Dear Elizabethtown College students:
At the February 21 Student Senate Forum, questions surfaced about the 4.4 percent increase in next year’s comprehensive fee—the total cost of tuition, room and board. In response to those questions, I am sharing an outline of those investments the College has made as a result of increases in the comprehensive fee.
As pointed out in an earlier message to students and parents, a significant portion of the increase will go to support our new strategic initiatives in Real-world Learning, improved facilities and co-curricular programming. These are investments the College needs to make to deliver the most up-to-date and relevant education for our students. For example, the College’s Real-world Learning focus will create more opportunities for students to conduct research with faculty members, enlarge study abroad programs and provide more internships and service learning experiences for students. Another portion of the fee increase will cover cost increases in food, energy, health insurance, materials and services provided by outside vendors. Another portion will cover additional financial aid to help those incoming students who have the greatest financial need as well as new merit awards to attract students with outstanding academic accomplishments to the College. Finally, we will grant a salary increase to our employees to help them keep up with the cost of living.
I want students to realize that these investments build on what we have accomplished in recent years. I would like, in particular, to address a concern that was raised during the recent forum about how previous increases in the comprehensive fee have been used. The College is committed to continuing to improve the education that it offers students. We want to ensure that your degree is the most valuable it can be—and that it gains value after you leave Elizabethtown. We want the students who come after you to continue to receive an enhanced educational experience as well.
Some of the recent improvements in a number of programs and departments are:
• The Pre-Law program added a full-time faculty member to help students with applications, bring in guest speakers, take students to a law school recruitment fair in Philadelphia and oversee articulation agreements with Drexel and Widener Law Schools for 4+3 and 3+3 programs.
• The Mock Trial program has expanded to include two teams; for the first time, Elizabethtown hosted the regional tournament which included teams from the Ivy League.
• Communications’ new E-media Center, begun in the summer of 2011 with the renovation of the radio station, will be completed this summer.
• Business initiated developmental portfolios; created a new speaker series; and added new corporate sponsors.
• Engineering added a new concentration in sustainability and a new co-op program with nearby businesses.
• The Bowers Writers House, established in 2011, offers more than 30 programs with noted journalists, poets, playwrights, novelists and technical writers each year.
• Modern Languages added two new faculty members, one in Japanese and one in Chinese, in the last two years and added Chinese as a regularly taught language.
• FAPA received increased support for international travel with the Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble traveling to Brazil during May Term this year.
• International Studies sent a delegation to the Model United Nations at Harvard for the last two years.
• A new Cognitive Science minor was initiated this year.
• Chemistry added a NMR Spectrometer to help students conduct advanced research with faculty.
• Biology created new cooperative programs with Drexel University in Bio-Technology and Nuclear Medicine.
• A large number of experimental courses have been created, including:
• Mediated Life: Sociology of New, Social, and Digital Media
• Media, Sports, and Society
• Women’s Work/Women’s Rights
• World War II in the Pacific
• Advanced Digital Arts
• Econometrics
• Entrepreneurial Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Sustainable Marketing
• Executive Leadership in Today’s Global Manufacturing Environment
• Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• Mental Health Issues
At the same time, the College has invested significantly in our co-curricular programs:
• The Department of Student Wellness has been established, a new director hired along with three counselors and a health educator, and a new Wellness and the College Student course developed.
• The Called to Lead Program added an assistant director to accommodate the more than 350 students in 30 majors who participate in the program.
• Career Services launched its E4 program with significant expansion of senior year advising, STRIVE and sophomore year Job Shadowing.
• The Open Book and Momentum programs have strengthened first year orientation.
We continue to make major investments in renovating and improving our facilities:
• The campus wireless network has been upgraded.
• All of the lobbies of the five traditional residence halls have been given new lighting, paint, flooring, furniture and fixtures.
• Ober Hall’s restrooms have been renovated.
• Jay Walk and Hall of Fame were completed (includes one large classroom used by many academic programs).
• Wolf Field has had new turf added.
• Wenger Hall’s interior has been completely renovated.
• Schlosser Hall’s infrastructure has been renovated.
• The College’s infrastructure has been strengthened to be more energy efficient.
• Additional emergency systems have been added.
The College is committed to providing an enhanced academic and campus community experience for all students and to making important investments to campus facilities. We recognize the challenging career environment that our graduates face, and we are committed to improving the opportunities that you have as alumni. We will continue to make Elizabethtown College an even more valued institution as your future alma mater.
Sincerely yours,
Carl J. Strikwerda
President