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Afia Ofori-Mensa, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, shares details about STRONG, a new program she and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Tim Elgren are introducing this summer to increase the likelihood that underrepresented and/or first-generation college students will succeed at ���سԹ�.

I’m writing to update our community on two important topics: improvements in ���سԹ�’s student support and mental health services and the ban on smoking tobacco on campus.

More than 7,000 students applied to be considered for the Class of 2019. Acceptance letters were sent out at the end of last week, and admitted students and their families will soon visit the college and conservatory for the annual “All Roads Lead to ���سԹ�” events. I thank all of you in advance for being a welcoming, caring, and engaged community.

In 2014, Meredith Raimondo was appointed special assistant to the president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and Title IX coordinator. In the first ever President’s Desk Q&A, I sat down with Meredith to discuss Title IX at ���سԹ�: what it is and who it covers; the college’s new policy; the people involved in reporting, investigations, and hearings; and more.

On Tuesday, March 10, the first ever ���سԹ� College alumni phonecast took place. We called some 37,000 ���سԹ� alumni and connected with a total of over 5,000 at the peak. I took 34 questions on a wide range of topics, and participants shared what they thought ���سԹ�’s highest priorities should be as we create a plan for the future.

Our faculty, staff, and alumni commit a great deal of time, energy, and resources to help students succeed in their studies and in life. Today I would like to thank Board of Trustees Chair Clyde McGregor ’74 for making a $500,000 commitment to create the Student Support Initiatives Fund, which is designed to strengthen and expand support services for at-risk students who need additional assistance to succeed throughout their time at ���سԹ�.

This winter has been especially tenacious even by ���سԹ� standards. As a community service, and an antidote to cabin fever, I took the liberty of asking some students, faculty, and staff for their tips on surviving winter in ���سԹ�.

On Tuesday, February 17, six ���سԹ� faculty members received the Excellence in Teaching Award. Not only are these professors passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise in ways that enlighten and inspire their students, they also love learning from their students.

���سԹ�’s celebration of is under way with an impressive slate of events. This past weekend, I attended the musical "Dessa Rose," which tells the story of an unlikely alliance between Dessa Rose, a young slave, and Ruth, a well-born white woman. Other events happening this month include “Black Ballot Power: A Conservation on the 1965 Voting Rights Act,” a guest recital and voice and spirituals master class with François Clemmons ’67, and “An Evening with Dr. Regina Benjamin.”

This weekend, I was reminded of how powerful the connections across generations are in our community. Strawberry Fields, an opera put on by students and faculty in collaboration with residents of Kendal at ���سԹ�, highlighted the amazing, creative, interdisciplinary, and experiential learning opportunities ���سԹ� offers. These attributes were also on display at the third annual LaunchU Pitch Competition.