September 10, 2007
Welcome to our inaugural "Antioch Update," a weekly electronic newsletter that we are sending widely to the Antioch family to keep updated on system and College efforts. This has been a difficult summer and early fall for the College, but we are optimistic about the future - and need your help as we move with determination to re-open the College when it is financially and academically feasible. Please let us (mllapierre@antiochseattle.edu) know how we can make the update more effective, and we look forward to expanding our communications with each of you.
Recent updates at Antioch include:
1. Spirit of collaboration: On August 25 the Board of Trustees met with the College Alumni Board and all other stakeholders in Cincinnati, Ohio to take the first steps in building a plan to re-open the College. It was an extraordinary meeting. Many Antiochians had the chance to express their views on the suspension of programs, and, likewise, had the opportunity to hear the Board's explanation of their literally hundreds of hours of deliberations before the decision was made. We felt the meeting was very successful in that we adjourned agreeing to work as a team to meet our challenges, though our views often differ. To hear the presentations made at this meeting, you may use the links below to access the podcast.
The Board concluded by agreeing to provide appropriate financial data to the Alumni Board in support of its effort to develop a plan for a sustainable College and by passing the following three resolutions in support of the Alumni partnership:
2. New space for Advancement: The Advancement Office is moving by October 1 to a new location, one that is easy to find, is handicapped accessible and includes convenient parking plus spaces for alumni to meet. The new home is in Weston Hall, formerly the Admissions Office.
3. College President steps down: As you may have heard, College President Steve Lawry, who had formerly resigned effective December 31, was asked to step down from the presidency a few months early. Given the commitment, the College has made to the provide its students - both those who will graduate and those who will need to transfer - a rich academic residential year, the Chancellor felt the need to put together a team of individuals to lead the campus and maintain consistent management during this academic year. Andrzej Bloch has been named chief operating officer and continues as dean of the faculty and will lead this team. This move allows Lawry to assist the Alumni Board with their critical fundraising. The College's greatest need now is for long-term strategic support, and we believe these moves will help reach those goals.
4. Apologies to Advancement Staff: We owe a public apology to several members of our dedicated, hard working Advancement staff. We recently changed locks on the offices to ensure that proprietary data was well protected. In the change, however, several members were not notified and given new keys in advance. To exacerbate our woes, a moving van was seen outside the office - raising concerns by the entire team. We apologize for mishandling the lock change, which was a simple security effort. We never want to do anything to detract from the dedicated work done by capable and valued staff. In addition the Chancellor has written an apology to each member of the Advancement team.