This weekend, the Alumni Affairs Office is bringing a small group of Dartmouth-affiliated people to Hanover to educate them about the current state of the College.
The Horizons Program, started in 1962, invites people such as alumni, former College employees and current students' parents to participate in a three-day program, Public Programs Director Barbara Whipple said.
This weekend, about 30 "alumni and friends" will attend the program, she said.
"We've had usually three [programs] a year and as many as six a year to foster support and understanding for the College," Whipple said. "The people are predominantly alumni -- people who have an interest in Dartmouth or who we're interested in."
She said for each Horizons Program, the College invites 30 to 50 alumni. Although some of the invitees are major money donors, Whipple said many people invited are involved with alumni affairs.
Director of Development Lucretia Martin said the weekend tries to get alumni "leaders" and bring them up to speed with the current state of Dartmouth.
"The more we can show them Dartmouth today, the more they'll be informed about Dartmouth and it will help us keep our alumni as informed as possible," she said.
Whipple said the nature of the program allows participants to find out about "hard-core issues" and gives them a "behind-the-scenes look" at the College.
"We get amazing feedback," she said. "It is a tremendous benefit to us because we can get at what are the issues. Not all of the participants are 'rah rah, Dartmouth,' " she said.
The College has scheduled a series of high-powered events for the participants, like a presentation by Dean of the Faculty James Wright today on "Teaching at Dartmouth" and a conversation with Provost Lee Bollinger on Saturday.
"It's an opportunity for them to meet with students, faculty and administrations and figure out what's going on at the College," Whipple said. "Some could be disgruntled or concerned about what's going on at Dartmouth."
She said the weekend gives the participants a chance to voice their grievances to administrators in a small setting.
For instance, she said alumni may discuss their feelings on issues ranging from the Board of Trustees' decision to keep the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps at the College to the presence of women on campus.
Also included in the weekend is a segment on student life.
This year, the participants will meet with the Leadership Discovery Program, which is run by Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia.
"We try to stay in touch with deans and different administrators as to what is hot on campus," Whipple said. "These are people who have something to say and give off a flavor of what's going on at the College."
Segments of the program also deal with Dartmouth's financial future and the state of the athletic department.
The weekend is not all about issues and administrators though -- the group will go to the Big Apple Circus tonight.
Whipple would not comment on how much the weekend costs the College.