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.

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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