Board of Trustee Changes impact admissions decision

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>WOW - thanks to everyone who posted such extensive and exhaustive comments on this subject. I appreciate the time and energy devoted to providing your perspective on this subject.</p>

<p>After much discussion in our household we have decided not to let this dissuade our son from applying to Dartmouth. </p>

<p>As OdysseyTigger commented in his reply (#39), D provides one of the best undergraduate experiences anywhere and these issues shouldn't impact his education in the short term. </p>

<p>Our son believes that D combines outstanding and challenging academics on par with other Ivies in an environment that allows him to pursue his passion for the outdoors (rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, etc.) We agree with him and think that it is right for him.</p>

<p>Thanks again for the thoughtful and passionate responses provided to this thread.</p>

42

<p>As a member of the class of 2011 at Dartmouth, I absolutely agree with everyone in that this debate has no short-term impact on the quality of education here - it is simply a non-issue. In the longer term, I suspect this will continue to be an issue for concerned alumni (and despite being an undergraduate student here, I don't entirely agree with OdysseyTiger's views) - but this group of alumni will most likely include those of us graduating in a few years.</p>

<p>The students who ought to be worried are those thinking about applying to Dartmouth (be it for graduate or undergraduate studies) in a couple of decades (i.e. most of these people are not even born yet, or still infants).</p>

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<p>^
Even then, by the time they are ready to apply, they will be applying to the Dartmouth as it exists then and should be able to clearly determine then what that is and if it is a good fit for them. So there is really nothing for them to worry about, either. Dartmouth, if it does change because of this, will not change overnight.</p>

<p>This is a dispute amongst Dartmouth alums and a matter of little import to anyone beyond that group.</p>

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<p>Alumnus R. Day Gives $200 Million to Claremont McKenna College </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=397535%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=397535&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Something the alumni association should also consider, IMO.</p>

45

<p>^Guess the alumni don't agree.</p>

<p>"Education
Dartmouth Alumni Sue Over Changes</p>

<p>By TAMAR LEWIN
Published: October 4, 2007 New York Times
The Association of Alumni of Dartmouth College went to court to challenge governance changes that the Dartmouth board announced on Sept. 8. Under the plan, Dartmouth’s 18-member board is to be expanded by eight trustees chosen by the board, thereby reducing the proportion of trustees elected by the alumni to one-third, from one-half (not counting New Hampshire’s governor and Dartmouth’s president, who serve ex officio). In papers filed in Grafton County Superior Court, the association said the new plan violated the 1891 agreement under which the alumni and the board each selected an equal number of trustees."</p>

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<p>About the money. How better to shoot yourself in the foot than to tell your financial backers to go to hell? The one poll I saw had 92% of the alumni not in favor of the Board's action. Twenty years ago and further back, Dartmouth was always the leader in percent of alumni giving. Hearing this repeatedly was part and parcel of the Dartmouth experience. No longer. Now they are in the top 5 - bunched with a group significantly behind Amherst. Next year doesn't look good.</p>

<p>Powerline, in a post titled "The $64 million question" speculated about this and seemed certain that the board would never have pulled such a stunt unless they had some big, big donations lined up to cover shortfall that is sure to occur in the traditional alumni giving. <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../09/018458.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../09/018458.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Sure enough, this was confirmed the next day by Association of Alumni executive committee member David Gale
<a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../09/018468.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../09/018468.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Early on in the conversation, I pointed to two parts of their report: that alumni giving hit record levels last year, and that they acknowledged that alumni sentiment was "overwhelmingly" (their word) against this move. I then asked if they were concerned that alumni donations would fall off. Christine acknowledged that they probably will ...Ed then volunteered that there were some alumni who had specifically withheld donations to the college because of the "uncertainty" in the election process. At that point, I said that I didn't see how a small number of alumni on one hand could balance the loss of a large number of alumni donors on the other "unless we're talking about millions and millions of dollars." Ed's response: "Well, we are."</p>

