Clark Again Lauded Among ‘Colleges That Change Lives'

"Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges" has again placed Clark among only 40 schools in the nation and two in Massachusetts to be featured in the revised and expanded edition of the popular guide. "Colleges That Change Lives" is written by former New York Times education editor Loren Pope, the author of "Looking Beyond the Ivy League."

Pope stresses that the college search should be focused on each student's individual learning style and interests rather than on magazine rankings. He praises Clark's commitment to undergraduate research, diversity, civic values, social change, and programs that foster student engagement and support life-long learning.

"Higher education being a status industry, the assumption is that selectivity equals rigor. Wrong, wrong, wrong. This is one of the worst myths jinxing college choices," Pope writes. "Eighty years of official records testify that many colleges in this book dramatically outperform their very selective peers in producing the nation's scientists, scholars, and achievers."

Clark kicks off the new academic year

Fall classes at Clark began on Aug. 28, with 570 new first-year students and 65 transfer students joining nearly 1,500 returning undergraduates. "This is one of the strongest and most diverse classes I have seen in 25 years," says Dean of the College Doug Little. "We have a record number of Presidential Scholars and our new international students hail from China to Venezuela and from Ghana to Georgia (the former Soviet Republic, not the Peach State )."

Fall Convocation and Salute to Student Scholars, which marks the official opening of the academic year, took place on Wednesday, Aug. 30 in the Daniels Theater, Atwood Hall. The short formal ceremony included opening remarks by President Bassett, the presentation of universitywide awards to outstanding faculty and students, and the Convocation address, "Saving Lives, Transforming Communities, and Changing the World: A Call to be Bold," by Edward Cardoza, director of development of Partners in Health.

Cardoza's address introduced the theme for the academic year: "Global Health and Social Justice," which links closely to the summer-reading assignment for first-year students—Tracy Kidder's " Mountains Beyond Mountains." Kidder's book, which came highly recommended from Clark faculty across the disciplines, focuses on the career of Paul Farmer, a charismatic Harvard-based physician who founded Partners in Health (PIH) to fight tuberculosis in Haiti. Today, the organization is committed to bringing the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need in the world's poorest and sickest communities. Cardoza is a top PIH official and close associate of Farmer.

A series of events is being planned for the 2006-07 academic year around the Global Health and Social Justice theme, including a President's Lecture by Kidder, which is slated for October 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Razzo Hall. The University hopes to bring Farmer to campus in the spring.

Clark named one of 25 'Saviors of Our Cities'

Clark is included On a list of 25 "best-neighbor" urban colleges and universities compiled by Evan Dobelle, president of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Dobelle selected the schools "because their strong positive contribution of careful strategic planning and thoughtful use of resources, have dramatically strengthened the economy and quality of life of their neighboring communities and have become Saviors of Our Cities." Dobell considered the institutions' longstanding involvement with their urban communities, the real dollars invested through their foundations and annual budgets, their catalyst effect on additional partners for social and economic change, and their overall positive impact on their communities.

The "Saviors of Our Cities" list is composed of 25 academic institutions that are remarkable examples of community revitalization and cultural renewal, economic drivers of the local economy, advocates of community service and urban developers, both commercially as well as in housing. Among them are: University of Pennsylvania, University of Dayton, Case-Western University, University of Wisconsin, Emerson College, Trinity College, University of Chicago, George Washington University, and Carnegie-Mellon University. Clark was eighth on the list.

New trustees join Clark Board

David H. Chaifetz '65, retired vice president, secretary and general counsel of Praxair, Inc. in Danbury, Conn., has been appointed to the University's Board of Trustees for a six-year term. In addition, Barbara Rabinowitz Dyer '73, president and CEO of the Hitachi Foundation, was elected to the board by Clark alumni this past spring, also for a six-year term. Both began their terms on July 1.

"We are thrilled to have David and Barbara joining the Board of Trustees. Both bring broad-based experience and have been loyal supporters of the University," says President John Bassett.

In addition, Perry R. Pero '61 and James H. Harrington have both returned to the board of Trustees as honorary trustees for four-year terms.

Clark in the news

See where and when Clark faculty, students, alumni and staff have been quoted in newspapers and magazines, and on television and radio throughout the country. Read press releases announcing the latest news from the University.

Cougar news

Keep up with all the latest news from Clark Athletics with the weekly Cougar newsletter. You can find the current issue on the Web, cruise the archives and subscribe to receive the weekly e-newsletter.