Blog
What is a DAT?
May 11, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherIn my last blog, I wrote about the difficulty people of different races and ethnicities often experience when trying to discuss their differences. I posited that not much will change with respect to racial and ethnic mistrust and misunderstanding in this country until ”folks learn how to have open and honest conversations about race and [...]
Lessons My Parents Taught Me
April 26, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherThe April 13th edition of the New Yorker featured an article by cultural critic, Alex Ross, about the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson’s historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Ms. Anderson had been denied access to perform in the historic Constitution Hall by the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, because of the [...]
Eliza’s sons
April 5, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherEven though we’re small in rank
We’ve only just begun
We join you Eliza’s Daughters
We’re Eliza’s Sons.
Those are the closing lines of the song, “Men of ‘92,” which was penned by former Dean of Students Sue Alexander at the start of Wheaton’s transition to coeducation.
The song was first performed by the men of the Class of ‘92 [...]
Re: accreditation
March 29, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherThis has been a full week for me. I have just spent the past few days at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., serving as the chair of their Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) reaccreditation team. WASC is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States.
Pomona is a quintessential liberals arts college, about the [...]
Something new
March 24, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherWelcome. I’m pleased you have found my blog. My intention is to use this as a space to share what I’m seeing, hearing and doing in the Wheaton community.
So, naturally, I’ll be sharing what I hear from talking and working with students, faculty and staff; the thrill of rooting on our athletic teams and the [...]
Report from the February Board of Trustees meeting
February 26, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherTo the campus community,
During their deliberations, the Trustees approved a comprehensive fee of $49,440 for the 2009-2010 academic year. The new comprehensive fee, which represents a 3 percent increase over last year, was recommended by the administration as the most responsible course of action to sustain the quality of a Wheaton education in spite of [...]
Wheaton’s preliminary budget options
January 30, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherTo the campus community,
The month of January is traditionally when the college develops its budget projections. The Board of Trustees reviews and approves the preliminary budget option in February when it sets the comprehensive fee for the following year. As you might imagine, given the economic downturn, budget planning this year is particularly difficult because [...]
A campus conversation about Wheaton and the economy
January 22, 2009 by Ronald CrutcherDear Colleagues,
While the concept of spring seems terribly distant at the moment, we are well and truly on our way to warmer weather and better days. The second semester always passes quickly, and the pace of activity this year promises to pick up soon.
This spring will bring many critical decision points for the college, all [...]
Priorities during the financial downturn
November 17, 2008 by Ronald CrutcherTo the campus community,
The past week has brought daily announcements of hiring freezes, construction postponements and other cost-saving measures at colleges and universities throughout New England and across the country. As you know, Wheaton has taken similar steps in seeking cost containment strategies and in examining employee hiring plans carefully.
Uncertainty remains over how long and [...]
Sound financial management for turbulent times
October 13, 2008 by Ronald CrutcherTo the Wheaton community,
The ongoing global financial crisis has caused turmoil throughout much of the U.S. economy and it has provoked uneasiness on many college campuses. In the past week, members of the Wheaton community have asked me whether and how Wheaton has been affected by the recent downturn in world financial markets.
Happily, I can [...]
