University Officials Share Financial Data with College Alumni Board
from the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Friday, September 7, 2007
Alumni Board Treasurer Rick Daily reports that he has now received from University officials information the Alumni Board needs to develop a proposal for the continuation of Antioch as an undergraduate, residential, liberal arts college with a tenured faculty. The proposal will be presented to University Trustees for consideration at their October meeting.
Experts in many fields relating to higher education and its financing are expected to help the Alumni Board develop its proposal. Rick is convinced their participation will not be hindered by the terms of a confidentiality agreement University officials insisted upon as a pre-condition for their sharing information.
During his visit to Yellow Springs today, Rick and University officials re-affirmed an agreement to maintain and expand the Development Office so that funds can be raised and earmarked for Antioch College. Fundraising strategy will be under the direction of the Alumni Board. Lynda Sirk, a University employee, will act as office administrator and University liaison.
At least until the October Trustee meeting, University officials will proceed along two parallel tracks. They will continue to take steps to cease Antioch College operations at the end of the 07-08 academic year. At the same time, they will cooperate with Alumni Board efforts to fundraise and develop a continuation proposal.
Along with Rick, Alumni Board member Ellen Borgerson took part in the meetings with University officials, as did alums Jason Fregeau and Laura Fathauer. The University officials were: Chancellor Toni Murdoch, Chief Financial Officer Tom Faecke, Chief Operations Officer/Chief Academic Officer Andrzej Bloch; and Special Assistant to the COO for Institutional Advancement and Public Relations Lynda Sirk.
After the meetings with University officials, Rick and the other alums gave updates at a meeting of Yellow Springs residents and Antioch faculty, staff and students. Lynda Sirk and Andrzej Bloch also attended the session.
“It is clear to us that we are all in the soup together,” Rick said, referring to the intermeshed finances of the College and the University. “We need to craft a way out that preserves the University as well as Antioch College as world-class institutions. We should now be able to get beyond the ‘Us’and ‘Them’ character of our dialog.”
Before coming to Yellow Springs, Rick Daily and former Antioch College President Steve Lawry met with long-time Antioch donors Kay and Leo Drey and members of their family to thank them for their extraordinary support in the last few years, which kept the College alive. Rick reported that he was deeply moved by the Dreys, the depth of their commitment to each other and to their family, as well as their pivotal support to the College in a time of crisis. The Dreys welcomed further discussions about supporting fundraising efforts for the continuation of Antioch College.
Comments (No comments)
Comments are closed for this post.
Leave a comment:
Comments are closed for this post.