Dear Colgate Students, Faculty and Staff Members,
I write to welcome you back to campus for the second semester of the 2024–25 academic year. I hope that these last few weeks have provided everyone with the opportunity for restoration and renewal as well as time with friends and family. Our thoughts, of course, have been with community members who are from the Los Angeles area. Members of the Dean of the College staff have been in touch with students affected by the fires, and we will continue to do all we can to provide support for them during this challenging time.
During the Winter Break, Colgate’s work continued with students and faculty traveling in connection with Sophomore Residential Seminars, students taking part in the first Dartmouth-Colgate program, sophomores joining in with the Sophomore Connections program, and several varsity teams competing in Patriot League and national competition. So, while the campus has appeared quiet at times, the University has been very busy during the traditional winter break.
As we begin this semester and join together on campus, I write to offer a number of updates.
Spring 2025 Presidential Speaker Series
On Thursday, we will launch Colgate’s Spring 2025 Presidential Speaker Series, titled The University and the Public Good: The Role of the American College in Our Time. The opening conversation will feature Bret Stephens of the New York Times and Goldie Blumenstyk ’79, who recently retired from a 36-year career at the Chronicle of Higher Education. This event will take place in New York City, coinciding with a number of alumni events. Other events in the series will take place on campus and will include college and university presidents as well as scholars of higher education. All of these discussions will be live-streamed, including those taking place off campus. See a full list on the website and register to watch any of the sessions.
This series embodies, I believe, some of the key elements of the report from the Task Force on Institutional Voice. While the task force recommended that Colgate, as an institution, show prudence when considering issuing statements about political or other events, the group also strongly encouraged members of our academic community to consider issues of the day as important opportunities for meaningful debate and discussion. I hope that this series on the state of the American university provides just such a set of opportunities.
Martin Luther King Celebration
Members of the ALANA Cultural Center and the Dean of the College Division, together with a number of student organizations, have created a variety of events for Colgate’s annual Martin Luther King Celebration. A listing of these events and speakers is now available online. As we begin the semester, I hope you all can find time to attend some of these events.
Colgate’s Fiscal Health
I also wanted to briefly discuss Colgate’s finances. Recent national media stories have highlighted financial challenges at several highly regarded colleges and universities, with a number of leading colleges and universities reporting significant budget deficits and operating budget cuts. A number of faculty and staff have noted these news stories and asked for an update on our financial health.
I am pleased to report that, while current economic conditions and persistent inflation have made balancing our operating budget difficult at times, we will again do so this year and are setting up next year's budget to also be in balance. This is all thanks to prudent financial management, the work of so many on this campus, and the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends who support Colgate and its Third-Century Plan through the Campaign for the Third Century.
In Conclusion
Finally, as we begin the semester, the Presidential Ambassadors would like to invite faculty, students, and staff to enjoy hot chocolate and coffee today on the Academic Quadrangle — now available until 3:30 p.m. — outside of the Memorial Chapel.
I look forward to seeing everyone soon, and I wish all good luck as the new semester begins.
Welcome back.
Sincerely,
Brian W. Casey
President