The following 20 anonymous excerpts are from additional emails sent to us as responses to the survey. They are separated by either a lines of stars.
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Do you believe that there are reasons for Wells to remain a women's college? (check if Yes)
Going coed is going to detract from Wells all the things that make it special - the classroom setting, the beautiful campus (male students WILL trash the campus), strong sisterhood, extracurricular life, etc. Being a women's college makes Wells special, especially with the many MANY leadership opportunities on campus, which make many female students step up to the plate and assume the responsibility and leadership skills they will need to draw upon once in the "real world". Don't let Wells die!
Please briefly share your further thoughts regarding the decision, the process and/or the students' action.
Unlike many of my colleagues and friends who attended coeducation colleges, I absolutely LOVED and ADORED my college experience, primarily for the single sex environment, as well as the leadership roles I took on while at Wells - roles I KNOW I would NEVER have considered acquiring if I had been at a coeducational school. I also cherish the many friendships I developed there, friendships that don't seem to fade even with the passing of time. I feel a profound connection to my former classmates, alums and current students, even though I have not met many of them. The sisterhood bond is strong, and this is not something that is typically developed within a coeducational environment. No one else I know speaks so highly of their collegiate experience - doesn't that mean something?
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Diversity is essential to education. It means bringing the widest possible backgrounds to the table in every classroom. Meaningful diversity is built on race, culture, age, work experience, and gender. Besides: men who are steeped in women's issues become lifetime advocates for these issues.
By gradually introducing coeducation, you delay diversity-building. You also make life unfairly awkward for the first men to matriculate at Wells.
Yes to the escrow option: I have NO faith in Lisa Ryerson. Her misleading letter to alumnae two days before her general announcement of coeducation was manipulative and shameful. As for "recommitting to women's education," I don't differentiate between “women's education” and “good education.” My Wells education was good thanks to the generally good quality of teaching, small classes and one-on-one relationships with faculty.
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First question about the value of a women's education:
We recently attended Family Weekend at Smith College and were reminded again of the value of an all women's education -- the building of strong and intelligent voices. We also found ourselves saying "Wells does x better, Wells does y better, why can't Wells make it?"
Other comments box:
The management of Wells College has not done everything it can -- it has only done everything it has wanted to. Glossy covered brochures won't increase enrollments, but attendance at major college fairs outside of New York might. A books arts program is not an anchor for growth, but an engineering program built upon a liberal arts base might be. Letters telling alumnae to support the difficult decision-making process is not involvement or dialogue, but actually giving ALL alumnae a chance to understand and consider the issues and make suggestions BEFORE making a decision certainly would be.
In addition, it is insulting that a letter telling alumnae that their
beloved institution is going coed should end with a request "for any men we might know." If that is their best recruitment strategy, Wells has far greater problems than enrollment.
We have not supported Wells in the past ten years because we do not support the leadership. If there were a significant change in
leadership, we would be happy to make Wells a top philanthropic
priority.
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Wells is one of the few colleges women can go to and feel empowered by their decisions. Where they're told their thoughts and decisions matter, the money the administration says they are lacking in would be increased as they would be required to renovate the entire campus to facilitate the men they envision attending. By the time renovations are completed the tuition from the 1 or 2 men that might dare to brave the Wells campus will not even come close to covering the expenses. Aurora is too small a town and the college is too small an area to facilitate going co-ed, I'm truthfully surprised there hasn't been more opposition for this move from the locals. This move is more monumental than Pleasant's "revitalization" of Aurora, and has the possibility of completely changing Aurora even more than it already has been, and not necessarily in a way that they would embrace. WELLS IS TRADITION, going co-ed would kill many of the most treasured traditions which have been in place for many, many years. The Wells experience is what is learned both academically as well as socially. I truthfully feel nothing but pity for the first men who attempt to attend Wells under the current circumstances.
I would support co-ed only if it could be proven beyond a doubt that it was the only option and decisions are not made covertly as they have been. Students, parents, and alums should be involved in the decision and the administration / trustees should not try to hide or manipulate facts - the act of which only sabotages their own attempts by making them look desperate, deceitful, and untrustworthy.
I fully support the women who are down there protesting and wish there was more I could do. I feel that the administration has created a monster by advising us to fight for what we believe and not just lie down and accept decisions that are "made on our behalf", though the way they are reacting is as though they have no clue where this is coming from or why it is happening and appear to have no intention of reinforcing what they have been preaching for so many years. After a move like this I don't blame the student body, parents and alums for not trusting the administration or the trustees, as they seem to forget so quickly that Wells is not the buildings or the grounds, but the people who live within its walls - the students and faculty, families and alums. WE ARE WELLS and should have more of a say in its future.
