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Imagine, Macalester: March Update

Dear Macalester Community: 

This email is part of a series of updates on our Imagine, Macalester strategic planning process. Previous updates can be found on the Strategic Planning News and Updates page. 

Over the past four months, the Strategic Planning Champions have worked hard to create opportunities for you to share your thoughts and feedback as we dream about the future of the college. Along with members of the senior leadership team and our strategic planning liaisons, the Champions have met regularly to review the input from our campus kick-off meetings in mid-November, the town halls with alumni and parents in late January, various group and 1:1 listening sessions with all constituents, ideas sent to the [email protected] email account, and responses to our strategic planning survey. For an overview of community involvement and to view recordings of past events, please review this timeline of engagement activities.

After a review of all that input, four broad and interrelated themes appear to be emerging. Following are draft descriptions that are evolving and instructions, below, about how you can share your thoughts about them.   

  • Reimagine the Residential Liberal Arts Experience: Create a joyful, educational journey that balances academic, social, and practical skills within a supportive community that removes barriers to interconnectedness across identities and viewpoints; that challenges students to grow; and that prepares students to be global citizens. 
  • Build Sustainable and Enduring Approaches to Access and Equity. Transform Macalester by aligning our educational mission, equity principles, and resource allocation practices in order to facilitate the holistic learning and growth of all Macalester community members.
  • Fuel Community Well-being and Flourishing. Foster a campus environment and culture that supports the well-being of all members of our community by creating shared experiences and recognition that cultivate belonging.  
  • Create Signature Mac Experiences for Students. Distinguish Macalester by putting our values; our urban location; our reflection about identity, agency, and responsibility in the world; and our relationships with alumni and community partners at the heart of all we do.

As we refine these themes over the next six weeks ahead of the May Board meeting, we welcome ALL members of the Macalester community – alumni, staff, faculty, students, and parents – to share feedback in two ways:

  • Please join us at an upcoming discussion session.

    Note that the four topic-specific sessions are for individuals particularly interested in that area of focus. The two all-theme sessions hosted by President Rivera will offer a broader overview of all four themes for those with a more general interest in the strategic plan. 

    • Monday, April 4, 12-1pm CT/Topic: Fuel Community Well-being and Flourishing
      Jen Jacobsen and Patricia Langer, Facilitators
      REGISTER HERE

    • Monday, April 4, 4-5 pm CT/Topic: Create Signature Mac Experiences for Students
      Prof. Ernie Capello and Jeff Allen, Facilitators
      REGISTER HERE

    • Tuesday, April 5, 7-8 pm CT/Topic: Build Sustainable and Enduring Approaches to Access and Equity
      Dr. Alina Wong and Daymond Dean ‘91, Facilitators
      REGISTER HERE

    • Wednesday, April 6, 7-8:30 pm CT/Topic: All-Theme Session
      President Suzanne Rivera, Facilitator
      REGISTER HERE

    • Thursday, April 7, 12-1 pm CT/Topic: Reimagine the Residential Liberal Arts Experience
      Provost Lisa Anderson-Levy and Niloy Ray ‘99, Facilitators
      REGISTER HERE

    • Monday, April 11, 7-8:30 pm CT/Topic: All-Theme Session
      President Suzanne Rivera, Facilitator
      REGISTER HERE

We will continue to update the Imagine, Macalester hub so feel free to check in for updates or if you have questions. Thank you for your participation in the Imagine, Macalester planning process.

Dr. Suzanne M. Rivera, President
Dr. Lisa Anderson-Levy, Executive Vice President and Provost

March 30, 2022