leadership profile | president

LEADERSHIP PROFILE | PRESIDENT

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES:

An Overview

2 | LEADERSHIP PROFILE: HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

“Hobart and William Smith Colleges

are a student-centered learning

environment, globally focused,

grounded in the values of equity and

service, developing citizens who will

lead in the 21st century.”

MISSION

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Synopsis |Hobart and William Smith are selective, residential, liberal arts colleges defined by a longstanding focus on educating across academic disciplines and the close work of research and creativity that connects faculty and students.

With a strong commitment to diversity, the Colleges have a distinguished history of interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, curricular innovation and exceptional outcomes. Sixty percent of HWS students study abroad and all participate in community service activities.

Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region in Geneva, N.Y., Hobart and William Smith enjoy a 320-acre campus on the shore of Seneca Lake. With a population of 13,000, Geneva was recently named an All-America City.

Originally founded as two separate colleges (Hobart for men in 1822 and William Smith for women in 1908), Hobart and William Smith students share the same campus, faculty, administration and curriculum. Each College maintains its own traditions, deans, student government and athletic department, providing students with innovative, 21st century construct to interrogate gender and difference.

“...students share the same campus, faculty, administration and curriculum.”


History |When John Henry Hobart, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, visited Geneva in 1818, he recognized that the bustling lakeside village was an ideal place to build what he called an “outpost for civilized and learned behavior.” Offering a classical education for men, Geneva College opened in 1822 and was renamed in Hobart’s honor in 1852, remaining strongly affiliated with the Episcopal Church until the mid-20th century.

William Smith College was founded in 1908 by William Smith, a Geneva nurseryman and philanthropist. Considering how best to transform his wealth into opportunity for others, Smith was influenced by his friendships with local suffragists who encouraged him to found a nondenominational, liberal arts institution dedicated to educating women broadly, not just vocationally.

By 1941, all students were taking classes together. In the late 1960s, the curriculum changed significantly from an intensive study of Western Civilization toward open-ended and goal-oriented requirements. The Colleges were among the first in the nation to offer programs in women’s studies, African American studies and LGBTQ studies.

BISHOP JOHN HENRY HOBART

WILLIAM SMITH

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HWS Today |There’s an entrepreneurial spirit at HWS that has existed for generations and that has only gained momentum in the past two decades. Through a series of five-year strategic plans and the recent completion of a successful campaign, Hobart and William Smith have made thoughtful and deliberate advances across key objectives improving academic excellence, intensifying student engagement, improving and enlarging facilities, advancing financial stability and expanding access.

In an academic environment that cultivates strong partnerships between faculty and students, and that prizes intellectual agility and experiential learning,

students are encouraged to see the world from multiple perspectives. They learn to examine and evaluate facts and phenomena, discern patterns and arguments, and understand and form connections between ideas, issues and values. By sharing discoveries, interpretations and analyses, they become creative and critical thinkers and communicators.

Under the mentorship of faculty, staff and coaches, students gain the necessary clarity to be competitive when seeking employment. They win prestigious fellowships like the Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Udall, Fulbright and Goldwater. They gain admittance to the best graduate programs in the country. They go on to lead lives of consequence.

Money Magazine (2016):

HWS named among the

“50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges.”

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Facts10:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

46 majors and 68 minors

14Number of Fulbright recipients in

two years

16Average Class Size

100%Of students participate in community

service

60%Of students study abroad in

50 locations

80%Of the Classes of 2015 had an

internship or research opportunity

23National athletic championships

22,000Alumni and Alumnae

3Degrees offered (B.A., B.S., M.A.T.)

45%Of enrolled students who applied

Early Decision

88%Of students receive some form of

financial aid (need and merit)

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The Academic Program |Hobart and William Smith recently completed a comprehensive, multiyear process to review and revise the curriculum. The new curriculum, which has begun its implementation phase, adopts “Explore, Collaborate, Act” as an animating principle for common and engaged discourse. With an emphasis on writing enhancement, the revised curriculum also includes an enhanced First Year Seminar experience and the requirement of a capstone project in every discipline.

Critical thinking and communication comprise the foundation of the HWS education. The ability to articulate a question, identify and gain access to appropriate information, organize and present evidence, and construct complex, elegant, and persuasive arguments in written and oral forms are

integral to the Colleges’ vision of “Explore, Collaborate, Act.” Students work with their faculty advisors to construct a course of study that demonstrates that they have met the goals of the curriculum.

The 230-member faculty is strong and engaged in interdisciplinary teaching and research of great depth. It is justifiably proud of its many successes in acclaimed research, its ability to attract grant funding, and its capacity to engage students in nationally recognized research projects. Ninety-seven percent of HWS faculty members have a Ph.D. or terminal degree.

The Colleges have pre-professional programs in medicine, law and business as well as joint degree programs in engineering with Dartmouth College and Columbia University. The Education Department offers programs leading to New York State initial certification as well as a master of arts in teaching degree open to HWS graduates.

Top Majors

Economics

Media & Society

Political Science

Environmental Studies

Psychology

Biology

The HWS chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established in 1871, making it one of the oldest chapters in the nation.