Thank you for putting together this survey -- it allows many of us the venue to express our thoughts about this decision, it really means a lot. Hopefully it'll help the administration / trustees realize the opposition they are facing.
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Thank you for letting me participate in your survey. As you will see I wholeheartedly support the Board of Trustees and the administration in its extreme yet necessary decision. I don't like to see Wells go co-ed, but I certainly do not want to see it shut its doors either--which will be the case if the college does not change course. Upon ending the survey and learning the intentions of your organization, I was deeply dismayed. President Ryerson has led Wells honorably. She has studied and administered new campaigns in attracting new students--which have been successful but to the point of keeping the college afloat. The truth is out there--few girls are interested in attending women's colleges—and competition for those girls is stiff.
Since graduating in 1990 I have been a regular donor (as well as volunteer) to the College because I believe in IT. I still do. However, I hate to see that once again--due to some alumnae who feel like they have the right to sue when they are offended by the BOT/Administration's decisions—valuable dollars that should be going to the students will go to fighting frivolous lawsuit(s).
Alumnae who make up the BOT love Wells and are committed to its viability and vibrancy. Change is always hard--especially when it's such a life-altering change. I am sad that girls will not know Wells as I knew it. I will forever be a Wells woman and be proud of that.
However, I want to be a part of making Wells a success--and I can do that by supporting its leadership and not by participating in a cause to discredit/smear College leaders, thereby hurting its current and future students.
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Gee, I am sorry that I don't know how to get links or cut and paste.
But, I am NOT in favor of co-ed Wells.
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Wells College is not a transparent organization. Its income and the
management of its finances are not available for public inspection. It is pretty clear that the current management has been running the college into the ground for some time, but the trustees have not made any changes. I think the trustees do not take their responsibilities seriously. The problems at Wells are similar to the problems we've been reading about with many corporations - a lack of transparency, lack of oversight, and a lack of honesty. Something needs to change or we should send in Elliott Spitzer.
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Wells offers a unique opportunity for women in the 21st century to pursue their education goals in a small, liberal arts college geared toward women. I chose to attend Wells in the 1960s because it was small and it was for women. I would not have attended if Wells had been large and/or co-ed. Women today should have the same choice.
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I feel that while it is a sad decision, I'd rather see Wells survive as a coed school than die an early death from lack of enrollment. I would have preferred to have them wait until 2006 for admissions, just to get a solid marketing plan in place (high school seniors now have already made their college choices for 2005). Withholding money will not reverse the decision. Good luck in your efforts; I am planning to turn my attention to my 25th reunion in 2006. What's done is done; now let's make the best of it, and make Wells a top-notch liberal arts college for all students, female and male. My daughter (age 9) currently has her heart set on going to Wells someday, and I hope it's still there for her to attend. Hers will be a different experience from my own, but our children's experiences are always different from our own - it's the way it goes. I applaud and respect the students for expressing their feelings so clearly and strongly. Now I hope they get back to doing what they are there to do - get a good education and become upstanding citizens of the world.
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I'm a little late in hearing about things and would like it to
be known that I am not in favor of Wells being coed.
Please let me know what I can do.
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I was pleased to be able to participate in the survey, but frustrated and the limited amount of writing space, so I'm sending a few more words this way.
I loved my education at Wells, particularly because it was a single-sex institution. My first choice would be to keep Wells just as it is. I do know (though my knowledge is limited) that through the years the school has tried a variety of tactics to up enrollment; these efforts seemed to have failed. A close friend told me that she was accepted at Wells, but chose Vassar because she knew she would have to learn to coexist with men and starting in college made sense. This is a wonderful, intelligent woman who would have been an ideal "Wells woman", but did not go there because it was not coeducational. Other equally wonderful women may not choose Wells for similar reasons. I do feel that incoming freshman who were not told that such a big possible change may occur, were mislead and waiting four years or at the very least starting slowly, with coeducation would only be fair. When I graduated from Wells, the school had an enrollment of just under 500 and there was concern. Now it it even lower...sigh. It is a very difficult decision...I stand by all those students that are protesting, but I understand the reality of the situation as well.
Thank you so much for putting the survey together and for allowing my input.
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Thank you so much for this superb effort on behalf of Wells. I have already completed the survey and found it a welcome opportunity to express my concern. I look forward to reading the results and cannot say enough in the way of thanks for what you are doing.
