Tucker Foundation | Tucker Points

Notes from the Dean

By Scott Brown '78

This year marks a new era for Dartmouth College. A new President, a new Provost, and a new Dean of the College will bring a new character and flavor to the campus. Periods of change are appropriate times for reflecting on our purpose, on what we have been and what we want to become. The Tucker Foundation has chosen this year to reflect on the mission of the College, at least that part of the mission related to developing the moral and civic character of its students. Does the College have a role to play in fostering moral and civic learning? If so, what does moral and civic learning mean? Graduates leave the College with a more powerful intellect. Should they not also leave with a more fully developed set of values that will guide the use of that power? These and related issues will form the basis of a yearlong series of programs and discussions sponsored by the Tucker Foundation. Our goal is to raise the questions. Each of you will answer them, or not, for yourselves.

Changes at the Tucker Foundation will continue to invigorate our programs. A new Director of Fellowships and Internships, Mary Comeau, and a reorganization of the Fellowships and Community Services programs will allow us to develop new programs and more effectively administer those we have. A second Volunteer Coordinator, Uriel Barrera-Vasquez, will join Sarah Nolan in coordinating the efforts of more than 900 volunteers and establishing new collaborations on campus and in our surrounding communities. Jan Tarjan, while continuing to direct our community service programs, will undertake more vigorous efforts to work with faculty on service learning and field laboratory experiences. A new rabbi and Hillel director, Edward Boraz, will continue the process of building new programs at the Roth Center for Jewish Life, and will work with Rev. Gwendolyn King to create new opportunities for interfaith dialogue.

Student leadership of community services programs has strengthened during the past year. New programs for leadership training and efforts to support leadership positions will continue this process. As always, students are responsible for our most vibrant and effective programs. They are the heart of our work.

We hope that these changes will help us achieve several goals during the coming year. First, we hope to lay the groundwork for a new residential fellowship program that will allow a group Dartmouth students to work, learn, and serve in an inner city or Native community. Second, we hope to establish a new program of collaboration with the Office of Residential Life to coordinate community service programs through selected residence halls. Third, we hope to host a community-based volunteer center that will coordinate volunteer opportunities for employees of the College and others in the Upper Valley. Fourth, we hope to establish at least three different models of collaboration with faculty to enhance academic coursework with field laboratory and service experience. Finally, we hope to continue to strengthen programs and opportunities for students of faith at the College.

Our alumni and friends have been generous and supportive during the past year. Much of what we are able to undertake would not be possible without their recognition of the important role the Tucker Foundation plays at Dartmouth.