Statement by the Board of Trustees

A year ago the Board of Trustees formulated a basic policy statement reaffirming the purpose of Dartmouth College as "the education of men and women with a high potential for making a significant positive impact on society." It was clear that this declaration had major implications for the admissions policy of the College, but the Board elected to defer any changes for a year to permit discussion within the Dartmouth community.

The Trustees have consulted with all the major constituencies regarding the policies that should determine the future composition of the undergraduate student body at the College and have studied at length all aspects of this issue. We appreciated receiving the thoughtful views of alumni, faculty, and students. It is now the obligation and the responsibility of the Board to set the policy it deems will best preserve Dartmouth College's pre-eminence in higher education and the unique qualities of the institution.

In the course of the Board's deliberations, the factor of College size was determined to be one of the most critical elements in maintaining an environment which fosters the strong interpersonal relationships which are central to the Dartmouth experience. However, we are not opposed to a modest increase in the total enrollment if it can be achieved through greater utilization of the spring and summer terms. We have determined that the number of matriculated .undergraduate students on campus in any one term should not exceed the present peak of 3,200. We believe very-strongly that the essential smallness of the Dartmouth campus and of its student body is crucial for maintaining the outstanding qualities of Dartmouth.

As to the specifics of the admissions policy, we wholeheartedly endorse that part of the recommendations of the Alumni Council on June 1-8, 1976, which called for the reaffirmation of long-standing recognition in the "selective process" of the importance of certain personal qualities and relationships which have made Dart- mouth unique. These qualities, when added to the intellectual qualities expected of our undergraduates, are essential to the Dartmouth experience in and out of the classroom. They would include, but not be limited to, special consideration in the admissions process for:

a. Sons and daughters of Dartmouth alumni/ae, faculty and officers of the College and applicants with other significant relationships to alumni/ae and friends of the College.

b. Applicants with talents and interests that will enhance the strength and vitality of extra- and co-curricular activities of the College. These would include applicants identified as having the potential for success in such fields as the performing arts, publications and radio, campus leadership, as well as those with the ability to make a contribution in intercollegiate athletic competition.

c. Applicants from minority and other backgrounds whose abilities contribute to our greater society, as well as to the diversity .and richness of the College community.

Our deliberations have confirmed our belief that coeducation has improved the quality of the educational and social experience at the College and Dartmouth is stronger as a result. Therefore, consistent with our previous commitment to effect gradual change, we have determined the following changes in admissions policy. We are instructing the director of admissions to increase the guideline for the number of women in the freshman class by 25 this year. This will set guidelines of 750 men and 300 women for the Class of 1981. We are further instructing the director of admissions that he may increase the number of women in future classes by up to 15 in any given year, depending on the quality of the applicant pool.

Within this policy some increase in the total undergraduate enrollment can occur, if more balanced use can be made of the four terms. We direct the administration and encourage the faculty to work towards this goal with imagination, ingenuity, and enthusiasm. Insofar as this goal is achieved, the reduction in the number of male students in entering classes can be minimized.

We are committing ourselves to monitor on a continuing basis all aspects of the admissions policy to assure that the composition of the student body serves the fundamental purposes of the College.

For the Board of Trustees