<p>Arranging for millions and millions of dollars in donations to be withheld does not seem to me the likely actions of someone whose decisions are being driven by financial considerations.</p>

47

<p>Excerpt from Association of Alumni statement:</p>

<p>"An Administrative email sent today to faculty and especially to students has suggested their school is under siege by a handful of misguided alumni. In one to three years, these students become alumni for life. The Association response, a last resort done with considerable reluctance and deliberation, is intended to secure for those students, and for all alumni, the continuation of a life-long right (and moral obligation) to participate in defining what they collectively think best for their, for our, beloved Dartmouth."</p>

<p>"handful of misguided alumni" hmmm... </p>

<p>Would that be a more appropriate characterization of the 69,000 members of the Association of Alumni - all living alumni - all of whom have a vote in alumni elections...</p>

<p>or </p>

<p>.... the 12 majority board members with the chairman and his select committee front and center who act despite knowing that the "overwhelming" percentage of alumni do not support their actions and who are seeking to control all things Dartmouth without any oversight or checks and balances?</p>

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<p>Odessy, I get the sense from the following letters to the D that there are alum with a different point of view - who do not think the handful really do represent the 69,000 - who do not feel they have even been consulted and who do not approve the suit as an appropriate response.</p>

<p><a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/vandyke/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/vandyke/&lt;/a>
<a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/dailey/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/dailey/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>and even this:
<a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/linsalata/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/opinion/linsalata/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>odssey:</p>

<p>There are several posts on the AoA blog who also do not support the Exec Comittee's actions. </p>

<p>Interesting comments from a Law Prof on the legal role of trustees:</p>

<p>The Role of Trustees</p>

<p>Universities are private-sector corporations with corporate boards and corporate rules; those on governing boards are entrusted with the stewardship of its finances and strategy, not necessarily its academic direction. That means:</p>

<p>Trustees have a legal obligation to an “undivided duty of loyalty,” meaning that they don’t represent only a subset of alumni or a certain constituency or interest group; they must act in the interests of the institution as a whole. “The rule of thumb for a board is they need to take a strategic look at an institution and be balanced and sensitive to the needs of all constituents, but not having to address special interests within the boardroom,” said Richard D. Legon, the president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. </p>

<p>Trustees shouldn’t involve themselves in curricular or academic issues, McGuire said: they should focus on fiduciary responsibilities, management and accreditation standards rather than “whether you teach Western Civilization or not.” She continued: “[T]hose decisions are in the realm of the faculty,” and if the board enters that realm, “that violates academic freedom, among many other things.” </p>

<p><a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/05/trustees%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/05/trustees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Has anyone posted the opinion piece by Meir Kohn which appeared in the D a few days ago, as well as the one on the page facing it which argued that the alumni have really overlooked the students, who rate the college highly?</p>

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<p>Of course there are alum with a different point of view! Hell, there are some 8% who don't disapprove of the board's actions. </p>

<p>However there is no disagreement (even by the chairman of the BOT) that the overwhelming majority of alumni are not in that camp. (including at least one and probably two of your letter writers) </p>

<p>some other recent letters</p>

<p>to the Dartmouth Independent
<a href="http://www.dartmouthindependent.com/archives/2007/09/democracy-goes-1.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.dartmouthindependent.com/archives/2007/09/democracy-goes-1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>To the D from an Economics Professor
<a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/03/opinion/kohn/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/03/opinion/kohn/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>As far as the lawsuit goes, even the AoA board is unanimous in finding it distasteful. Still the majority found it necessary.</p>

<p>...and the thing is, they were elected to their positions by the alumni. They have been speaking to alumni and getting their opinions about this for the last 5 years...they have polled the alumni and found 92% of them opposed to the board's actions ...so they do have a sense of where the alumni as a whole are stand. </p>

<p>In the end their vote was not unanimous - but it was informed - and it was representative.</p>

<p>Something that can not be said for the charter trustees in the newly configured board who stand as a body of 16 individuals with total control of Dartmouth and answerable to no one except themselves.</p>

