News from the college
Toward True Affordability
Earlier this month, Williams College President
Maud S. Mandel announced the
Summer Exploration Initiative, a program that will eliminate the summer earnings requirement that traditionally has been a part of financial aid packages. The average cost to aided students and their families will be reduced by an estimated $6,000, and students can take advantage of summer opportunities such as unpaid internships, research fellowships or service and travel programs. “This initiative really grew out of several years of our thinking about where we could have the highest impact in allowing students to take full advantage of all Williams has to offer,” says Mandel in a conversation with WAMC’s
The Roundtable.
Operating on Solar
The Farmington Solar Project, a 76-megawatt solar array in Maine, came online earlier this month. In consortium with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire and Bowdoin colleges and NextEra Energy, Williams will provide enough energy to the New England grid to power about 17,000 homes, helping to offset climate change. Williams Provost and Class of 1969 Professor of Economics
Dukes Love says the project “demonstrates the power of partnerships in finding collective solutions to one of the major challenges of our times.”
A Return To...
Homecoming 2021 took place with spectators invited to outdoor activities. Alumni gathered Nov. 5-7 to cheer the Ephs—NESCAC champions for the first time since 2010—to a 25-0 victory against Wesleyan. Highlights of the weekend included a
book signing with former football coach Dick Farley and the 50th anniversary of
The Walk, a post-game tradition. Check out some Homecoming
photos online.
The Log Lunch, also celebrating its 50-year anniversary, returned this fall after a yearlong break. Hosted by the Center for Environmental Studies, the vegetarian lunches are prepared by students for the entire campus community and feature a guest speaker on an environmental topic.
Serving Students
Earlier this month the college celebrated
Williams Firsts, a group of about 400 students who are the first in their families to receive a college degree, attend a U.S. institution of higher education or attend a highly selective college like Williams. And Assistant Dean of Students
Tamanika Steward talks about her experience
working with student veterans at Williams and the ways in which they enhance the campus community.