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In 2016, the Colleges were named among

the top colleges and universities with the most recipients of 2015-16 U.S.

Fulbright Student Awards, placing

13th in the nation.

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Distinctive Curricular and Co-Curricular Programs |

Center for Teaching and LearningThe Center for Teaching and Learning offers a variety of support and enrichment programs to students: Teaching Fellows support students’ coursework in 12 departments; the Quantitative Reasoning—or “Q”—Fellows assist with mathematical processes in any course; the Writing Fellows provide students guidance with all stages of writing assignments; and Study Mentors give support with time management and study skills. The Center also has a wide array of

enrichment and support opportunities, from Faculty Learning Communities to one-on-one consultations.

Centennial Center for LeadershipThe Centennial Center for Leadership provides a learning-centered environment to develop global, community and entrepreneurial leaders who

are grounded in the Colleges’ core values of equity and service. Dedicated in 2007 in conjunction with the William Smith Centennial, CCL has become

a point of distinction for the Colleges offering noted programs such as the annual Stu Lieblein ‘90 Pitch Contest, HWS Leads Leadership Program, Beyond

Borders global leadership program, the two-day Leadership Institute, HWS Idealab and most recently, the Hackathon, a 24-hour social innovation program.

Center for Community Engagement and Service LearningAt HWS, there exists a widespread commitment to learning through service, educating students who are civically engaged and graduates who are active citizens. The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning focuses on creating a sustained, engaged relationship with the community through The Geneva Partnership, promoting positive community change and enhanced student learning.

Collectively, HWS students contribute more than 80,000 hours of service and engagement annually to local, national and international communities, generating approximately $110,000 in fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations.


The Finger Lakes Instituteis dedicated to the promotion of environmental research and education about the Finger Lakes and surrounding environments. In collaboration with regional environmental partners and state and local government offices, the Institute fosters environmentally sound development practices throughout the region, and disseminates accumulated knowledge to the public.

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Center for Global EducationDelivering dynamic academic experiences around the world, Hobart and William Smith are ranked seventh in the nation for study abroad opportunities and global programming by Princeton Review. While the national average is 2%, at HWS, 60% of students study abroad in more than 50 programs on six continents. The nationally recognized Center for Global Education provides HWS faculty-led abroad programs which include pre- and post-departure advising and opportunities. The Colleges also offer programs like the Charles H. Salisbury Summer International Internship Stipend, which enable students to explore their futures through internships at leading companies and organizations worldwide.


Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential EducationThe Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education is an early pioneer in collaborating with internal and external partners to assist students in realizing their career objectives. The Center offers a developmental approach called Pathways that guides students as they assess their interests, values and skills. Through Pathways, students research careers, spend time with professionals in the career they are pursuing, take backstage tours of career fields and secure internships and jobs. Because Hobart and William Smith recognize how important an internship is in determining career direction, students of good academic and social standing who have successfully completed the Pathways Program, are guaranteed one internship or research opportunity.

The Fisher Center for the Study of Women and MenThe Fisher Center brings together faculty, students and experts in gender-related fields in the arts, humanities, and social and natural sciences to foster mutual understanding and social justice in contemporary society. The Center supports curricular, programmatic and scholarly projects that address democratic ideals of equity, mutual respect and common interest in relations between men and women.

The Peter Trias ResidencyThe Peter Trias Residency at Hobart and William Smith Colleges is designed to give distinguished poets and fiction writers time to write. Academic expectations allow for sustained interaction with the Colleges’ best students while providing the freedom necessary to produce new work. Residents are active, working artists whose presence contributes to the intellectual environment of the Colleges and Geneva. The Residency includes a visiting writers’ series.

The Princeton Review’s “Colleges That Pay You Back” (2016): Hobart and William Smith named among the nation’s top schools for delivering the best in education, affordability, career preparation and outcomes.

OF NOTE

This event is free and open to the public.Special thanks to the Peter Trias Endowed Fund for Poetry and Creative Writing, the Provost’s Office, and the English Department.

Thursday Sept. 15, 2016 7:30 p.m. Albright Auditorium

Thursday Oct. 6, 2016 7:30 p.m. Bartlett Theatre

Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016 7:30 p.m. Bartlett Theatre

2016-2017 Trias Writer in Residence

Jeff VanderMeerNovelist and Editor

Dexter PalmerNovelist

Amelia GrayAuthor

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Student Life |Students live and learn on campus in a vibrant environment that celebrates difference, values collaboration and builds community. Shaped by students’ wide-

ranging and evolving interests, there are more than 90 student clubs with a variety of focus topics including cultural, social justice and global awareness groups; the internationally ranked Debate Team and the Koshare Dance Collective; and clubs dedicated to voter registration, public affairs, art appreciation and Ultimate Frisbee among many others.

The Colleges offer single gender and co-ed traditional residence halls, townhouses, fraternities and small themed houses where students share a similar interest or cause. Nearly all students live on campus with some exceptions made for seniors, married couples and life-long learners. Some residence halls are in historic buildings overlooking Seneca Lake while others are new and nationally recognized for their impact on student life.

