At its annual retreat at the College's Minary Conference Center, the Board of Trustees was briefed about the progress of the steering committee but made no decisions about the Social and Residential Life Initiative and did not alter the Initiative's timetable.
"I don't see anything that's going to knock this in some substantive way off the schedule that we're on," Chairman of the Board of Trustees William King '63 said.
In November, the steering committee plans to report its findings to the Board. According to King, public discussion will then ensue into the first quarter of 2000. Then, College President James Wright and the Board will come to a final decision on the Initiative's direction.
King said this weekend Trustees and steering committee co-chairs Susan Dentzer '77 and Peter Fahey '68 presented a progress report to the Board on the committee's work.
According to King, the Trustees expressed their satisfaction with the work that has been done thus far on the Initiative.
"The Board was extremely encouraged by the breadth and depth of the information, suggestions, creative ideas, thoughtful approaches and the time and effort that has been put into [the Initiative] within the student body, alumni groups, the faculty and others," he said. "Everyone seems to be pitching in with the right kind of spirit."
King said the Trustees also discussed a number of issues unrelated to the Social and Residential Life Initiative currently affecting the undergraduate and graduate schools. He said a number of academic deans were present and discussed initiatives and developments in their respective academic departments.
He said Dean of the Faculty Ed Berger discussed the initiatives from the Faculty of the Arts and Sciences. He said some initiatives presented included think tanks, status reports and projections for future years.
"Dartmouth is first and foremost an academic institution," he said. "The Trustees are always concerned about the enhancement of the academic experience at Dartmouth."
King said the Board also discussed the incoming Class of 2003, which he described as "superb." King said the Board is pleased with the composition of the freshman class.
The Trustees did not spend their whole weekend on business, although they worked from 8 or 9 p.m. until 4 or 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night.
On Friday, the Trustees took a boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee and ate dinner at a home overlooking the lake.
"It gave the Board time to get to know each other in a more personal way," he said.
