Such celebrations! Campus has been packed this month with students, alumni, faculty, family, and friends gathering to send seniors off into the world (click on the Commencement highlight video above), to reconnect with classmates and others at Reunion, and to participate in the Summer Liberal Arts Institute taking place right now. Read on for more details about all these events and more, including an update from President Byerly on the college's Strategic Plan. If you've got updates of your own, do let us know, and stay in touch.

It was wonderful to see so many alumni back on campus for Reunion in June! We were fortunate in having great weather as well as terrific turnout. Standing at the front of Skinner Chapel for Reunion Convocation, looking at the capacity crowd, I was so moved by the positive energy and love of Carleton filling the space. Many thanks to the legions of alumni volunteers who make our special Reunions possible.

I am excited to see our strategic planning effort moving into its final phases this summer. Our Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee is reviewing, discussing, and prioritizing recommendations from the three strategic planning task forces – Building a Community of Belonging, Advancing the Liberal Arts, and Expanding Carleton’s Reach – and the report of the Financial Aid Working Group to create an initial strategic plan draft for community review. Emerging considerations from the ongoing Sustainability Working Group and Student Mental Health and Wellness Working Group will also inform the creation of this draft and provide the Coordinating Committee with important guidance as we craft a unified vision for the College.

In addition, our Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity & Equity will play a key role in shaping our strategic direction. Dr. Dina Zavala, Carleton’s inaugural vice president of inclusion, equity, and community, joined us in June and will provide invaluable leadership in our efforts to strengthen our commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity across the Carleton community.

We are looking forward to gathering alumni input on the draft strategic plan when it becomes available for review at the start of the academic year. We plan to ask alumni volunteers who will be on campus in August to offer feedback on the plan during their visit, and the alumni body as a whole will be invited to attend virtual feedback sessions this fall term, at the same time the draft is being discussed by on-campus groups and committees. We anticipate that the strategic plan will be revised, finalized and submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval in late October.

You’ll hear more details in the coming months about how you can participate in the feedback process and share input on this important work. As always, I am grateful for your continued support and commitment to Carleton!

Applications are due by August 14 for Carleton's Lofgren Alumni Business Fellowship Program, which helps alumni in established business careers broaden their professional path by pursuing educational opportunities. Typically used for full-time study or executive M.B.A. programs for mid-career Carls, the fellowships cover all or a portion of tuition, fees, and related costs for up to two years of study. Learn more about the Lofgren Program.

Join the Carleton College Alumni Book Club as we dive into the captivating world of The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers from August 4 to October 6. Follow the journey of Mokhtar Alkhanshali as he navigates the challenges of reviving Yemeni coffee amidst a civil war, kidnappings, and near-death encounters.

Engage in thought-provoking discussions and join a live Q&A with Eggers and Alkhanshali on Wednesday, September 27. Grab your copy (and a fresh cup!) and sign up for our free virtual book club.