PEC Update, April 23, 2007

As you know, members of PEC's Board met with members of the College's Board of Trustees and Interim President Ginger Worden in Washington, DC yesterday. The meeting lasted for approximately three hours and was cordial. We agreed on many points - our love for the college, our hope for a successful future for the college, and our willingness and commitment to work toward that future as individuals. Regrettably, where we continued to differ was the strategic path by which the college will secure its best chance of success. Based in part upon the research commissioned from A&S, the internal studies of Spring 2006, and advice solicited from various outside consultants, the trustees remain convinced that the strategic plan of September 2006 (including coeducation and global honors) holds the only workable future for the college. We continue to believe that reassessment of the strategic plan and the process by which it was created is necessary to reengage alumnae in support of the college and to ensure that all options - including remaining single sex - are evaluated openly and thoroughly. 

We do not take the lack of agreement on the future of the college as a meeting failure. Indeed, we believe the meeting was beneficial for both sides as it provided a forum in which to air our differences. This meeting was but a small first step in our minds and we are grateful that the trustees in attendance were willing to take time on a weekend to meet with us (with many traveling a great distance). We achieved the goal we set for the meeting - to begin to bridge the communications gap between the Board of Trustees and those who oppose the strategic plan. We had an opportunity to briefly outline and explain some of the concerns that you and the more than 1,000 other supporters of PEC share - issues with the planning process, college governance, transparency, financial matters, and the implementation progress of the current plan. The trustees present listened to these concerns. We hope that we can continue to meet with the trustees, particularly as the measurable results of the strategic plan become available (enrollment numbers, tuition discount rates, transfer out figures, alumnae giving, etc.) We would also like to continue to "bridge the communications gap" and explain the concerns of alumnae opposed to the current plan in more depth. A continuing dialogue would give us the opportunity to show the trustees what we believe are some of the flaws in the current plan, its implementation, and what these may mean for the college's future. We will keep you apprised of any future meetings.

Our pursuit of dialogue with the Board of Trustees should not be taken as an indication that the appeals of the lawsuits will cease. The lawsuits are the primary way that we are working to preserve R-MWC and secure its future. We have always believed that outreach to the trustees - the only decision-making body for the college - will help to reconcile the differences and achieve our goals.

Vita abundantior,

PEC Board

Gail Ballou (R-MWC '64)
Carol Curcio Lang (R-MWC '68)
Diane U. Montgomery (R-MWC '85)
Anne Yastremski (R-MWC '05)
Martha McClerkin Durnett (R-MWC '85)
Chantel Sheaks (R-MWC '91)

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