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I would only support coeducation after a comprehensive 3-5 year
strategic plan has been developed and implemented. The administration must involve the Wells community at large in strategic planning and provide the Wells community with full disclosure. Absolute transparency by the administration is needed to regain the trust of the Wells community.
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Opinion:
I feel betrayed by the administration's/board's decision to make Wells coed.
I believe Wells needs a top to bottom overhaul. First, we need to look at the Board and assess what they bring to the table as individuals and as a whole.
Next we need to look at those in Key positions, (e.g., President, Deans, Directors of Admissions, Career Services, Development, etc.)
I believe that we have a very strong faculty, but it also should be
reviewed.
The college needs to pick a focus or two and set out to achieve it, For example, Wells is unique in its size which has many pluses (and some minuses). But, where else can one learn about the "hard" sciences in such a small setting with the flexibility to allow each women to explore the limits of her abilities. We need to be able to say that we are tops in something.
Just as in business, employees are consulted at companies with
successful, dynamic strategic plans (not static plans that sit on a
shelf), so must the Wells community be consulted when developing the Wells strategic plan.
Regarding the students' actions, I fully support them and believe the
majority of them have approached this dilemma in a rational and
systematic manner. I have donated money to them and speak with a current student on a regular basis to show my support. Above all, I am thankful that they are making a stand. Due to distance, job, and family constraints, I cannot be there to protest. I'm so glad that they are!
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My answer to the last question (in many more than 500 characters!):
Alumnae received a letter from Lisa Ryerson in the summer indicating that coeducation was a possibility, and she discussed it at a forum during Alumnae Reunion (which was attended by maybe 10% of the alums on campus). The question of coeducation has been discussed in the past when Wells was having enrollment problems, but I never felt it was a strong possibility before, so I put my head in the sand and didn't believe it would happen.
The trustees and administration all care deeply about Wells, or they would have jumped ship long ago. I have known Lisa Ryerson personally since the day she set foot on campus as a freshwoman, and I traveled with her when she was an Admissions Counselor for Wells; I know she loves Wells and its mission as a women's college! I believe that, whatever they say in public, this is a very difficult decision for all involved. I have to believe that they believe this is best and the only path for the survival of Wells.
If I were a student, I'm sure I'd be protesting just as these students are doing. As long as these protests are peaceful and do not interfere with the operation of the college, I believe they should continue to express their beliefs! I hope the rumors I've heard regarding threats from those with opposing points of view are just that. One of the best aspects of Wells in the past was the ability for those with different opinions to live peacefully together, with out pressure from their peers! Discussion is good; bashing anyone else because of their beliefs is not.
Thanks for doing this. I'll be interested to read the results!
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Please let the students know how much we appreciate their actions and solidarity on behalf of all the alumnus. I am saddened by the photos and outrageous actions of the administration. As a current college administrator, myself, their behavior is despicable! Wells has NOT taught Lisa, especially, to behave in such an inappropriate behavior. I was her senior sister, and I am now VERY disappointed to have supported her as a Presidential candidate for Wells...and they said her former male counterparts were insensitive!
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I believe it's a huge mistake to think that Wells will survive as a coed institution. There will be nothing to make it stand out from any other small liberal arts college, except that it is so small that adding men to the campus will be a problem. I do not believe that admissions has done all they could to attract new female students - personally I have witnessed two college fairs where the Wells booth was "manned" by a middle aged man rather than an enthusiastic young woman - not a very appealing role model for today's female high school student. I will not support Wells as a coed institution.
Thanks for reaching out & setting this up. I hope this makes a difference. I hope something we or the students or whoever can do makes a difference.
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I firmly believe in women's education. My personal experience supports the body of research that finds single sex education affirming for young women. Unfortunately, the College has been unable to attract a student body that allows operations at either break-even or better. Without a dramatic turnaround the College cannot remain viable. The demise of the College is the least desirable alternative for me. I prefer that Wells remain a women's college, but not at the expense of its survival.
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Do I believe there are reason for Wells to remain a women's college:
From what I've read/heard it sounds like other options haven't been pursued. I'd love to see those options explored. If they don't work and the college wouldn't survive, then yes, go coed. But to go coed before trying other avenues, means we lose what makes Wells College special to all of its alums. Wells is a wonderful place to nurture the growth of women. While I'm sure it would remain "different" from other coed colleges, it just wouldn't be the same.
My thoughts on the action:
I do think its sad that that the College didn't notify the alums until after the decision was made. I did hear of the process from other "non-official" channels, but I believe that including alums/students in the news about how the decision/making is progressing would be very important. It would have prevented a lot of these feelings that administration isn't communicating.
