Wellesley
works on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts -- Members
of the Wellesley College community have been
working intensively to help with relief efforts
along the Gulf Coast. As part of Wellesley's
annual "Day to Make a Difference," members
of the college community donated more than
300 boxes of clothing, school supplies, and
personal items. The Alumnae Association and
Center for Work and Service have arranged for
the contributions to join others from Massachusetts
and be shipped to the affected area.
Four undergraduates from Tulane and Xavier Universities,
both of which were closed by the disaster, have enrolled
for the fall semester.
College
Government has chosen hurricane relief as its special
service project this year and is partnering
with Spelman College, an historically Black college
for women in Atlanta with whom Wellesley has an exchange
program and which has established an emergency scholarship
fund to assist students from the Gulf Coast. "We
are collaborating with Spelman to find ways for Wellesley
to help our sisters there," said Lindsey Boylan
'06, president of College Government.
Year
opens with new faces, places and cherished traditions -- The
class of 2009 arrived on campus August 29 for
a week of orientation and has already begun to
make its mark on campus. Students hail from 43
states plus Washington, DC and the US Virgin
Islands, and represent 41 nations of citizenship.
Wearing
academic caps and gowns for the first time and cheered
by their fellow students, members of the
senior class processed with the faculty into Alumnae
Hall for Convocation, September 6. "We trust that
you will grow to love this special college as we do – with
passion and purpose, and with the sure knowledge that
it can be only as strong as we collectively are, only
as thoughtful and wise, only as compassionate and caring," said
President Walsh as she greeted the first-year students.
Following the ceremony, students gathered outside for
step singing, a cherished and lively Wellesley tradition.
Wellesley's much anticipated, breathtakingly designed
Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center opened in late August.
While final construction details are in progress, the
building is alive with activity throughout the day.
A community celebration is planned for Family and Friends
Weekend, October 21.
Convocation
speeches by President Walsh, Dean of the College
Andrew Shennan, and College Government President
Lindsey Boylan are online at www.wellesley.edu/PublicAffairs/Convocation/Convocation05.html
The
campus center Web site is www.wellesley.edu/WangCampusCenter/.
Exterior construction progress can be viewed via the
webcam at http://149.130.31.48/WebCam2.html
Campaign
raises $472.3 million, setting record for college giving-- When
The Wellesley Campaign ended on June 30, gifts and
pledges totaled $472.3 million, far surpassing the
initial goal of $400 million set when the effort began
five years ago. According to data compiled by The Chronicle
of Higher Education, Wellesley’s campaign total
is the largest of any liberal arts college.
“That we were able to accomplish this goal during
a period of such economic turbulence and wrenching
world events is a tribute to the commitment of Wellesley
alumnae to the College’s mission to provide an
excellent education for women who will make a difference
in the world,” said President Diana Chapman Walsh
in announcing the campaign total. “These 23,000
alumnae donors stand ten deep behind each of our 2,300
students, a vote of confidence in our collective future.”
The campaign makes possible significant investments
in many areas of the college, including:
- 15 new endowed professorships;
- new centers in the humanities and social sciences;
- construction of the Lulu Chow Wang campus center;
- restoration of the campus landscape;
- nearly $91 million for student scholarships and financial
aid for study abroad;
- $52.4 million for annual operating support.
For
more details about the campaign's effect on the college,
go to www.wellesley.edu/PublicAffairs/Releases/2005/080805.html.
Wellesley
scores high on college rankings -- For
the eighth year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked
Wellesley fourth among national liberal arts colleges.
For the past 14 years, Wellesley has placed among the
top five colleges and continues to be the highest ranked
women’s college.
This year Wellesley earned high marks in the following
categories, among national liberal arts colleges:
• #
2 in racial diversity.
• # 3 in best value.
• # 7 in the least average amount of debt.
• # 3 in economic diversity.
Washington
Monthly magazine ranked Wellesley No. 1
among national liberal arts colleges that graduate
students who go into national and community service,
that spend more on beneficial research, and that enroll
low-income applicants. More information is available at www.wellesley.edu/PublicAffairs/Releases/2005/082305.html.
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