Alumni Digest
Alumni Survey Results
The results are in: according to Kenyon's fifth alumni attitudinal survey, alumni are largely pleased with the College's direction. The survey, which has been distributed to alumni every four years since 1991, tests long-held assumptions about alumni attitudes and interests and helps to shape on- and off-campus programs, fundraising campaigns, and periodicals.
Distributed in February 2007 to 1,674 randomly chosen alumni, the survey attracted 579 responses. Some of the more illuminating findings are as follows:
Alumni feelings about Kenyon
- Alumni continue to hold positive feelings about the College, with 95 percent of the respondents noting that they would recommend Kenyon to a high school student. Eighty-seven percent would attend the College if they could do it all over again.
- Ninety percent rated the quality of the faculty as "excellent" or "good," and 86 percent feel that their classroom work has been useful and rewarding for their careers.
- Sixty-six percent feel that Kenyon is a better college today than when they attended.
- Sixty-five percent rated the financial position of the College as excellent or good. This result is down one percentage point from 2003-but up from 44 percent in 1999.
Giving to Kenyon
- Kenyon was rated as the second highest priority for personal charitable giving, behind only "place of worship."
- Ninety percent of alumni agree that the Kenyon Fund is important to the College. The most important factors for deciding to make a gift are "loyalty to the College" and "gratitude for the education received."
- Six percent reported that their wills currently include bequests to the College, but 48 percent said that they would or might consider changing their wills to do so.
Communication between Kenyon and alumni
- Seventy-three percent of alumni feel well informed or moderately well informed about the College.
- Ninety percent feel that the amount of mail and e-mail they receive from Kenyon is "just about right."
- Seventy-six percent of alumni had visited Kenyon's Web site in the last year, and the Alumni Bulletin and class letters were read by 88 and 87 percent of respondents, respectively.
- Sixty-three percent of respondents indicate that they've visited campus in the past five years.
In addition to the statistical information, many ideas and suggestions for new programs and constructive critiques of existing programs and publications were gathered through the survey.
Return to the Classroom
Alumni and parents will have a chance to return to the classroom in Kenyon's second annual Kenyon Collegium. The event, to be held September 17-19, will feature seminars taught by Kenyon professors and will give participants the chance to attend current classes and savor the Kenyon experience. Registration brochures will be mailed out at the end of June. If you would like to receive a brochure, contact Sonya Broeren '90 in the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs at broerens@kenyon.edu.
Kenyon After College
Every Friday is "Kenyon Night" at Washington, D.C.'s Toledo Lounge, the popular Adams Morgan watering hole founded by sisters Stephanie Abbajay '87 and Mary Abbajay '86. Word of the lounge usually spreads quickly to new arrivals in the nation's capital, and dozens of Kenyon alumni gather there on any given Friday night. Correct answers to a few Kenyon trivia questions--or the flash of a Kenyon ID card--lead the way to food and drink specials on any Kenyon Night.
The Bulletin sent photographer Howard Korn to the Toledo Lounge on Friday, March 21, to capture the Kenyon Night crowd. "Every time we come here, we run into Kenyon people. It's just amazing," said Alexandra Whitaker '05, visiting the lounge that Friday with Erin Billie Cooper '04, Kathryn Salter '05, Nancy Cass '05, Maggie Hill '05, and Molly Doyle '05.
"As soon as we moved here after college, older alumni told us this was the best Kenyon hangout in the city. It's great to come to a new city and find a place where we feel like we belong." said Liz Dunning '05, visiting with Kate Druschel '99, Samantha Jakhelln '00, and Martha Miers '00. Added Druschel, "At this point, I've been coming to the Toledo Lounge longer than I went to Kenyon, and that's pretty scary!"
Your Vote Counts
The Office of Alumni and Parent Programs is pleased to announce the successful candidates in the 2007-08 Alumni Council and Alumni Trustee election. The four new Alumni Council members are April Yvonne Garrett '92, Amy Kirshbaum Harbison '77, Robert King '97, and Frederick C. Neidhardt '52 H'76 P'04. The two alumni elected to serve as Alumni Trustees are Philip Currier '56 H'82 and Carole (Robi) Artman-Hodge '73.
Call for Nominations
The election process begins again for the 2008-09 academic year. Alumni Council invites you to suggest one or more candidates for election to the council for a three-year term or to the Kenyon Board of Trustees for a four-year term beginning in 2009. You may nominate a friend, a classmate, or yourself. All suggestions receive careful consideration by Alumni Council.
Council meets at Kenyon three times a year to discuss programs and issues that directly affect the College and its alumni. This group provides direct feedback to the Kenyon administration regarding alumni issues and determines the award recipients recognized at the annual awards luncheon during Reunion Weekend.
The board of trustees also meets at Kenyon three times each year and provides strategic direction to the College as it seeks to fulfill its mission to be a distinctive liberal arts college of the highest quality. The work of both groups is done in committees.
Please send the nomination and supporting information to Lisa Schott '80, director of alumni and parent programs, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, 43022-9623 or by e-mail to schottl@kenyon.edu by July 31, 2008.
Summer Crafts Workshops
Seasoned and aspiring artisans alike are invited to return to campus this summer for a few days of artistic immersion. The second annual Craftsman Hill Summer Retreats program at the Kenyon Craft Center will offer workshops in paper arts, weaving, spinning, glass bead-making, bookmaking, knitting, stained glass window-making, and ceramics. The retreats, which will be offered June 10-13 and July 9-12, offer "short-term, total immersion opportunities" for beginning, intermediate, and advanced skill levels, according to weaving instructor and program founder Deborah Yorde.
For information about cost, accommodations, instructors, and workshops, visit the program's Web site, www.craftsmanhillretreats.com, contact Yorde at 740-599-7723 or craftsmanhill@rr.com, or write Craftsman Hill Retreats, 19785 Nunda Road, Howard, Ohio 43028.
Save the Date
September 12-13
Reunion Planning Weekend, Kenyon Fund Executive Committee
September 17-19
Kenyon Collegium
September 19
Alumni Council meeting
September 20
Homecoming Weekend: Kenyon vs. Hiram College; Hall of Fame induction
October 17-19
Family Weekend
Do you have feedback on this page?