Column: From the President’s Desk – Office of the President

Past columns from President Byerly originally included in Carleton Today, Carleton’s weekly internal newsletter.

What Defines the Value of a College

Fall is traditionally the season of back-to-school sales, football games, pumpkin spice lattes, and ….. college and university rankings. Every day seems to bring a rankings announcement from a different…

An Exciting Start to the New Year

The first week of a new academic year is always exciting. This fall, our Opening Convocation had a large crowd and a special energy. Keynote speaker Governor Tim Walz delivered…

Welcoming the Class of 2030

This week we were excited to welcome the Class of 2030! New students and families were greeted by cheering Carls (and the traditional cow) when they drove onto campus, assisted…

Campus Prepares for the New Year

The campus is starting to lose that quiet summer ambience, as successive waves of students return in advance of the official start of term. Varsity athletes have been back practicing…

Final Days of Summer

Sunset on Cape Cod… happy final days of summer!

Community Through Meals

Over the past two summers, different student groups and offices on campus have worked together to develop a variety of programs to support food access for students living on campus…

Leaving and Returning

What a spectacular Commencement we had on Saturday! You couldn’t ask for better weather to celebrate the Class of 2026. I hope those who weren’t there are enjoying the photos,…

Congratulations Class of 2026

Commencement involves a unique combination of visible pageantry and behind-the-scenes preparation. Pictures of Saturday’s ceremony will show faculty processing in colorful regalia, a platform decked with flowers and flags, and…

Making It Through Tenth Week

Congratulations on making it through tenth week! The end of a Carleton term is always busy, but spring term has a special energy, a dizzying combination of frantic, festive, and…

Summer Food Access

As we enter the final weeks of spring term and look ahead to summer, I’d like to share an update on the progress that has been made in addressing an…

Celebrating Our Employees

This Tuesday’s Employee Recognition Celebration is an annual event that looked a bit different this year. As always, it is an opportunity to celebrate the deep commitment and tireless efforts…

Sparking Discussion with Pete Buttigieg

During an early workout at the Rec Center on Wednesday morning, I was approached by a student, a staff member, and an alum who each shared their enjoyment of the…

Talking About Financial Aid On the Road

I’m writing this column in an airport, as I’ve been traveling this past week to Chicago and New York for a combination of professional meetings and Carleton events. In NY,…

2026 Core Student Survey Results

In my remarks to admitted students and their families at the first of our two Carl Days on Monday, I talked about the characteristics of Carleton that I believe distinguish…

Cultivating Lifelong Curiosity

We often say that a liberal arts education promotes lifelong learning. There is no better proof of that than the enthusiasm that Carleton alumni have for continuing to hear from…

Student Employment to Move to Career Center

One distinctive feature of Carleton is the large number of students who participate in student employment: 70–80% of students undertake campus jobs at some point during their four years. Through…

Pushing to the Finish Line

Anyone familiar with the Boston Marathon knows “Heartbreak Hill,” a big push that occurs at mile 20, when you’re exhausted, close to the end of the race, but still have…

Wuthering Heights

It’s eighth week, which means everyone has lots of work to do… and sometimes we need distractions! As a literature professor whose field of expertise is the nineteenth-century British novel,…

Reimagining Employee Recognition Day

Carleton is fortunate in having incredibly talented and dedicated staff and faculty across all areas of the College. One of the ways in which we show our appreciation for the…

Board of Trustees Approves FY27 Budget

Last weekend offered a choice between somewhat warmer weather for doing things outdoors, and lots of indoor activities — Midwinter Ball, Super Bowl parties, or just watching the Olympics and…

Advocating for Higher Education

I began this week in Washington, D.C. (which was nearly as cold and snowy as Northfield!) at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU),…

The Power of Presence and Community

Under normal circumstances, the fourth week of winter term can feel challenging, as coursework begins to intensify at the same time that January temperatures plummet below zero. This past week…

Concern for our community

This is a strange and anxious time in Minnesota. I know that many faculty and staff who live in the Twin Cities, and students with families there, have been impacted…

Encouraging Interdisciplinary Innovation

As a follow-up to recommendations in the Carleton 2033: The Liberal Arts in Action strategic direction, a task force on interdisciplinarity, chaired by Ross Elfline, professor of art history, was…

Immigration Task Force Update

As we return to campus and launch into winter term, I know that many are concerned about increased immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities, particularly in light of yesterday’s…

Finding Strength in Community

As we approach the holiday break, what should be a season of fellowship and celebration has been sadly disrupted by the two tragic shootings that took place last weekend. The…

Gratitude for Our Local Community

d of fall term. The campus is surprisingly busy during winter break, when we take the opportunity to share our unique facilities with many local organizations. The Rotary-sponsored Turkey Trot,…

Give Yourself a Break

As we come to the end of Week Nine, everyone is working hard, and some may even be feeling a bit stressed. It was a special gift, therefore, to have…

Cultural Diversity at Carleton

It is not news to note that this is a very busy time of year! The intensity of academic work as we approach the end of term is matched by…

Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

Happy day before Halloween! I hope many of you will stop by the College offices that are decorated for the fall decorating contest, or visit those participating in campus trick-or-treating…

Supporting Our Local Community

With so much commentary at the national level about the relationship between colleges and universities and the federal government, it is important to recognize the public impact of colleges like…

Enjoying Homecoming and Family Weekend

When I was a college student, my parents weren’t able to make the trip from Pennsylvania up to Wellesley for what was called “Sophomore Parents’ Weekend.” So my sibs decided…

Careers and the Liberal Arts

A liberal arts education is not designed as a ticket to a specific job, but as a gateway to many possible futures. After graduation, Carleton alumni pursue a wide range…

A Week in the Life of Carleton’s President

Two weeks ago at Nutting House, a first-year student turned the tables on my get-to-know-you questions, asking me: “So, what does life as a college president look like?” Great question!…

Fall Sports in Full Swing

This Saturday, Carleton’s football team will face our cross-town rivals St. Olaf, seeking to reclaim the “Goat Trophy” that we gave up last year in a longstanding rivalry that was…

AI Year of Experimentation

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Opening Convocation on Monday, and to usher in the new year with a uniquely Carleton blend of academic tradition, community…

Campus Prepares for the New Year

It is great to see the campus beginning to fill with students again, with athletes and peer leaders already here, and international students arriving today. We are excited to welcome…

Impact of New Federal Legislation

Though summer is a quiet time on campus, a lot has been happening in the national political landscape that impacts higher education and Carleton. On July 4, President Trump signed…

Getting to Know the Midwest

Since moving to Northfield, Steve and I have enjoyed taking a little time each summer to get to know the Midwest. Last week, we returned from a week+ of exploring…

Reunion 2025 Reflections

Last weekend, we hosted more than 2,300 alumni and guests on campus for Reunion 2025. That number included nearly 200 youngsters, many of whom participated either in “Camp Carleton,” or…

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