OA Annual Report 2023

Reunion Housing Reduced

Change can be difficult. As Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) continues to grow and its campus population diversifies, change has become the new normal. That is particularly true for housing, even at Reunion. Today, the old way of doing things may not work at The Woods, nor should it. “It is important to acknowledge the strain we have been putting on our resources during the summer months, the negative impact it has on the buildings and what we are able to provide our students and their experience,” said Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98, vice president for advancement. “The College’s decision a disruption to norms that is being felt by alumni during registration for Reunion 2024,” she continued. Summers have become shorter with a robust fall athletic season. Resident Assistants arrive in late July before the first wave of athletes moves in to begin training prior to the academic year. With only ten weeks between commencement and the return of the first students, the use of residential facilities is being managed differently this summer. “My team’s priority must be to address maintenance needs and prepare the making focus on the student experience has caused

buildings for the return of our students,” said Frankie Morris-Enochs ’93, vice president for institutional technologies and operations. “Not only do we have deferred maintenance in our historic buildings and preventative maintenance in every residence hall, but there is considerable annual cleaning and staging that is difficult to accomplish when summer guests are occupying residential rooms.” Recognizing the need to address a significant amount of work in a limited timeframe by a modest-sized team, the administration has reduced the number of weeks and spaces available to be rented

semester, the advancement team reduced campus housing capacity to 90 beds for Reunion 2024. It is planned that Le Fer Hall will be fully functional during Reunion on May 31-June 2, 2024. If there are physical plant issues like those the College has battled during recent reunions, attendees will be housed in Les Bois Hall, the new three-floor unit with approximately 30 beds on each floor. Rooms blocks with special discount rates have been arranged at local hotels to accommodate additional alumni reunion attendees. Booking information is available online at smwc.edu/alumni/reunion-2024. “The Woods is a special place that calls us home. I know my fellow alums want today’s students to enjoy their experience living at The Woods as much as we did in our own time,” said Saunders. “It is my hope that our alumni join us for the weekend and reconnect with The Woods and one another, regardless of where they rest their heads,” she added. Change can be difficult. Change at The Woods is not undertaken without great consideration, especially when that change affects something we treasure. As Saint Mother Theodore Guerin said, “We are always in fear about what we treasure.”

“The College’s decision-making focus on the student experience has caused a disruption to norms that is being felt by alumni during registration for Reunion 2024,” ­ — Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98

to non-residential student groups during the summer weeks. “We need to be ready for students’ arrival,” Morris-Enochs added. “Keeping our focus on students makes solving these complicated problems much easier.” This change in priority impacts a variety of groups including alumni reunion, graduate students and faculty attending residencies, summer camps, as well as the College’s approach to scheduling summer conferences and events in the future. To support the operations team in their efforts to prepare the buildings for the fall

18