As early as 1840, fraternities have been a part of campus life and played a role in Hobart College’s development and growth. Today seven fraternities are officially recognized by the Colleges and HWS is in the process of exploring sorority extensions.

Spiritual EngagementAt Hobart and William Smith, the life of the spirit and the life of the mind need not be separate or mutually exclusive, but in fact may be profoundly interrelated and rewarding. The Office for Spiritual Engagement works to promote engagement with that interrelationship through services, programming and spiritual support that provide hospitality and advocacy for students of all religions and cultures.

Student GovernanceHobart College and William Smith College have separate student governments—William Smith Congress and the Hobart Student Association—each with its own jurisdiction. Together, they fund clubs and maintain several joint committees (e.g. planning committee). Student governments also elect representatives to some faculty committees. Each government consists of a legislative and a judicial branch, as well as representatives to other administrative bodies.

Each year two students – one Hobart and one William Smith – are elected by their peers to represent the student body as voting members of the Colleges’ Board of Trustees.

Title IXIn 2015, the Colleges significantly expanded its Office for Title IX Programs and Compliance. The office now includes a Title IX coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and a Prevention and Education Coordinator, increasing its outreach to students and facilitating the timely resolution of cases.

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS


Fiske praises Hobart and William Smith’s “innovative curriculum” and notes that HWS is a place where students are “rewarded with small classes, caring faculty, and a place where tradition still matters.” (2017)

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AthleticsWith more than 80% of HWS students participating in varsity sports, intramurals, club sports or outdoor programs, athletics is a key component of the student experience at HWS. Over the course of the past two decades, the number of scholar-athletes has increased significantly. From 1952 to 1999, HWS boasted 12 Academic All-Americans, one of the most prestigious and select awards programs for scholar-athletes. Since then, 25 HWS students have earned the recognition, including the Colleges’ first Academic All-America of the Year.

Approximately 25% of the student population competes on one of the 23 varsity athletic teams at the Colleges, all of which are Division III with the exception of the Division I Hobart lacrosse team. Sailing is the only coed varsity sport. Since 1999, the Colleges have collectively won more than 82 conference championships and four National Championships. In addition, 18 club teams and 16 intramural sports are supplemented by extensive outdoor recreation and wellness programs.

The Colleges enjoy outstanding facilities including the Caird Center for Sports and Recreation equipped with a weight room, racquetball courts, new international-competition squash courts, an aerobics/multi-purpose workout space and a 200-meter competitive track. The Caird Center also houses the Outdoor Recreation Adventure office and rental center, locker rooms, and 71,000 square feet of field house space for basketball, tennis and indoor field sports .


HWS has the largest solar installation at any institution of higher education in New York.

The opening of the solar farm: HWS took another meaningful step toward climate neutrality with the construction of two local solar farms, which will deliver 50% of the Colleges’ power.

Sustainability |Environmental sustainability is a core value at HWS. With a unique program that allows students and faculty to use the physical campus as a laboratory to explore environmental impact mitigation strategies, the HWS Sustainability Program encourages students to link classroom learning to real world applications that play a direct role in the environmental performance of the Colleges.

On the recommendation of students, in 2007 HWS signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, making HWS a charter member of a national effort to reduce emissions of the gases responsible for global warming. In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2025, the Colleges have completed several comprehensive greenhouse gas inventories, cut energy consumption by more than 10%, and created robust recycling and composting programs. Today, 100% of the Colleges’ electricity comes from wind. More recently, HWS took another meaningful step toward climate neutrality with the construction of two local solar farms, which will deliver 50% of the Colleges’ power. Once completed, the combined arrays will provide five megawatts of power, the largest solar installation at any institution of higher education in New York State. Nationally, the combined solar farm will be one of the top 10 solar projects on campuses, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.


Diversity and Inclusion |Through a robust study abroad program, a campus community with strong cultural affiliations, and a curriculum that prizes inclusion, students form an appreciation for the vivid diversity of humans as they also seek connections and similarities within that diversity.

In 2016, the Colleges appointed the first Interim Chief Diversity Officer in HWS history and formed a committee of faculty, staff, students and trustees to complete a Strategic Diversity Plan. The committee is charged with articulating issues, creating plans of work, and envisioning a campus community in which all members are valued.

The campus community offers a wide variety of academic and social events that reflect and promote the cultural diversity of campus. There are currently more than 15 culture clubs including Pride Alliance, Hillel, Asian Student Union, Sankofa, Women’s Collective and Latin American Organization. Each of these clubs celebrates its identity with annual campus events like Take Back the Night, the Caribbean Student Association’s Celebrate Diversity Dinner and the Black Student Union Charity Ball.

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Hillel included HWS in its list of

“Top 20 Small and Mighty Campuses

of Excellence.”

