This issue of the Denison Magazine A-Report is a testament to the generous support offered by the Denison family for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Giving by alumni, parents, and friends has allowed our fair college on the hill to not just sustain a commitment to providing a dynamic educational experience for undergraduate students, but to dream and create new opportunities not thought possible even ten years ago. Donors have answered the call and continue to provide Denison with the tools and resources to reach even higher ground.
This year, the Denison Annual Fund exceeded $4.95 million—a truly extraordinary number. The Annual Fund is one of the highest priorities of Denison’s ambitious comprehensive campaign, Higher Ground, which is now in its final year. Annual giving provides the resources needed for the college to compete on a national scale and continue to develop young men and women into well-rounded, self-reliant, confident thinkers. This has been our mission for 176 years and this past year nearly 10,000 donors made an investment in support of that mission. What do these yearly gifts to the Denison Annual Fund support? This is a question I am often asked. Let me share just a few of the recent highlights that have been made possible by our giving:
• Gifts to Higher Ground have allowed Denison to increase the size of the faculty by 12 positions so far (a six percent increase), without the need to balloon student enrollment or tuition.
• Gifts to Higher Ground have allowed Denison to increase the size of the faculty by 12 positions so far (a six percent increase), without the need to balloon student enrollment or tuition.
• Almost every academic class is limited to 30 students; actual enrollments in most classes are far fewer. Gone are the 125 person survey classes.
• The student retention rate—an important measure of student satisfaction—is now over 90 percent, improving from 76 percent just a few years ago.
• Annual support provides significant scholarship and financial aid resources, making a Denison education accessible to those who qualify academically.
• Academic tutoring and assistance is available to the entire student body, free of additional fees, so that every Denison student can realize his or her full potential.
Each year gifts range greatly in size, however, all are valued because “donor participation” is an important gauge of the satisfaction that alumni, parents, faculty, and friends—those who know Denison best—have in the quality of its programs. With our continued support, Denison will remain what it always has been: an excellent liberal arts college. My thanks for your support and for all you do for Denison.
Sincerely,
Nancy Ball Licorish ‘73
National Annual Fund Chair