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.

An Uncertain Higher Ed Landscape

Week 8 is a very busy time on campus, with lots of events, comps presentations and internship applications added to the final weeks of winter term classes. There is also…

Building Community at Dacie Moses House

Among the many facilities projects unfolding on campus as part of the student life and housing plan, few have been more closely watched than the renovation of Dacie Moses House. This…

Board of Trustees Update

This past weekend the Board of Trustees gathered in Boston, along with a number of faculty and administrators, for a special retreat to discuss topics related to major strategic goals…

Celebrating Our Diverse Community

The start of Black History Month (BHM) reminds us of the importance of learning about, reckoning with, and celebrating Black history. At Carleton, BHM events include a convocation talk with…

Focusing On Our Mission

Among the many Executive Orders released by the White House over the past week are several with direct potential impacts on higher education. A memorandum Monday from the Office of…

Creation of Immigration Task Force

This felt like a week for hunkering down. With bitter cold outside, students are finally pulling out serious coats and warm hats to get to early morning classes. I have…

Start of a New Term

Welcome back! I hope that everyone had a restful and restorative break. I spent most of the holiday here in Northfield with my family, enjoying the snow while it lasted.…

December at Carleton

There is a unique rhythm to Carleton in December, when the campus takes advantage of the break between terms to catch its breath and also undertake professional development or long-term…

Innovation and the Liberal Arts

Welcome to Week Ten! As we reach the finish line of a busy fall term, the intensity and sense of purpose on campus is palpable, as everyone focuses on the…

Curious and Creative Carls

While there are many ways that I get to know Carleton students — working with CSA, being interviewed by The Carletonian, going to sports events and performances — there is…

Processing the Election Results

I am very grateful for the efforts of many groups on campus to help prepare our community for this week’s election. Seeing students, faculty and staff sharing information about voting,…

Getting ready for the election

Happy Halloween! I look forward to welcoming students to Nutting House for our Halloween Open House this evening. This time of year, it is handy to live in a Victorian…

What is the Board of Trustees?

One question students in particular often have about the College is: what is the role of the Board of Trustees? As we will welcome the Board to campus for its…

Carleton Joins Welcome Corps on Campus

I know that the ongoing violence in the Middle East continues to be on the minds of many on our campus. As an academic institution, our response has generally been…

A Year of AI Curiosity

As the reach and impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to expand, the questions we have about it — as individuals, students, teachers, and professionals — also continue to…

Sharing Carleton’s Draft Sustainability Framework

I am delighted to share today a draft of a proposed new framework for sustainability, climate action, and environmental justice at Carleton — the culmination of over a year’s worth…

Learning from Other Voices

The start of a new year is one of the great joys of a college campus. Every fall, we reconvene and reconstitute ourselves as a community: returning students, as well…

Summer Comes to a Close

With Labor Day behind us, and New Student Week about to begin, you can feel the energy building on campus! Student athletes, peer leaders, and some other groups have already…

Carleton pledges support for Reimagine Northfield High School

Carleton is very fortunate to be located in the charming, historic, and friendly town of Northfield. An attractive location is important not only to prospective students, but also to our…

Welcoming CAVE to Campus

You may be confused at the sight of more than 200 alumni on campus this weekend. Wait, wasn’t Reunion in June? That was my reaction in the summer of 2021…

Creating a new Staff Council

The College’s strategic direction, Carleton 2033: The Liberal Arts in Action, identifies community as one of three major values of the College. Among the goals supporting this area is a…

Summer Reading

Having just returned from a week at Cape Cod with my family, I am happy to report that I have gotten started on some good summer reading, and hope you…

Celebrating the Class of 2024

Carleton seems to have a knack for just-in-time Commencement weather. Saturday was not the first time I have seen early morning showers give way to beautiful sunshine just as faculty…

Season of Celebration

With spring term classes behind us, and Commencement a little over a week away, we are wrapping up the hard work of the academic year, and entering a season of…

Last Week’s Sit-In at Laird

Like many campuses, we have experienced the challenges of maintaining a commitment to free speech while also respecting the need to ensure a safe and functional campus experience for the…

Board of Trustees Meeting Update

Last weekend was a good example of the convergence of different groups and energies that make up Carleton. Happenings across campus included the 20th Empty Bowls community meal; Ultimate and…

Free Speech and Campus Protests

Looking at how other colleges and universities have handled protests and encampments over the past few weeks has been instructive—and not in a positive way. With the Carleton Board of…

Celebrating Our Employees

Last Tuesday, Kracum was filled with people who showed up to honor friends and co-workers at our annual Employee Recognition event. This opportunity to name and thank colleagues completing milestone…

Responding to the CSA Resolution

This has been a challenging time for colleges and universities, as many campuses have struggled with defining arenas for free expression of opposition to the war in Gaza. Sadly, political…

Working Together to Increase College Access

Two weeks ago, I traveled to NYC for the annual Presidential Summit of a unique higher education organization: the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a consortium formed in 2016 to promote…

Supporting Carleton Through the Years

If you run into me on campus this week, you may notice I am sporting a familiar color combination, as we take the opportunity during Maize and Blue Daize to…

Progress toward Carleton 2033

In the months since the approval of Carleton 2033: The Liberal Arts in Action, we have been moving forward with some of the recommendations of the strategic direction and developing…

Admitting Students After SCOTUS Decision

There is one spot on campus that is not quiet this week — Scoville Hall, where the Admissions team has been working hard to finalize the decision letters that will…

Legislation Impacting Higher Ed

In February, I mentioned traveling to DC to meet with our Minnesota state legislators and discuss proposed legislation impacting higher education. This month provided a good example of why that…

Community Responses to War in Gaza

As we approach the end of the term, I know many on campus are balancing the need to focus on their academic work with deep sadness and anger about the…

Board of Trustees Approves Budget for Next Academic Year

Last week, we hosted members of the Board of Trustees for their February meeting. While on campus, many of them also took advantage of the opportunity to sit in on…

Behind the Indigenous Engagement Grant from Mellon

Back in the spring of 2021, when I was preparing to assume the role of president of Carleton, I recall being amazed to learn that over 100 faculty and staff…

Role of the College President

The role of the college president has been much in the news over the past few weeks, with commentators noting its uniqueness as a leadership position that is responsible to…

Opportunities for Dialogue

Welcome back! I hope that you had a good holiday break, and enjoyed spending time with family or friends. As we launch into winter term, we are all continuing to…

End of Year Festivities

The holiday season is a great time for community-building. Staff and faculty on campus can sample home-baked treats and do some holiday shopping at the Craft Fair and Custodial Bake…

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