Wesley College Alumni Association Board Meeting
August 25, 2007
I. Welcome and call to order
Members Attending:
Dan Kimmel, President
Stephanie Smith Christiano, Vice President
Lynn Schmid Knable, Secretary
Jane Mac Donald
Matt Lindell
Debbie Kenton
Barry Hawlk
Rich Bradley
Also attending:
Dr. Scott Miller, President of Wesley College
Kevin Loftus, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Amanda Downes, Director of Alumni Affairs
Blessing – Lynn Knable
Agenda Review- Dan Kimmel
2. Wesley College President’s Report – Dr. Scott Miller
A Student population:
 500 freshmen, 60 transfer students, 1475-1510 students total full-time
 Most progressive historically
 More selective admission
 Space availability limited at present
 In 1997, there were 1050 students, 290 residents. Presently, more than 1,000 residents with
addition of two new dorms
 In 1997, there were 1,050 students total, in 2007, there were 3,210 students
B. Wesley recognized by U.S. News and World Report as top-tiered among an 8 state region
C. Budget
 67 million over the last 10 years- 40 million in capital improvements
 Eric Nelson credited with balanced budgets and surpluses to roll over
 10 years of unqualified budgets
D. Administrative Reorganization
 Tom Sturgiss back in the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs
 Kevin Loftus and Eric Nelson (Vice President for Finance) are now a team
 Dean Waldrop- Dean of Student Life
 Two new positions- Firman- Dean of Enrollment and Dr. Paul Thornton- Dean of Adult Studies
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E. Academic Goals
 Target Adult Studies
 Delaware Bankers Trust School located at New Castle will help bring attention to community
bankers attending programs there
 New Castle offering MA in Teaching, MS in Nursing, Liberal Arts degree available in
undergrad program. Hope to increase number of adult learners by 500 people in the next 3-5
years
 Online classes- CIC’s online partnership. Not available to traditional students. Targeting age
24 and up initially- add more as time goes on
F. Global Initiatives
 Dr. Susan Cooper is Director of Global Initiatives.
 Hope to expand global opportunities for Wesley students to live and study in other countries
and for students from other countries to attend Wesley
 Wesley recently entered an academic affiliation agreement with Harlaxton College of
England. As one of 15 American colleges, Wesley will offer enhanced educational
opportunities beginning in May, 2008.
 57 students from Japan attended Wesley this summer.
 Miyagi University exchange of professors (Japan)
 Istanbul University
G. Other Initiatives
 Delaware Biotechnical Institute- presently in 6th year
o Founded by University of Delaware (U of D)
o Partnership of Wesley, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical and Community College, and the U of D with the federal government
o Open access to students and faculty
o Wesley a feeder program for graduate students and faculty research, new
instrumentation, interactive transmission capability
 Green Campus
o 78 colleges at startup, now at 300
o American College and University Presidents Climate Control Initiative
o Energy program
o Recycle bins
o Environmental issues
o Clinton Foundation funded startup with 100 million. Participating colleges submit
proposals for projects to update the environment in and around their campuses
H. Athletics
 Wesley football in the Atlantic Central Football Conference
 All other sports are in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)
 CAC includes 9 quality academic institutions with reputable academic programs. This will
provide an increased challenge for our students.
Stephanie Smith-Christiano asked President Miller and Kevin Loftus to review the Alumni Board’s
revision of its Goals when completed.
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3. Advancement Report – Kevin Loftus, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Kevin Loftus outlined and presented the “Wesley College Office of Institutional Advancement Strategic
Document For July 2007-June2008, Updated August 1, 2007” and the “Office of Institutional Advancement
2007 Phonathon Orientation and Training Manual” to provided insight into the college’s strategies to increase
and maintain donor giving to include: individuals and small businesses, foundation and government sources,
and alumni. In addition, the Office of Institutional Advancement is the umbrella for advancement services,
alumni affairs, parent relations, and the production of magazines and newsletters relating to both planned
giving and alumni affairs. (The strategic direction document in available online in the Alumni Board section and
is well worth your review, as it summarizes all of the many activities in which the Office of Institutional
Advancement is engaged.) It was noted that the calling team of 2 full-time staff and 3 students are a collegewide resource team.
4. Office of Alumni Affairs Report/Homecoming Overview- Amanda Downes
 All alumni events have been well attended
 Homecoming
Mailings- Magnet card mailed in the spring; “Cruisin Through the Decades” brochure mailed in the
summer
 Online communityo 5,800 logins, 1200 updates, 7200 postings, just under 1,000 registered
o drive traffic to the We Are Wesley site to encourage us of this interactive resource
o football coupon will be a tool to see who is attending Homecoming
o can track members preferences to guage interests to tailor programs and services
survey tool to capture alumni interests and preferences to see what alumni really want to more
effectively meet their needs
 Parents Council- in second year. Met on Parents Day and in the spring. Goal is to get members more
involved in an advisory capacity.
Finance – Treasurer’s Report
Dan Kimmel presented the report since Tammy Antanaitis was unable to attend the meeting. Barry Hawlk
motioned to accept the report (available online). Debbie Kenton seconded. Motion carried.
Dan asked Amanda if there is any way to track how many grads used the login provided on the life after
school explained book they were given by the Alumni Association. Amanda said she would find out.
March 2007 Alumni Board meeting minutes – reviewed by Dan Kimmel. Matt Lindell cited the
omission of his name from the attendance list. Lynn Knable said he would be added to the final minutes.
As amended, Barry Hawlk motioned to accept the minutes, Jane Mac Donald seconded, motion carried.
5. Committee Breakouts
6.
Committee Reports
A. Scholarships Committee - Jane Mac Donald
Stephanie Smith Christiano recommended that Fred Steigerwalt should post results of the
committee’s activities on the website to enable Board members to be prepared for March’s
meeting.
B.
Nominating and Membership- the Board should be expanded from 15 members to 20.
Proposal will be posted after the Homecoming elections by the new Exec Secretary, but will not
be voted on until Homecoming Alumni Association 2008 meeting. Dan Kimmel’s proposal is
forthcoming.
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C. Social: Homecoming – Volunteers needed for check in and tailgating. Members present offered
their availability. Stephanie will find others from among those Board members not present. Fred
Steigerwalt will continue to seek auction items.
D. Hall of Fame
 Amendment proposed to expand and include more academic nominees
 Question: Can we roll over to combine i.e. 2 athletic with 4 non-athletic vs. 3 athletic and 3 nonathletic- how do we differentiate? Discussion.
 Nominees will be posted online
 Options: hold inductions on different nights or all inclusive at the Schwartz on a night other than
the Saturday gala? Should we leave unchanged or table to discussion?
 Resolution: Dan and Stephanie will take the matter to Presidetn Miller and come back with a
proposal to be posted on the Online Community
 For now, the procedure will remain the same
E. Board Nominations
Slate:
Stephanie Smith Christiano, President
Lynn Schmid Knable, Vice President
Jane Mac Donald, Secretary
Tammy Antanaitis, Treasurer
Jane Mac Donald declined the nomination and nominated Debbie Kenton to be Secretary. Debbie
accepted. Motion to accept the slate as proposed by Jane MacDonald, seconded by Barry Hawlk,
motion carried.
Dan Kimmel adjourned the Board.
Prepared by:Lynn Schmid Knable, Secretary