Statement by the Board of Trustees

DARTMOUTH College has achieved a position of preeminence in the field of higher education through the cooperative support of three major constituencies: its students; its faculty, staff, and other members of the Hanover community; and its alumni body.

The Board of Trustees has considered information it has received from each of these three constituencies with respect to the future composition of the student body at the College. A majority of both the undergraduates and the faculty responding have indicated support for a change in admissions policy to admit, over a period of time, significantly more women applicants to Dartmouth. The Alumni Council has requested that no action be taken on this issue until the Council has had an opportunity to consider the matter further at its June meeting.

The Board of Trustees reaffirms that the fundamental purpose of Dartmouth College is the education of men and women who have a high potential for making a significant positive impact on society. In order that the College maintain its position of leadership in higher education, it is essential to enroll the best qualified students to fulfill this purpose. The College cannot continue to meet this commitment in the future within the initial guidelines on coeducation enunciated by the Trustees in 1971. Since the admissions policy of the College must be a means of achieving the fundamental purpose of the institution, a change in the admissions policy is necessary.

Many members of the several constituencies have not as yet had an opportunity to participate in a discussion of the methods by which the fundamental purpose is to be achieved; therefore, during this year, Trustees and administrative officers will meet with the various members of the Dartmouth community to seek their advice and counsel. It is the hope of the Trustees that such consultation will lead to widespread support of the Board's final decision on implementation.

The Board has decided to make no change in applying the initial guidelines to the selection of the Class of 1980.