Development
New Directions for a New Century
During the past three years, much has been accomplished under the leadership of the current president, administration, faculty, staff and Board of Trustees. The following section highlights the significant changes and achievements of the College during this brief, but exuberant, period of time.
In addition to the focus on enrollment and fiscal and governance issues in the first three years of new presidential leadership, the College has accomplished several major organizational restructuring and operational changes including:
- Writing of a College Vision Statement and rewriting the Mission Statement with input from the entire College community.
- Reorganizing of staff and recruitment practices in the Admissions Office (Fall 2000 new student enrollment significantly exceeded previous years' records).
- Revised general education core and academic curricula to strengthen interdisciplinary components and add service-learning opportunities.
- Restructuring and reduction of tuition (we have the lowest comprehensive fees of any private residential college in Vermont). Per our mission, eighty percent of first-year students receive some form of need-based financial aid. Average College financial aid package awarded to first-year students is $12,000. Average College institutional grant is $5,400.
- Increased collaboration with area high schools to provide advanced placement courses.
- Increased admissions requirements to include SAT, ACT, or College Placement Tests.
- Implementation of zero-based budgeting and balancing of annual operating budget.
- Increase in alumni and faculty/staff support of the Annual Gift Fund along with an effort to recruit lapsed donors from previous campaigns.
- Increased visibility of the College through local and national media coverage and active participation in the Albany, Arlington, Bennington, Hoosick Falls, and Manchester and the Mountain Regional Chambers of Commerce as well as community activities.
- Expanded use of the College campus to the local community. Institutes, performances, festivals, youth music and athletic camps, historical reenactments, lectures, and exhibits are just a few of the events hosted by area groups on the beautiful campus.
- Membership in myriad community and civic organizations including Campus Compact (president serves on Vermont Campus Compact Board), Vermont Higher Education Council (president serves as chair), Bennington Rotary Club, Council of Independent Colleges, Regional Marketing Organization (director of public relations serves on Board), School-to-Work (director of career services and president share Board seat), United Way (president serves on Board), Catamount Access Television Corporation (dean of students serves on Board), Better Bennington Corporation (director of career services serves on board), and Consortium of Vermont Colleges.
You can make a difference by contributing to the Annual Gift Fund. For more information, contact the Office of Development at 802-447-6327 or development@svc.edu.