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Enrollment2,241 full-time students

49.6% are men

50.4% are women

From 40 states and 35 countries

6.4% are international students

15.5% identify as domestic students

of color

Enrollment And Financial Aid |Hobart and William Smith Colleges enroll 2,241 full-time students of whom 49.6% are men and 50.4% are women. Students come from 40 states and 35 countries; 6.4% are international students and 15.5% identify as domestic students of color.

For entrance in the fall of 2016 (the Classes of 2020), the Colleges received 4,614 applications and accepted 60% of students to enroll a class of 590 new students. Yield on acceptances was 21%. Almost 45% of the class was enrolled through the Early Decision program, and 45% of those students were rated for athletics. Average SAT scores were 1190-1320 and the average ACT was 26-30.

In the past two decades, Early Decision numbers have gone from 17% to 45% today. One out of every five current students hails from a legacy family meaning that a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin also attended the Colleges.


Advancement and Alumni Relations |When students graduate from Hobart and William Smith, they join a vast network of more than 20,000 alumni and alumnae across the United States and living in nearly every country in the world. Pockets of density in urban areas like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago offer opportunities for HWS to translate the sense of community that students feel on campus to post-graduation life.

Approximately 24% of all HWS alums are graduates of the last decade. Creating a deeper engagement with recent graduates is necessary for the longtime health and vitality of the Colleges, and the Colleges have been successfully engaged in efforts to re-envision an alumni and alumnae relations program that fosters stronger ties with the Colleges through new forms of communication, services, benefits, events and volunteer opportunities.

In a 2015 survey of alums 9 out of 10 would recommend the Colleges to a friend or family member and 9 out of 10 alums say that the Colleges are “Effective” or “Extremely Effective” at preparing students for the future, demonstrating the deep ties and abiding satisfaction among the alum body.

Parents and alum constituencies are represented with robust volunteer structures that include the Parents Executive Committee, the Hobart College Alumni Association and William Smith Alumnae Association.

Advancement Totals FY 15-16Annual Fund Budget Relieving Total $3,752,094

Annual Fund Total Commitments $4,478,188

Donor Total 5,955

Alum Participation Rate 28.94%

Total Gift Income Received $12.01M

Total Cash and Commitments $26.77M Campaign for the Colleges, which concluded in 2012, raised more than $205 million, making it the largest fundraising effort in the Colleges’ history and impacting every aspect of life at HWS including the academic program, student life, the endowment, annual giving and facilities.

The 2016 fiscal year was among the best on record with the largest number of alumni and alumnae donors in the past 15 years and record breaking attendance at Reunion Weekend and at Homecoming and Family Weekend. In total, members of 76 classes, going as far back as 1934, made a gift during the 2016 fiscal year.

Kiplinger Personal Finance (2016): HWS named to Kiplinger’s list of

100 Best College Values.

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Finances and Operating Budget |In August 2016, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) affirmed its “A” long-term rating and underlying rating on Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ outstanding fixed rate bonds and its AA+ rating on the Colleges’ variable rate bonds. The report cited a very strong enterprise profile characterized by historically stable enrollment and moderate selectivity, sound student quality, and a strong financial profile.

In addition, S&P maintained its stable outlook for HWS reflecting their assessment of the Colleges’ ability to successfully manage their finances and operations. S&P explains: “The stable outlook reflects our expectation that management will maintain at least break-even GAAP operating performance, continue to increase financial resource ratios, and stabilize demand in the next two years.”

The operating budget for fiscal year 2017 is $104 million.

Net tuition revenue funds more than 60% of the operating budget. At the close of the 2016 fiscal year, the fair value of Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ endowment investments was approximately $187.2 million.

Forbes (2016): Thanks to record philanthropy from HWS alums, the Colleges were named

among the nation’s top colleges and universities

with the best return on investment.

Ranked No. 80, HWS made Forbes Grateful Grads Index for the third year in a row

as part of its annual “America’s Top

Colleges” ranking.

OF NOTE


Accreditation |In 2014, the Colleges received an outstanding accreditation report from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education indicating that HWS fulfilled all standards and characteristics of excellence. Since the last Middle States reaccreditation, the team reported, Hobart and William Smith “have enhanced academic quality, expanded the faculty, improved campus resources and facilities, strengthened its competitive position, completed a successful $205 million campaign, contributed creatively to Geneva, developed signature programs in co-curricular learning, and nurtured its tradition and engagement of alums – all while weathering extremely well the national financial difficulties of the past six years,” the report states.

In particular, the report praised the Colleges’ responsiveness to their last decennial report and the response to the Periodic Review Report, citing progress in developing and fostering a culture of assessment, noteworthy advancement in creating greater equity in student council and judicial processes, success in offering students significant learning opportunities outside the classroom, the exceptional investment in its relationship with the city of Geneva, and a genuine culture of respect and appreciation among and across key constituencies.

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Princeton Review (2015): The Colleges were named one of the nation’s 50 best colleges and universities for providing students with outstanding outcomes in its guide “Colleges That Create Futures: 50 Schools That Launch Careers by Going Beyond the Classroom.” The Colleges were cited for excellence in academics and faculty engagement.