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<p>BlueBayou</p>

<p>1) More than a few posts take issue with the AoA's action. But, hey - if they misread the alumni, then the alumni can vote them right out.</p>

<p>2) FORMER Law professor - CURRENT Univesity President There are a couple CURRENT Law Professors sitting on the Dartmouth board who might have a different take on the matter.</p>

<p>3) CURRENT Dartmouth Economics Prof Kohn: "It is in the context of the general problem of governance — and of the particular problems of nonprofit governance — that we should understand recent events at Dartmouth. It is not that administrative misbehavior is unusually bad at Dartmouth. What is unusual is the ability of Dartmouth alumni to elect to the board some trustees not hand-picked by the administration. This peculiarity offered a potential mechanism of governance, and a number of alumni were sufficiently public-spirited to try to turn this potential into reality. It is hardly surprising that the administration did not welcome this initiative. With remarkable brutality, the administration and its friends on the board have acted to neutralize it. Contrary to the pronouncements of the Ministry of Truth, the board did not vote to strengthen governance at Dartmouth: it voted to prevent it. With this avenue cut off, we remain without any effective mechanism of governance. There is therefore no constraint on the potential misbehavior of this or any future administration.</p>

<p>This is unfortunate for Dartmouth. But the impact is much wider than that. Had the alumni initiative succeeded here, it would have been imitated elsewhere, to the ultimate benefit of all institutions of higher education. That now seems unlikely."</p>

<p>Johnleenk</p>

<p>I linked to Meir Kohn above. As for Belkin's piece, refuting it was the reason for linsalata's response linked to by ohmadre.</p>

<p>Finally - the following article represents part of what the "insurgent" alumni are complaining about.<br>
<a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/news/econ/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thedartmouth.com/2007/10/04/news/econ/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Economics students have had to eavesdrop on their professor’s lectures from hallways this term as their classrooms are filled to the capacity and beyond. Multiple economics classes rapidly reached capacity during registration, leaving dozens of students attending classes in which they were not officially enrolled in hopes of snagging a coveted spot on the wait-list.</p>

<p>“I literally had people spilling out into the hall,” economics professor Eric Edmonds said of his developmental economics course. “Almost 100 people showed up.”</p>

<p>As Econ 24 is supposed to be capped at 35 students, Edmonds added two more sections, a move that required emergency approval from the Dean of the Faculty’s office. Though Dartmouth professors generally teach four classes a year, Edmonds is currently scheduled for six.</p>

<p>Edmonds’ oversubscribed class is not an anomaly in the College’s economics department this fall. According to the registrar’s timetable of class meetings, 10 sections are currently over the limit."</p>

<p>This was simply unheard of when I attended - and I fail to how the desire on the part of the alumni to remedy such a situation is to the detriment of the undergraduate students.</p>

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<p>I am very aware of who one of the letter writers is - which really makes the point. There are far less harmful ways than a lawsuit for an alumni group to serve its constituency in order to effect its goal of making a beloved alma mater the best can be - which, incidentally, does not necessarily mean exactly what it was 40,30, even 10 years ago.</p>

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<p>FWIW</p>

<p>Here also is Prof Hart's take on things - which is not what one might expect. (Pro Wright, nonplussed by lawsuit)</p>

<p><a href="http://dartreview.com/archives/2007/09/27/untying_the_college_governance_knot.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://dartreview.com/archives/2007/09/27/untying_the_college_governance_knot.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Ohmadre</p>

<p>Obviously not everyone agrees, but what would you suggest? </p>

<p>How do you propose to prevent the significant hit traditinal alumni giving is expected to take?</p>

56

<p>So you are saying that this drastic measure is the way to prevent traditional alumni from withholding donations to Dartmouth? </p>

<p>As I read it, certain alumni feel they need to take this kind of stand on principal. Would you expect the administration to do less - to be willing to be bought by any group?</p>

<p>I did not know it was a foregone conclusion that there would be a substantial hit in giving. Seems to me a lawsuit IS a hit, in time, energy, reputation as well as financial resources. </p>

