Class Note 1965
Issue
March-April 2022
Late last year we had the privilege of an interview with Jim Frank, currently in the third year of his first term as a Dartmouth trustee, via a Zoom call arranged by class president Don Bradley.
Jim has been impressed with the quality and commitment of the board, although he described it as a “saltwater” board (East and West coasts) and would like to see more geographic representation. He’d prefer more businesspeople, balancing the current professionals from backgrounds in education, law, and venture capital. Decisions are driven by the vision of the president, but topics are gated through the faculty, who effectively “drive the place.” He assured us that alumni opinion is strongly considered in the decision-making process. He noted that donors tend to be athletes or Greeks.
Jim sees no difference in the individual personality of today’s undergraduates from our vintage. They are collegial, not competitive, and generally nice and compassionate people. He does see two major differences from 1965. The first is price; with today’s costs, expectations are increased, and students and families are more demanding and more willing to speak up. Second, there are many more minority and first-generation college attendees; this leads to a greater emphasis on career planning. The future role of the liberal arts college is a frequent topic of conversation on the board.
Hank Amon asked about campus expansion northward onto the golf course, and Jim replied simply that golf is finished at Dartmouth. Inevitably new housing must be built, and both Tuck and the Medical School are considering completely new campuses. As a whole the College has come through the pandemic in good shape, in large part due to a 45-percent return on investments in the last fiscal year. He does not see replacing in-class teaching, nor does he foresee an increase in student body size. There is concern on the board about “skyrocketing tuition”; he noted that tuition is approaching $70,000, but that half of the undergraduates go for free.
I regret to report the loss of Rob Hartford and Dick Foster.
—Bob Murphy,7 Willow Spring Lane, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-5589; murph65nh@comcast.net
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Jim has been impressed with the quality and commitment of the board, although he described it as a “saltwater” board (East and West coasts) and would like to see more geographic representation. He’d prefer more businesspeople, balancing the current professionals from backgrounds in education, law, and venture capital. Decisions are driven by the vision of the president, but topics are gated through the faculty, who effectively “drive the place.” He assured us that alumni opinion is strongly considered in the decision-making process. He noted that donors tend to be athletes or Greeks.
Jim sees no difference in the individual personality of today’s undergraduates from our vintage. They are collegial, not competitive, and generally nice and compassionate people. He does see two major differences from 1965. The first is price; with today’s costs, expectations are increased, and students and families are more demanding and more willing to speak up. Second, there are many more minority and first-generation college attendees; this leads to a greater emphasis on career planning. The future role of the liberal arts college is a frequent topic of conversation on the board.
Hank Amon asked about campus expansion northward onto the golf course, and Jim replied simply that golf is finished at Dartmouth. Inevitably new housing must be built, and both Tuck and the Medical School are considering completely new campuses. As a whole the College has come through the pandemic in good shape, in large part due to a 45-percent return on investments in the last fiscal year. He does not see replacing in-class teaching, nor does he foresee an increase in student body size. There is concern on the board about “skyrocketing tuition”; he noted that tuition is approaching $70,000, but that half of the undergraduates go for free.
I regret to report the loss of Rob Hartford and Dick Foster.
—Bob Murphy,7 Willow Spring Lane, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-5589; murph65nh@comcast.net