Trinity College

This document appears to be the transcript or minutes from the Trinity College President's Convocation for the incoming Class of 2022. Key discussions included welcoming the new students, faculty, and staff. The Dean of the Faculty emphasized the challenging and pleasurable process of liberal arts education and advised students not to settle, encouraging exploration in classes, clubs, and activities. The Secretary of the Faculty outlined expectations for students, including doing the work, showing respect, asking for help, and enjoying the experience. The Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success welcomed the diverse entering class, noting statistics regarding geography, student of color representation, and first-generation students, and highlighted the impressive achievements of the incoming class members.

The key topics discussed included membership information, emphasizing that any meaningful amount counts for membership, and communication regarding membership status. Significant attention was given to leadership transitions, including thanking a former co-chair and announcing the next co-chair. Open positions for committee chairs, specifically the Network Working and Mentoring Committee Chair and the Programming Committee Chair (due to a transition to the alumni office), were highlighted, with calls for volunteers. The meeting also included an update on the college's Bicentennial celebration, which theme is "Committed to the Future Since 1823." Discussion covered kickoff events, charter day recognitions (including planting a tree and achieving Level One Arboretum status), upcoming Bicentennial events such as concerts, film series, a combined Homecoming/Family Weekend, and two major symposia focusing on memory, presence, possibility, reflection, and action. Furthermore, the development of a Bicentennial website featuring 200 stories from the community to capture diverse perspectives, rather than a singular history, was detailed. The implementation of a temporary color, persimmon, for Bicentennial branding and merchandise was also noted.

The document is a transcript for the Paul D. Assaiante Inaugural Lecture. Key discussion points included the rare occurrence of an endowed chair being named after the first person to hold it, citing two prior examples at the institution. The focus was primarily on honoring Coach Paul Asante, the first holder of the endowed Paul Asante Professorship of Physical Education, highlighting his twenty-year tenure, numerous national championships, and coaching philosophy which emphasizes confronting fear and accepting failure as a crucial life lesson. The speaker also acknowledged the achievements of the men's squash team reaching the national finals for the 17th consecutive year and the women's team winning the national championship. Additionally, the speaker recognized the presidential tenure of Jimmy Jones and his wife Jan, and thanked various trustees and supporters present. A significant portion of the address focused on the contemporary cultural issue of students lacking ownership over their journeys due to over-parenting, leading to fragility when faced with difficulty, and stressed the importance of allowing young people to fail and develop resilience.

The event marked the 191st Commencement exercises for Trinity College. The program included an invocation and a welcome from the trustees, faculty, staff, and students. A significant portion of the event was dedicated to presenting various excellence awards, including Trustee Awards for Faculty, Student, and Staff Excellence, the Thomas Church Brownell Prize for Teaching Excellence, the Charles A. Dana Research Professorship, and the Dean Arthur H. Hughes Award for Achievement in Teaching. Specific faculty, student, and staff award recipients were recognized for their scholarship, teaching accomplishments, research, and community involvement. The commencement also acknowledged the senior class gift which funded the replacement of a damaged Elm Tree on the main quad.

The event served as the President's Convocation for the 2017 academic year opening. Key discussions focused on offering prayers for the community, welcoming new students, faculty, and staff, and encouraging engagement in liberal arts education. Remarks from the Dean of the Faculty and the Student Government Association President emphasized personal growth, overcoming transitional challenges in college, embracing diversity, and utilizing the comprehensive curriculum. Subsequent speakers highlighted Trinity College traditions, such as the Fuller Arch and the lemon squeezer, and detailed the record-breaking diversity metrics of the incoming Class of 2021 across geographic, international, domestic diversity, gender ratio, and first-generation student representation.