Please enjoy a recap of the Reunion Weekend 2024 meeting of the Bucknell University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Our meeting weekend began on Thursday evening as usual with our Executive Committee meeting followed by a Board social in MacDonald Commons for all those members who traveled early for the board meeting the next day.
On Friday morning, our meetings began with a discussion of DEI topics led by Ann Malcolm ’80. We were comparing two videos of TED talks at the following links:
Mellody Hobson : Color blind or color brave
Amber Cabral : 3 steps to better connect with your fellow humans
One of the interesting things to note is the tenor of the messages on DEI in the two videos, one done in 2014 before the pandemic and one done in 2024.
We then heard from Bucknell’s Co-acting President and Vice President of University Strategy and Advancement, Scott Rosevear, and Associate Vice-President of Strategic Philanthropy, Josh Grill, on how Bucknell’s comprehensive campaign is progressing in the silent phase and steps the University will take to move into the public phase. Of particular note in Scott’s University update was the ongoing need to house students in the Comfort Suites hotel on Route 15 just south of campus for one more year as enrollment is again topping 1,000 new first years. He noted that the Board of Trustees has approved the building of a fifth West Apartments building across Route 15.
Josh focused on the needs of the upcoming comprehensive campaign, with an emphasis on financial aid. Bucknell currently meets 93% of demonstrated need for all applicants with approximately 65% receiving some kind of aid. Put another way, Bucknell needs 35% of each incoming class to be paying full fees & tuition in order to operate. The campaign preliminary goals of $750 million included more than $600 million for financial aid which would allow Bucknell to meet full need and eliminate federal loans from the financial aid package.
Our second University update was a presentation on the status of Homecoming for Fall 2024 and other large events by Tara Michaels, from the Center for Alumni & Family Engagement. As many of you recall, in the fall of 2023 the University combined two major weekends into one: Parent & Family weekend and Homecoming. The reasons were (a) low recorded Homecoming attendance, (b) Bucknell hoped to create a more festive/spirited atmosphere, and (c) to make more efficient use of resources/staffing and demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
What Bucknell learned last fall was that there were many more alumni coming back than actually registered, so the University decided to again hold separate weekends and has formed a steering committee with partners across campus to develop programs and events that people want.
We next headed to the Terrace Room for a very special lunch with some of the more than 100 Bucknell alumni currently working for the University in some capacity, be it academic, administrative, athletics and even some seasonal employees. We decided it would be great to meet these wonderful alumni who are giving back to Bucknell in the form of their talents to further the mission of Bucknell. One or two board members sat at every table with several alumni employees. The conversations were lively, and a good time was had by all.
Following lunch we were joined by Stephen Apanel, Director of Housing Services, for a Bison Bus Tour of the new West Campus Apartments. Once we arrived on the West side of campus, we were offered a special treat to reminisce and tour one of the last remaining Mods which will still be occupied for the fall semester of 2024, before being razed to begin the construction of the 5th West Campus Apartment building. We then toured one of the new West campus buildings, which are modular constructed, four students per unit apartments. When the 5th building is complete for fall 2025, the University will have enough housing capacity so the hotel rental will no longer be needed.
Following our tour we attended our individual Committee meetings, then held the formal Board meeting to cap off the weekend.
Our Reunion meeting is also the time we say farewell to those members rolling off the board in an active capacity. We thank the following for their contributions to making this board the best it can be for all Bucknell alumni and joining the ranks of emeritus:
Hugh Bailey ‘82
Amy Butzer Bell ’87 P’18
Matt Bonelli ‘07
Joey Gutierrez ‘11
Gabrielle Taylor ’84 P’19
After singing the Alma Mater, we headed uphill to Academic East for a champagne reception.
Sincerely,
Grant Tormey ‘89
BUAA Board of Directors
Member at Large, Executive Board