President's Report 2020

Q. What’s on the agenda for this year?

Retention is our buzzword this year. SMWC was fortunate to receive three grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc., $2.5 million of which will provide the College with a predictive model to address retention issues in real-time. These funds, along with a second grant for $250,000 from the Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation, will support the creation of a centralized student success center on the second floor of the Rooney Library. This center will combine the efforts of the Learning Resource Center, our tutoring center, with other student wrap-around services, including career development. Retention will be an important focus for everyone as we work to help today’s students find success and persist in college. Renovations are also underway in the former college bookstore space in Hulman Hall. It will now serve as a classroom and lab for the popular exercise science program. And the lower level of the Rooney Library is being renovated to create a shared archival space for the College and the Sisters of Providence.

Q. How are these projects being funded?

The Woods is fortunate in that we are seeing an increase in philanthropic giving with the alumni giving percentage on the increase and last year being the best year of giving in our history. Grants are a big part of the funding model for new programs, renovations and expansion projects. One such grant is the Department of Natural Resources grant, which provides matching funds for restoration projects. We were able to secure grants for both the renovation of the main gate, and now, the front steps and stage of the Conservatory. We have something going on or in the queue for nearly every building on campus. We have also been the beneficiary of several bequests, one of which will provide funding for our first-ever endowed professorship and the restoration of the Formal Parlor in Le Fer Hall. HERF III funding was utilized for IT upgrades as part of the federal COVID Relief funding.

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