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Governance and Administration |The Colleges are governed by a 36-member Board of Trustees, most of whom are alumni and alumnae. The Board includes the President and four student Trustees, two with voting privileges. In addition, 19 honorary trustees provide historical knowledge and guidance. The Board of Trustees is engaged deeply in the success of the Colleges and meets three times a year, typically on campus. The Board of Trustees has fiduciary responsibility for the Colleges, oversees matters of basic policy, selects and reviews the performance of the President of the Colleges and is empowered to appoint board committees and to elect board officers.

Like most liberal arts colleges and universities, Hobart and William Smith operate a shared governance system in which the faculty body actively participates in decision-making, weighing in on issues from the adoption and assessment of new academic programs to information technology resources, library services, employment matters and the tenure process. To undertake this work, the faculty at Hobart and William Smith use a committee structure that, although revised over the decades to meet the changing needs of the Colleges, can be traced back to at least the 1930s.

The faculty follows bylaws to govern itself. Principal faculty committees include the Committee on the Faculty, Committee on Academic Affairs, Committee on Tenure and Promotion, and Committee on Standards. Of the 11 standing committees that make up the backbone of faculty governance at HWS, the Committee on the Faculty has what is arguably the broadest mandate: oversight of the policies and practices associated with academic freedom, research, faculty workload, faculty working conditions and faculty compensation. The committee also provides input on the budget, faculty recruitment, retention, and tenure and promotion.

Facilities |Hobart and William Smith Colleges sit in one of the most stunning locations in the country. A carefully designed campus master plan and the efforts of talented groundskeeping staff have resulted in a campus of incomparable beauty, with modern facilities nestled near structures that have served faculty and students for nearly two centuries. Over the past two decades and guided by the strategic planning process, Hobart and William Smith have experienced a period of unprecedented growth and expansion of the physical plant, constructing six new buildings and renovating dozens of others.

In January 2016, the Colleges celebrated the grand opening of the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, an extraordinary 65,000-square-foot facility named in honor of outgoing President Mark D. Gearan and Mary Herlihy Gearan that brings together music, dance, theatre and media and society in a unified academic space for the first time. Made possible thanks to the generosity of countless alumni, alumnae and friends of the Colleges, the facility is the largest capital project in the history of HWS.

The Princeton Review’s “Guide to 353 Green

Colleges” (2015): HWS named one

of North America’s most environmentally responsible schools,

the fourth consecutive year the Colleges have

been honored.

OF NOTE


Geneva, N.Y. |A city of 13,000 in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Geneva is experiencing a renaissance due in large part to increased tourism and a growing number of highly regarded regional wineries. In a geographic area known for its natural splendor, the region played important roles in the Women’s Rights Movement and the Underground Railroad.

Rich in history and natural beauty, Geneva’s size, location, diversity and opportunities make it big enough for students to examine the real-world applications of a variety of fields of study yet small enough to propose solutions and put them in action. Under the guidance of faculty and community partners, students create meaningful change and learn how to scale that change to advance the common good in other communities around the nation and the world.

The City of Geneva and Town of Geneva often and successfully team with the Colleges on projects important to the future of the area. For example, in 2015 and in partnership with the Colleges, Geneva was named an All-America City and in 2016 won a competitive $10M grant as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

HWS has also partnered with the Geneva City School District on an initiative called Geneva 2020 which seeks to harness the resources of the Colleges and the entire Geneva community to provide assistance in key areas identified by the school district

as being critical to the future of Geneva’s children. With the goal of ensuring that students in the local community have the skills necessary to graduate from high school and to effectively pursue college and careers, the program has helped move the local high school graduation rate from 70.7% in 2010 to 87.6% in 2016.

Dotted with eye-catching historic structures, Geneva’s downtown district is home to many unique shops, services and cafés. At the heart of downtown Geneva is The Smith Opera House, among the oldest operating theatres in the United States. Throughout the year, The Smith hosts music, theater, dance and other cultural events. Hobart and William Smith is a proud sponsor of Geneva Concerts, a concert series that annually brings esteemed dance and music performers to the region.

Geneva is located approximately one hour away from Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca, N.Y.


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Washington Monthly (2014): HWS ranked 8th in the

nation among liberal arts colleges for dedication

to service.

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES:

The Opportunity


The Board of Trustees of Hobart and William Smith Colleges invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position of President.

Overview | The next President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges will join an institution with the momentum, energy and drive to build on a record of tremendous success. The Colleges’ history of effective strategic planning and execution informed by community-wide engagement has enabled HWS to focus on critical issues during a time of unprecedented change in higher education. The 2005 strategic plan evolved into Campaign for the Colleges and mapped growth of the student body to more than 2,000 students while maintaining the student-to-faculty ratio, the completion of new and renovated capital projects, an increased endowment, and sustained annual giving. The planned growth of the student body was achieved one year in advance of the five-year goal, and the growth in new faculty achieved two years in advance. Its most recent strategic plan, HWS 2015, revisited the Colleges’ campus master plan and identified a new set of capital priorities, along with three main theme areas: Liberal Arts in the 21st Century, Community and Inclusive Excellence.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ commitment to outstanding liberal arts education is increasingly challenged by economic, cultural, social and political change. The Colleges seek a President who will:

• successfully lea d the Colleges through the shifting higher education landscape;

• effectively execute strategic plans;

• foster an environment that embraces shared governance, academic excellence and calculated risk;

• su bstantially increase philanthropic resources; and

• ensure that Hobart and William Smith can shape their own destiny as an outstanding liberal arts institution now and in the f uture.

