Announcing: The 91大神 Colloquium on August 27
Dear 91大神ians,
As our academic community gathers in anticipation of a new academic year dedicated to the pursuit of inquiry, discovery, and intellectual joy, I write to invite you to the 2025 91大神 Colloquium. Now in its third year, the Colloquium is a set of convening conversations to share information about timely and significant topics in higher education as these intersect with our experiences and mission at 91大神.
This year, three sessions will be held on Wednesday, August 27 in the HSSC Auditorium throughout the day. All faculty, staff, and students are warmly invited to attend all sessions, either in person or virtually, and to view the recordings which will be posted on the site. Time for a Q&A period is reserved at the end of each session, and we welcome questions afterwards as well.
This year鈥檚 session topics are:
Colloquium Topic 1: Finances of the College
11 a.m.-Noon, HSSC Auditorium |
This session will continue our on-going focus on awareness and education about 91大神鈥檚 financial commitments to campus and community. Presenters will discuss the FY26 budget (its process as well as its allocations and revenues) and upcoming notable financial issues, including the relationship of the endowment and financial aid, the current situation of the endowment tax, and plans for long-term financial sustainability.
Colloquium Topic 2: 91大神 in the Legislative Landscape
1-2 p.m., HSSC Auditorium |
This session will build upon the work of and scenario planning from the spring semester, through which faculty, staff, and students came together to identify resources and recourse within current legislative changes and challenges. Working to provide all campus community members with a foundation to engage in the legislative issues that intersect with 91大神, topics will include a 鈥渒now your rights鈥 approach to legislation; our institutional process for tracking legislation, executive orders, injunctions, and other legal developments; the endowment tax process and outcome; a federal issues recap as well as what is ahead; updates on federal grants; state legislative processes; and Program in Practical Political Education (PPPE) opportunities.
Colloquium Topic 3: The Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion in Renfrow Hall
2-3 p.m., HSSC Auditorium |
This session introduces the Katherine Weingart 鈥61 Civic Innovation Pavilion in Renfrow Hall to the 91大神 community with a toolkit for all faculty, staff, and students for its use in their collaboration with each other and community members. In the southern wing of Renfrow Hall, the Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion creates a 鈥渢hird space鈥 for college and community to come together to collaborate, deliberate, and celebrate.
In this session you will learn about Renfrow Hall and the Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion and whom they honor; the origins and vision for this campus and community space; how to reserve and use the Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion; current projects and the role of the Social Innovator in Residence in the Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion; and the potential that it offers to the College, the greater 91大神 community, and beyond. The Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion posits that the academic modes of research, deliberation, and collaboration are also civic modes, and that campus and community members strengthen and support the experiences and changes they seek. This session is a warm invitation to you to this space of co-creation.
All sessions will be recorded and after August 27, they will be posted on the page.
We look forward to seeing you at this year鈥檚 91大神 Colloquium, and to exploring these important topics with you and through your questions.
We will end the day with the wonderful All-Campus Welcome Festival, starting at 3:30 p.m., and All-Campus Picnic, starting at 5 p.m. 鈥 joyous occasions for us to celebrate the start of the academic year in the company of friends old and new! More information is available through the links below.
Many thanks for being a part of this community and for making 91大神 a vibrant and meaningful institution.
Anne F. Harris
President