The direction of Colorado College is not set in a single moment—it is built over time, with input from the people who know and love this institution best. For the past two years, we have been doing the intentional work of strategic planning, drawing on perspectives from students, faculty, staff, and alumni alongside an honest reckoning with a higher education landscape that is changing faster than any of us anticipated. Those divisional plans are now coming together into an institutional strategic plan, which we will formally release this fall. In February, our Board of Trustees affirmed the direction of this work, and I could not be more energized about where we are headed.
The plan is organized around four priorities: Institutional Strength, Reclaiming the Liberal Arts, Deepening Engagement, and Excellence in Outcomes. You will hear much more about all four in the months ahead, but I want to spend a moment on the priority that speaks most directly to you.
Deepening Engagement is rooted in connection. Our goal is to strengthen the relationships that sustain Colorado College while expanding our presence in ways that reflect our values—telling our story more boldly and authentically to new and familiar audiences alike. We want to deepen our roots right here in Colorado Springs through the Fine Arts Center, the Collaborative for Community Engagement, and Athletics. And perhaps most importantly for this community: we are creating more and better ways for you—our strongest ambassadors and the most compelling proof of what a CC education can do—to remain connected long after graduation.
We have heard your feedback clearly: you want continued opportunities for lifelong learning, more ways to engage with current students and fellow alumni in your area throughout the year (not just at Homecoming), and communication that feels meaningful and personal. In response, we have built our alumni engagement programming around those needs. There are more opportunities than ever. Regionally, you’ll find Pop-Up Blocks, Tiger Travel trips, and Alumni Block Breaks. On campus, we’re hosting Industry Nights, career panels, and a growing alumni mentorship program on TigerLink. I hope you will join us for one of them soon.
Our investment in engagement extends to how CC presents itself to the world. We are in the midst of a brand refresh, and while much of the past year focused on enrollment audiences, the current phase is squarely centered on you. Expect a new look for The Peak, stronger digital storytelling, refreshed event experiences, and more.
Of course, none of this works without the ways you show up in return. In March, we held our first-ever Grow the Good Week, and the response was extraordinary. More than 200 members of the CC community raised over $50,000 in support of 37 funds across campus and the Fine Arts Center—with 58 percent of all gifts coming from alumni. That is not simply a fundraising milestone. It is evidence that you are not just part of CC’s legacy; you are actively shaping its future.
There is something worth naming here: your alumni giving rate (the percentage of alumni who give, regardless of the size of the gift) is one of the metrics that shapes how CC is perceived and ranked among peer institutions. Data analysts and college rankings alike have long recognized that schools with engaged, giving alumni are schools that succeed. When you give, even modestly, you are casting a vote of confidence. You are telling the world that CC is worth backing, and you remain the most credible voice to carry that message. You are central to how we claim our space in higher education, affirming the purpose and value of our uniquely immersive education.
Finally, I want to share something we are exploring for the coming academic year and invite your reaction. I have been thinking about how to stay connected with those of you I have not yet had the chance to sit down with, and I am considering hosting small, informal, virtual conversations—something along the lines of “Mornings with Manya.” The idea is simple: an opportunity for us to come together, away from formal agendas, so I can hear directly what is on your mind. If that sounds like something you would value, please let me know using this interest form.
Thank you, as always, for being such an important part of this community, and for all the ways you continue to shape and celebrate CC.
Warmly,
Manya Whitaker
President, Colorado College
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