Board Extends President's Contract Through 2004
Oberlin's Board of Trustees extended President Nancy S. Dye's contract for five years, effective July 1, 1999, when Dye's current contract expired, to continue through the year 2004. "The Board is extremely pleased with the president's accomplishments and leadership," said chair William R. Perlik '48. "Since her inauguration in October 1995, she has more than justified our faith in her strength of character and sense of vision." Recently the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recognized President Dye's achievements with a $150,000 Presidential Leadership grant, placing Oberlin among five colleges nationwide whose presidents were tapped for the honor. She used the grant to create sustained collaboration between the College and Oberlin's public schools, and to develop a summer program for low-income middle-school and high-school students. Under her leadership, $24 million in gifts was received during the 1996-97 school year--the greatest amount ever raised in a single non-campaign year.
"Thanks to Dye's initiative and support," Perlik added, "the College also received $3.5 million to establish and endow the operation of the Center for Service and Learning. The center will foster student volunteerism as part of a broad educational experience. She has also approved the construction of a state-of-the-art environmental studies center and a new 200,000 square-foot science facility."
Among numerous achievements the board recognized were "the openness and integrity that have enhanced a spirit of good will and trust within the community; the campus-wide efforts that successfully eliminated a $3.2 million structural budget deficit; the long-range plan; and her enactment of a 2.7 percent tuition and fees increase for 1998-99 --the lowest increase since 1972."
"We are singularly blessed to have a leader of President Dye's caliber taking the College into the year 2004 and beyond," said Perlik.