I'm very sad that Wells is going coed. While I don't want to see the college close and disappear, I would like to see ALL avenues explored before this drastic step is taken.
Obviously its not a mission failure as asked in one of the questions... there are other women's colleges still in existence that are thriving. How are they doing it? Has our admissions department investigated those colleges? It seems like there should be a way to improve our enrollment. Its a great place for the right women!
I'd definitely love to hear the results from your survey.
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[the following letter is from one sent to Ryerson by this alum who sent it as her additional comments to the survey]
Imagine my shock when I opened my last issue of the Express and found that the idea of co-education was being considered as a way to draw more students to Wells, thereby increasing revenue. To say that I was appalled would be an understatement. To have the suggestion come from the mouth of an alumna left me flabbergasted. My first reaction was that if Wells were to go co-ed, my daughter would never go there. My second reaction was that if Wells were to go coed, I would have to reconsider my will, as I had planned to name Wells in my will.
That said, I have been thinking of ways to prevent this possibility and have a couple of questions to ask. First and foremost, where does the money for the Express come from? Is it part of the annual operating budget? It astounds me that our alumnae magazine costs nothing to receive. Would this not be a way to reduce costs? Charging a nominal fee for this publication would enable the college to eliminate a portion of the costs. A reasonable fee (say, $10.00 for a subscription) is really not too much to ask, in my opinion. In fact, it could be tied in with the annual giving: $25.00 could be a membership to the alumnae association and could include the Express. As always, there would be different levels of giving, but I think that many alumnae take their Express for granted.
The subscription to the Express would also alleviate the problem of having too many copies. I recall as a student working in the Alumnae Office that there were often many copies of the Express left over; they were left in the mail room for people to pick up as they wished. How many of these ended up in paper recycling boxes later on that day? How many copies were left to sit for weeks in the mail room, read by no one, until they were piled into the recycling box with the rest of the abandoned periodicals and catalogs? I consider that to be a huge waste of resources and money.
Another question involves the parents of Wells students and alumnae. I know several people whose parents still get copies of the Express. Are they charged for it? If not, why not? Is the college really bound to continue sending them the magazine if they are no longer supporting the school financially? If they are charged for it, then I have no problems with this practice.
The second question also pertains to the Express: Although it is a beautiful publication and is of a superior quality when compared to many alumni magazines, would it be more cost-effective to use a lower grade of paper? The Express is printed on a very heavy paper that few magazines use. I have subscriptions to several magazines and none of them use this sort of heavy paper. My alumni magazine from SUNY Buffalo (whose student base is several times that of Wells) is printed on a thinner paper; I would liken its quality to that of Newsweek or the Economist. This does little to diminish its worth, in my opinion. I think it is rather irresponsible to not consider smaller changes, such as this, in order to preserve the mission of our founder, Henry Wells.
I would now like to address the issue of recruitment and retention. Having lived as an Army spouse, I have seen recruitment in the Army and I have paid attention to what the Army does to recruit and retain its members. The first answer from most people in the civilian world is: commercials. I do not expect Wells to produce commercials for recruitment. But what the Army has done in its recruitment is to involve its members who are firm, strong believers in the organization. I realize that Wells has done this with former grads, sending them out to recruit students at college fairs, but this can only do so much. I might add that I never saw a recruiter from Wells when I was in high school, but I did see recruiters from Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Sweetbriar. Wells was not my first choice, Smith was. I was wait-listed at Smith and chose to go to Wells, instead. I have never regretted it. Clearly, meeting with a recruiter or an alumna was not key for me, and may not have been for other students and alumnae.
So, who are the strongest believers in Wells and the education and experiences that one gains while a student? The answer is simple: current students and alumnae. We have always made a big deal of “experiential learning” and hands-on problem solving at Wells. Why not make this an issue for students to help solve? I feel that this is an excellent project for students in economics, marketing and research to tackle. Who knows Wells better than her students? Who knows the target age group better than those who were member of that group a few years before? Giving this problem to the women of Wells to help solve would allow us to take ownership of ‘our’ school and help foster a true sense of community for Wells students.
It goes without saying that a think tank of adults (especially men) who were never Wells students, who never knew the Wells experience, would not be able to effectively market Wells and help get her back on her feet again. It has been said that the lifeblood of communities are its active members. I feel that the lifeblood of Wells is her students. Please don’t be afraid to give them a much-deserved chance at saving the school they love. I think that you might be glad you did.
I would appreciate any thoughts you have on this. It is my belief that we can and should avoid co-education. Wells is nothing without her traditions, and the tradition of single-sex education is the cornerstone of Wells’ traditions.