Bill Durden "Re-ups" as Pres

I was ecstatic to receive the following e-mail announcement this afternoon.  I'm especially proud to say I'm a Theta Chi Fraternity Brother of Bill's and proudly maintain my pledge paddle with Bill's "unique" signature.  One of these days I'll post a pic of it on here.

Congratulations Bill and congratulations Dickinson - you've both made wise choices.

The Release

March 10, 2010


To the Dickinson Community:

It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that President Durden, who will complete 11 years of service this June, has agreed to remain as Dickinson College’s president for the foreseeable future. Since Bill became president in 1999, the college has experienced unprecedented progress on virtually every front. During the past decade, Dickinson has developed a distinctive identity and purpose rooted in the vision of our founder, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and fueled by a compelling contemporary narrative that emphasizes the college’s “useful,” pragmatic approach to a liberal-arts education—a liberal-arts education with intentionality.

 

At least the next six years will be critical as Dickinson seeks to sustain this momentum and advance its contribution to liberal-arts education, particularly in a difficult economy. It is at times such as these that experienced and consistent leadership grow ever more important to an institution. The administrative team assembled by Bill has a proven track record of working collegially to achieve measurable results, and I am confident there is no better individual nor senior management team to lead our college through this next set of challenges. Bill’s energy and commitment to Dickinson is, if anything, stronger than the day he arrived.

When Bill and I discussed the possibility of his remaining as president, he expressed his determination to solidify at the college a culture of institutional transformation and high accomplishment. Where others might see less room for opportunity in these most challenging financial times, Bill sees entrepreneurial possibilities for which Dickinson is distinctively poised. It is precisely this challenge as well as the college’s distinctive mission that inspire Bill’s leadership.

In addition, while the current capital campaign is scheduled to reach its successful conclusion in 2011, we are already envisioning the opportunities that lie beyond through a comprehensive strategic-planning effort that the college community will be given the opportunity to participate in later this year.

 

Above all, Bill’s decision reflects the personal satisfaction he continues to receive from his responsibilities and, most of all, from being associated with a winner. Shortly after Bill’s arrival, the Wall Street Journal in 2001 asserted that Dickinson College was one of 16 colleges or universities (and only one of four liberal-arts colleges) in the United States “poised” for leadership in the 21st century as it offered its students the knowledge and skills most essential to engage successfully our contemporary, complex world. By all accounts, the college has lived up to the Wall Street Journal’s prediction.

The progress the college has made has convinced us all that we will succeed in our quest to be uniquely Dickinson and fulfill the bold mandate for democracy and education which our founder proposed at our chartering in September 1783. As Bill has reminded us so often, Dr. Rush’s vision was never fully embraced at the college or throughout the nation. Today, however, Dickinson is positioned for even more substantive accomplishment by doing what it does best—educating students through a pragmatic, globally oriented liberal-arts education for a life of professional success, public service and thoughtful intentionality.

There is, however, still work remaining to define a college appropriate for the global economic challenges and responsibilities of the 21st century.

Under Bill’s leadership in the years ahead, Dickinson will be able to:

 

• maintain the excellence of our faculty
• build upon the effective business-like practices that characterize the current administration
• enhance the support and recognition of our loyal alumni to this college “on the move”
• increase our endowment and other financial resources that are absolutely necessary to achieve our goals
• work with a highly talented team to suggest a model of higher education that is affordable and accessible
• and most important, attract students whose achievements will reflect the excellence and distinctiveness of a Dickinson liberal-arts education.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate Bill for his achievements thus far and applaud both Bill and Elke’s reaffirmation of their incredible commitment to Dickinson College. I ask that you join me in pledging to work with him and his team over the next several years to realize our highest aspirations for our college.

  

Adapting the good words of Dr. Benjamin Rush—you just knew that any commentary about Bill had to conclude with a reference to the words of Dr. Rush—the first phase of the assent of our college may be coming to a close, “but the revolution is far from over!”

  

Sincerely,

  

Jennifer Ward Reynolds ’77

 

Chair

 

Board of Trustees

 

 

 

Dickinson College, PO Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013, 717-243-5121