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The Role of the President | The President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges is the educational leader and chief executive officer responsible for setting the vision and direction for the institution and deploying the institution’s human, capital and financial resources toward achieving that vision. Appointed by and responsible to the Board of Trustees, the President oversees long-range and short-range planning and ensures effective execution of plans and policies. Working with the Colleges’ 236 faculty, the administrative officers of the Colleges, and the 553 staff, the President ensures that appropriate systems are developed for staffing, evaluating and administering the academic and non-academic programs for the Colleges. The President manages all physical and financial resources, including the preparation of annual operating and capital budgets. As principal spokesperson, the President is expected to articulate forcefully and frequently the aims and goals for the Colleges to all constituencies, both on and off campus, and to the global educational community of which Hobart and William Smith are a part. Finally, the President shapes, leads and ensures effective support for the Colleges’ fund-raising efforts and materially participates in developing strategic relationships and partnerships on behalf of the Colleges.

Reporting to the President are the following members of the President’s Senior Staff:

• Provost and Dean of Faculty

• Deans of Hobart and of William Smith Colleges

• Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief Information Officer

• Vice President for Advancement

• Vice President for Finance and Administration, Assistant Treasurer to the Board

• Vice President for Enrollment and Admissions and Dean of the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education

• Vice President for Student Affairs

• Vice President for Communications

• Chief Diversity Officer

• Chief of Staff and Counsel, Assistant Secretary to the Board

• The Title IX Coordinator

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership | Hobart and William Smith Colleges claim a distinctive niche in higher education. The Colleges’ proud, progressive history provides a strong foundation for leadership in the national conversation on the future of the liberal arts and on the role of education in our society and the value of educated adults in our world. Its historic commitment to equity, social justice and stewardship of human and environmental resources provides a robust framework for imagining an HWS education for the 21st century that is relevant for the most pressing issues of our times. The Colleges seek a President who can galvanize its global community of alumni, alumnae, students, faculty, staff and friends to reinforce and invigorate the Colleges’ leadership role in higher education with a clear and compelling vision for its future.

The new President will be asked to address the following critical leadership issues, among others:

StrategicLeading change – The unprecedented changes impacting Hobart and William Smith, the entire higher education sector and society at large are forcing boards and leadership teams to cope rapidly with new variables and scrutinize choices or commitments that were once unassailable. This dynamic environment requires a leader who can engage all stakeholders in evaluating data, examining options and making decisions for the long-term benefit of the institution. Given their excellent academic reputation, stable enrollment, beautiful location and unique characteristics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges are in a better position than many to weather today’s unpredictable environment and to make bold moves that will attract new resources and secure a strong financial position. The Colleges seek a President who can lead change, strengthen the organization to withstand and succeed in a shifting landscape, and embrace the future with courage, creativity and conviction. A strategic planning process underway will provide a critical framework for the next President and the Colleges’ community to work together as they face the future.


Modeling inclusive culture – Cultural mobility is the new normal in our global society and at the Colleges. The Colleges seek a leader who can help the community think and plan strategically about what it means to be a socially progressive, diverse, tolerant and inclusive institution in a world increasingly defined by policy, rules and regulations. A new Diversity and Inclusion Task force was formed in 2015 to elevate and focus campus-wide discussions about race, gender identity, inclusion, equity, socioeconomics and empowerment so that the Colleges can visibly and substantially reflect their values in their programs, policies and structures. The next President will be expected to join and lead these and other conversations as he or she accelerates and broadens this work with the community with the goal of integrating diversity and inclusiveness in academics and all areas of the Colleges.

Programmatic/Academic Academic excellence – The Colleges’ future must be first and foremost a future in which academic strength and outstanding education are paramount. The new President will be asked to support a culture of intellectual and academic inquiry and engagement that anticipates and responds to the evolving challenges of the 21st century. Building on the Colleges’ intellectual and artistic strengths and with a clear commitment to liberal arts education, the President will lend a strong voice to supporting, valuing and celebrating excellence in teaching and scholarship.

Academic vision – The Colleges are strong across the full range of the liberal arts with the most popular majors being economics, media & society, political science, environmental studies, psychology and biology. In 2016, a new curriculum was voted in by the faculty that adopts the animating principle “Explore, Collaborate, Act.” This curriculum requires all students to complete an interdisciplinary first-year seminar, a major and minor, and address six aspirational goals that ensure a broad liberal arts education for all graduates. This new curriculum guides students to greater intellectual agility by emphasizing critical reading, writing and thinking through key components such as writing-enrichment and a capstone experience for all majors. Students have the responsibility and flexibility to craft their own paths while experiencing the power of thinking across traditional academic boundaries with faculty committed to this transformation. The new President

will be asked to support the development and delivery of this curriculum and the faculty who deliver it, while also articulating the richness of the Colleges’ academic vision to the broader community beyond HWS.