<p>I wonder if those most unhappy clamor most loudly and if there is not a larger contingent of alumni than you suppose who would not withhold donations, do perhaps support the administration, or even if not, do not support this response. </p>

<p>I hope those who seem so distraught over the direction of a school they love, would not chose to cause it further harm in such a petty way. Surely they could direct their giving to Dartmouth toward something about it they love and can freely support - I think, although I do not know, that there are ways to allocate a gift to various programs - that is certainly the case for parents at any rate. </p>

<p>I really do applaud genuine alumni concern for working with the administration to address issues such as over-subscription of popular classes - I imagine its a moving target, trying to ascertain trends and degrees of trends.</p>

<p>I also really value the Dartmouth experience as it is today, for my student attending,today. Opportunities have been amazing. Students remain friendly and diverse. I have no objection to an administration which calls for mutual respect - it should accompany free speech. I have no objection to an administration which increasingly encourages students to feel that along with the priviledge of a Dartmouth education comes responsibility to the world community. I have no objection to an administration struggling to ensure the saftey and health of students, even if it means taking stands which seem oppressive to the fraternity system. This is the kind of school which is attractive to many of the today's brightest students - for Dartmouth to survive as a top notch institution, it needs to attract these bright students. </p>

<p>I think I love Dartmouth, as a parent, almost as much as you do. I see it as a wonderful, positive place - right here and now.</p>

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<p>Parents are sent emails from the Association of Alumni, as distinct from the subcommittee which called for the suit - and this is the message that just arrived - I think there are greater numbers than first appeared who have a different view than the Executive Committe</p>

<p>"Dartmouth College Alumni Council Statement Opposing Lawsuit</p>

<p>On October 3, 2007, 6 members of the 11-member Executive Committee of the
Association of Alumni of Dartmouth College caused a lawsuit to be filed
against the College in New Hampshire Superior Court. The lawsuit seeks to
stop the Board of Trustees of the College from taking certain actions
respecting the composition of the Board, and from making nomination to the
Board by alumni more democratic. Historically, the sole responsibility of
the Executive Committee of the Association of Alumni has been to run the
annual meeting of the Association and related elections. In contrast, the
100-member Alumni Council is the representative body of Dartmouth's 68,000
alumni, constitutionally charged with being the "primary forum" for discussion
of issues and concerns relative to the alumni body and the College, and the
"principal spokesperson" of the alumni. The Alumni Council's purpose is to
"act in the best interests of Dartmouth College."</p>

<p>As the principal spokesperson for Dartmouth College's alumni, the Alumni
Council opposes and calls for the immediate voluntary dismissal of the
lawsuit. While the Alumni Council is aware that Dartmouth alumni have varying
opinions on the desire for "parity," the Council believes that the lawsuit is
meritless, against the will of the majority of Dartmouth's alumni, and harmful
to the interests of the College and the alumni. </p>

<p>In the event, the lawsuit is still pending as of the time of the Alumni
Council's Fall Meeting, November 29-December 1, 2007, the Council will consider
whether any further action is appropriate based on additional consultation with
the alumni body."</p>

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<p>odyssey:</p>

<p>Prof Kohn may be a wonderful professor, but his statement is beyond belief: "With this avenue cut off, we remain without any effective mechanism of governance. There is therefore no constraint on the potential misbehavior of this or any future administration." Is there more to his story somewhere?</p>

<p>Econ is a growing and popular major at many colleges. And, it stresses the capacity of many colleges, even large Unis like UCLA. In the short run (econ term intended), any college can only react the way Prof. Edmonds did -- overwork staff to accomodate the students. But, even in the longer-run, as a practical (and fiduciary matter) only so many staffing allocations can be given to Econ without negatively affecting other departments, (or turning D into a large Wharton.) </p>

<p>btw: I grealy appreciate the links you have provided. Do you have the exact and complete wording for the Alumni survey where 92% responded in support? (Having taken many courses in stats, I've learned that there are many easy ways to obtain the response you want just be phrasing the question.)</p>