Good News, Bad News

President Jim Kim sent faculty, students and staff an upbeat e-mail in January announcing the successful completion of Dartmouth’s 11-year, $1.3 billion capital campaign. Unfortunately, his note failed to acknowledge that many of its recipients had spent weeks anxiously wondering about the fate of their jobs, departments and budgets. “I think it’s pretty sad,” said Earl Sweet, president of the local chapter of Dartmouth’s largest union. “A lot of people are going to lose their jobs before this is over with, and they’re basically bragging about how much money they’ve got.” The next week Kim was clear about his administration’s need to jettison $100 million from the College budget during the next two years. “The next six months to a year are going to be tough,” he said, alluding to “structural deficits” in Dartmouth’s budgeting. “There will be layoffs in February, March and April.” In early February trustees met to hear the administration’s initial cut proposals; in April they meet again to make final decisions.

DID YOU KNOW?

18,500 Number of applications for the class of 2014 received at Dartmouth as of mid-January.

$12 million Gift from the class of 1953 to fund a renovation of Thayer Hall, which will be renamed the Class of 1953 Commons.