Delivering an upbeat message of growth and accomplishment, Mills
College President Janet Holmgren said the College is getting bigger
and better everyday and continuing to exceed its own goals.
“We are surging ahead at Mills,” said Holmgren, now in her
fourteenth year as president. “Right now we are on target with our
strategic plan, we are on target with the Sesquicentennial
campaign, and we are on target with strengthening and growing the
institution.”
During last Thrusdays speech, Holmgren congratulated the efforts
of the Sesquicentennial campaign fundraisers, who had already
surpassed goals of $100 million by nearly $10 million as of early
September. She predicted the total will exceed $120 million by the
December deadline.
With the largest proportion of the funds being allocated for
endowments for student financial aid, Holmgren said the College
will continue to focus on ensuring that any qualified student can
afford Mills.
“Values are the strongest elements of any college,” Holmgren
said. “We commit to first-rate education. We commit to being a
diverse institution. It is all of our jobs to give students at
Mills the very best education available.”
Students may also be seeing more of the president in the
classroom soon, where she wants to observe the Mills experience.
She encouraged faculty and staff to invite her to their classrooms
and offices, “not for a show and tell but for a class, a working
meeting, whatever. Give me an opportunity to see this college in
action.”
Financially, Holmgren said the College is doing well, with the
College’s endowment increased by $16 million and assets of $30
million.
“For the second year in a row the books have closed in the black
with some surplus,” she said, attributing it to budget management,
campaign efforts and cooperation by all.
Mills will also have a polling place on campus for November
elections, Holmgren said, sparking the loudest applause received
during her speech. “I urge you to be involved in the political
process. I urge you to vote and to find ways to help others to
vote.”
Applauding the efforts of the admission department, Holmgren
credited the staff for increasing admissions by four percent for
undergraduates and three percent for graduates, bringing the total
number of Mills students to 1,249 for this fall.
The president also welcomed nine new Board of Trustee members,
bringing the total to 47, as well as welcomed several new staff,
faculty, and visiting professors.