RelationshipsAlumni, Alumnae and Parents – The alums of Hobart and William Smith pride themselves on their engagement with and passion for the institution and the education from which they benefitted. Current and graduate parents play an ever increasing role in the life of the Colleges by supporting the exceptional opportunities offered to HWS students. The Colleges must tap the enthusiasm and leadership ability, building and leveraging relationships to significantly increase philanthropic support and engagement by these important constituencies.

Community relations – Relationships with the Geneva community are extraordinarily productive and mutually rewarding. The Colleges’ Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning is a leader in the field promoting positive community change and enhanced student learning. The Geneva Partnership between the Colleges and the City of Geneva was created to increase community engagement and develop graduates who will be agents for change in their own communities. Hobart and William Smith have made a number of investments in the City of Geneva including direct payments to assist the City budget, donations to non-profit organizations, and support of civic projects. This valued connection between the Colleges and Geneva is a remarkable differentiator and offers potential for further exploration under the next President. The City of Geneva and the surrounding region also have reason to support the Colleges which is one of the area’s largest employers and an important cultural, intellectual, social and economic asset in the region’s resurgence in agritourism.

Strategic partnerships – Hobart and William Smith is a founding member of the New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium, which includes Colgate, Hamilton, Hobart and William Smith, Skidmore, St. Lawrence and Union Colleges. Established with the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Consortium facilitates collaboration among its member institutions in fulfilling their educational missions and serving the public good. Through the sharing of expertise and resources, the Consortium enhances options for

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students, faculty and staff, while reducing colleges’ individual and collective operating and capital costs. Increasingly, colleges like Hobart and William Smith are seeking collaborative partnerships and alliances with other colleges, universities and other organizations. The next President will be expected to leverage those relationships as well as to identify and secure new ones that will advance the Colleges’ vision and strategy.

Operations and InfrastructurePlanning – The past two decades have seen significant growth and success for the Colleges. The institution has expanded its academic reach and advanced its reputation as a prominent liberal arts institution. By strengthening the Colleges’ financial resources and increasing its fund-raising range, Hobart and William Smith have transformed the physical campus, adding and expanding facilities while also increasing access and opportunity for students with an expansion of financial aid. The Colleges have made significant commitments to diversity and inclusion, propelled the Colleges’ environmental sustainability efforts, and grown programming in civic engagement, career services, leadership, study abroad and student services. Expanding commitments coupled with planned new initiatives have increased demands on faculty, staff, facilities and budget.

As the strategic planning process evolves, the Colleges’ next President will need to guide the institution through thoughtful discussions and decisions about priorities, resource alignment and effective organizational systems and infrastructure. Brand Identity and Marketing–In recent years, the Colleges have reviewed their brand and position in the marketplace, capitalizing on distinctive programs of global study, comprehensive career development, and service and leadership programs to refresh an institutional message that presents its distinctive identity as an institution that prepares students to lead lives of consequence. This message resonates with the next generation of HWS students, but may not fully distinguish HWS from peers and competitors. Further, the Colleges remain both advantaged and challenged by their strong histories and collective identity as coordinate colleges. Moving forward, Hobart and William Smith Colleges must find a way to leverage this distinctive history and identity by crafting and amplifying an institutional narrative that celebrates the Colleges’ success stories and presents the advantages of an HWS education in a contemporary light.

A new President will need to support efforts to define and sharpen the distinctive advantages of a Hobart and William Smith education, raising visibility and making the case for the substantial return on investment afforded graduates through its particular approach to education.

Enrollment and retention – Over the course of the past two decades, interest in an HWS education has intensified, reflecting efforts by the Colleges to capitalize on distinctive programs of global study, career development and service and leadership programs. Enrollment has increased by 20 percent in eight years and net tuition reserve has increased by 40 percent. Approximately 45 percent of applicants choose to apply as Early Decision candidates. Of particular note is that approximately 30 percent of each entering class is comprised of student athletes, a reflection of the critical role athletics plays in outreach and recruitment for HWS as well as the significant presence of athletics in student life. The Colleges’ partnerships with the Posse Foundation and the New York State Higher Education Opportunities Program have resulted in an increasingly diverse and high achieving student body. At the same time, the Colleges are weighing the impact of the changing national demographics and families’ concerns about affordability and return on investment with their ability to meet institutional goals related to quality, diversity and increasing net revenue. The Colleges are successful in retaining and graduating students at levels that outperform predictions, yet there is room for improvement. An institutional strategy focused on the recruitment of students determined most likely to be successful at HWS and increased collaboration with retention efforts will ensure successful progress. The new President will need to support an inclusive, comprehensive data and research-based strategy that supports enrollment and retention goals.

