President's Letter

February 2013

Dear Alumni and Friends:

As we move into 2013, there are many exciting opportunities facing us. I want to highlight here a few things of particular note.

A reminder that we have the pleasure of hosting Bob Keohane at the Standard Club at 7 pm on Thursday, February 21. Bob’s lecture, “Hobbes’s Dilemma and the Liberal Quest for World Order,” which brings the work of a thinker we read in our curriculum to bear on pertinent questions in the field of international relations, promises to be of interest to Shimerians and non-Shimerians alike. We hope all of those who are able will join us. As importantly, we hope you will use this opportunity to introduce others to Shimer. Please bring friends and acquaintances with you to the event. Please register at http://shimerpresents.eventbrite.com. We look forward to an exciting evening!

Elaine Vincent, who is with us for the 2012/2013 academic year, has been working closely with James Bowers in preparation for an administrative re-organization. James will step into the lead position of Dean of Enrollment Management on July 1. We are thrilled that he has accepted this position.

For the Challenge this month, I want to emphasize the Refer-a-Student initiative developed by the Admission Office. A number of alumni have asked me how they can best help with recruitment for the College. This campaign, by which you, as Shimer alumni, refer students who you think are a good match for Shimer to us (please see the alumni website and the February newsletter for details), has been greatly successful for other institutions. Although alumni referrals typically make up only a small percentage of the total number of inquiries, those students who have spoken to an alum apply and enroll in significantly greater numbers than those who hear from us through other channels. In the case of one of our peer institutions, alumni referrals made up only 1% of applications but 10% of enrollments. Please look around you; chances are you know of a high-school student who would be perfect for Shimer. Let us know who that student is!

As always, we look forward to hearing from you.

Cordially,



Susan E. Henking