional resource, a lighthouse of learning that guides students toward engaging with the community. We envision a campus that fosters meaningful connections, where students and the community form a symbiotic relationship, enriching each other’s lives and pursuits.

NAVIGATING TOGETHER

Taking the LEAD is more than a campaign theme. It is a commitment to moving forward with agility, boldness and an unwavering responsibility to our students. It is a commitment to making an impact.

We stand at a confluence of possibilities. The world is evolving, and the skills our students need to navigate are rapidly changing. By supporting the Taking the LEAD Campaign, you seize the chance to be at the helm of change—directing the course of education, enriching lives and leaving a legacy that will stand as a testament to your belief in the power of learning. Your partnership enables us to not only keep pace with the times, but to LEAD toward a brighter future.

As we navigate these uncharted waters, we invite you to be a part of something bigger than us all—something that will leave an indelible mark on generations to come. Join us in Taking the LEAD, propelling St. Mary’s College of Maryland forward as strongly as the moon raises the tides of oceans everywhere. Your participation ensures we can achieve our aspirations.

To review the Taking the LEAD Campaign website and The Rising Tide Strategic Plan for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, of which your LEAD Fund contributions help actualize, see the links below.