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Community bolstered exciting year at FLC

As 2014 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who support Fort Lewis College. We could not do what we do for our students without our alumni and friends.

I recently had the chance to meet with a friend of FLC as he endowed a new scholarship for our students. We sat and chatted for a while, and I was impressed by his conviction that the opportunity to go to college changes lives for the better. He symbolizes countless friends and alumni who continue to give of their time and talent to make dreams happen for generations of students.

Speaking of change, FLC is undergoing a number of changes itself. This is an important time for higher education in our country, and I’d like to touch on a few of the issues with impacts on FLC and, in turn, our community.

I’m sure that many of you are aware of Colorado House Bill 1319: In short, it remakes the way higher education institutions receive their state funding. A new funding model was created and, as it stands right now, FLC would receive a significant funding increase. The new model isn’t final yet, but we are optimistic that this will end up being a good thing.

Provost Barbara Morris and I have held special dinners at my home where faculty members are invited to come and discuss issues the college faces, like HB 1319, and their concerns. These dinners are very helpful to maintaining a healthy dialogue about FLC’s role in the state and as a liberal arts institution.

FLC is special, both in history and mission. We are a liberal arts college, and that’s not going to change, but we also have programs that some would argue fall outside of the perception of the liberal arts. Many of these more professional programs are some of our most in-demand and successful in getting our students into great careers. Maintaining the right mix of courses is a big job that requires constant assessment, but it is something that, I believe, leads to a better graduate.

I’m sure many of you have had the chance to check the progress of our new Geosciences, Physics and Engineering Building. This new building is so important for academic programs that are bursting at the seams with students.

Once they graduate, alumni of our geosciences, physics and engineering programs are in high demand. In October, I had the chance to travel to Elko, Nevada, to meet with a number of our geosciences graduates. They could not say enough about how well their FLC education prepared them to be successful in their fields and about the impact their professors had on them. I’m counting on this new building to produce more great stories like the ones I heard in Elko.

I was encouraged to hear about our Teacher Education program’s re-accreditation effort. From the reports I’ve received, the accreditors were impressed with the program we offer. Honestly, we could have just shown them the great things our Teacher Ed alumni are doing as evidence that the program is valuable. As the old saying goes, don’t count your chickens before they send you the official reaccreditation letter, but I’m optimistic nonetheless.

The Common Reading Experience was another highlight of the semester. My thanks go to Bridget Irish, Charissa Chiaravalloti and her choir students, Dennis Elkins and his theater students, and everyone else who helped put on some wonderful events. All of the programs and performances, particularly the visit by Sister Helen Prejean, sparked a great deal of discussion around the issue of the death penalty, which is exactly what the Common Reading Experience is supposed to do. I’m looking forward to next year.

Finally, our nationally televised football game didn’t go our way on the field (apparently, we only had enough magic for one incredible upset, and we used it up beating No. 2 CSU-Pueblo the week before), but the chance to show off Durango and FLC to a national audience was a win in its own right.

FLC would not be the institution it is were it not for the wonderful community that surrounds it. I am grateful for everyone who supports FLC and our students. 2014 was a great year, and I’m looking forward to 2015!

Dene Thomas is the president of Fort Lewis College. Reach her at thomas_d@fortlewis.edu.



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