Financial and CapitalSustainable financial model – As a tuition-driven institution, Hobart and William Smith rely considerably on robust enrollment and careful management of resources to fund operations. Endowment income is modest compared to the Colleges’ current peer group. The Colleges have a strong balance sheet and credit rating, indicating effective and strategic stewardship of financial resources. An extensive Campus Master Plan was developed in 2016 to guide investment in facilities. A period of strong enrollment growth has taxed the institution’s capacity in residence halls, classrooms and athletic fields. Deferred maintenance has been


strategically funded, yet some of the Colleges’ buildings need significant updating, renovation or replacement to maintain competitive advantage and support the Colleges’ academic programs. The Board and Colleges’ leaders seek a President who can help them evaluate current and new financial models that will support the 21st century residential liberal arts college while adapting to and embracing new ways of growing the endowment and increasing net revenue. Fundraising – While philanthropic support for the Colleges has grown over the past several decades and the Colleges enjoyed great success with the recently concluded capital campaign, they face pressures shared with other selective liberal arts colleges: escalating costs, public scrutiny of value for price, competition from the public sector, questions about the value of a liberal arts undergraduate education in the traditional setting, and the cost of attracting and retaining students without a clearer sense of this value. To be successful, the Colleges must increase fund-raising results and the size and performance of its endowment. The next President will lead the Colleges in a new capital campaign. The strategic planning process and campus master plan will provide the President, Board and Colleges’ constituents a range of options and opportunities to build a compelling case that addresses these issues and increases philanthropic support.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities | Hobart and William Smith seek an inspiring leader who can engage its community in forging and executing a clear, contemporary, distinctive vision for liberal arts education that serves society and sustains the Colleges on the path to leadership and success. The ideal candidate will possess most if not all of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

Qualifications • A deep understanding of the higher education

landscape and the challenges nationally and globally

• A strong commitment to liberal arts education and to academic excellence, and the combination of academic credentials and/or intellectual abilities sufficient to command the respect of the faculty as well as successful executive/managerial experience sufficient to lead a complex institution

• Zest and capacity to lead successful fundraising efforts while navigating changes in the philanthropic landscape

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• Record of exceptional leadership that indicates:

proven ability to align vision with capability, capacity and resources

ability to assess risk, make tough decisions and preside over change

fiscal sophistication and savvy

finesse in crisis management

ability to attract and retain superior talent in the leadership team and to delegate distributed leadership

• A deep respect for and understanding of the academic enterprise, a commitment to enhancing academic excellence, and knowledge of and appreciation for:

teaching, learning and the life of the mind

research, scholarship and creative works

student life and success

• A demonstrated commitment to and achievement in advancing diversity and inclusion in many forms

• Understanding of the education marketplace and the students and families of today and tomorrow

• Inspiring communication skills effective with multiple audiences; ability to listen and to lead authentic conversations; ability to be a vigorous and effective spokesperson and advocate for the Colleges and its students externally

• Facility in using data and assessment to inform institutional decision-making

• An understanding of and appreciation for technology and its ability to enhance the academic enterprise and experience

• A commitment to the value of community engagement and meaningful local and global participation

• A commitment to shared governance including experience with a governing board; openness to different viewpoints and consultation coupled with the ability to move forward with decisions

• An awareness of the important role that athletics, fitness and wellness have on the overall wellbeing of a community

• Ability to engage and inspire alumni and alumnae to be active participants in the life of the Colleges

• Potential to be a national thought leader and institutional reputation builder

Personal Characteristics• Strong core values including impeccable integrity,

sound judgment and appropriate levels of transparency

• A secure and confident sense of self, comfortable with being the face of the Colleges and with giving credit to others; approachability, accessibility and eagerness to engage with students

• A genuine interest in students and their development and welfare

• A demonstrated commitment to the professional development of staff and faculty

• An inquiring and analytical mind with the ability to ask serious and insightful questions

• An appreciation for and interest in building upon the best of the Colleges’ history and traditions along with a comfort in leading change

• A source of good ideas; able to recognize and lift others’ good ideas; and the ability to build support for and ownership of good ideas

• The stamina to commit to the intensity of the work with grace and good humor; enthusiasm for the people and the place; capacity to be present and engaged; empathetic

• An unwavering commitment to Hobart and William Smith’s mission, vision and values


Procedure for Candidacy |

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by January 15, 2017. Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Profile, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to the Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ consultants Lucy Leske, Robin Mamlet and Jennifer Desjarlais at [email protected]. Documents that must be mailed may be sent to Witt/Kieffer, c/o Lucy Leske, Robin Mamlet, and Jennifer Desjarlais, 2015 Spring Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523.

Non Discrimination StatementHobart and William Smith Colleges are committed to providing a non-discriminatory and harassment-free educational, living, and working environment for all members of the HWS community, including students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. HWS prohibits discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities on the basis of age, color, disability, domestic violence victim status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, other forms of sexual misconduct including stalking and intimate partner violence, and gender-based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature.

The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from Hobart and William Smith Colleges documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern.

All images and logos used in this leadership profile were attained from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

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300 Pulteney StreetGeneva, NY 14456

www.hws.edu