November, 1982 College of the Atlantic Nonprofit Organiz. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 U.S. Postage Paid Bar Harbor, Me. Permit #47 COA News Richard S. Davis 1940-1982 Church in Bar Harbor on September 17. Dick moved to Mt. Desert Island in 1973 as a visiting faculty member at the college. He joined the full-time staff the following year and together with his wife Norah built one of Maine's first solar homes on Norway Drive. He was appointed acting vice-president for academic affairs in July following the resignation of Sam Eliot. An instructor in philosophy, ethics and metaphysics, Dick was deeply loved and respected. As biologist and fellow faculty member, Steve Katona observed, "Dick's death was a tremendous loss spiritually to the college. He had the ability to show us just what we were doing and to give us a perspective on ourselves. He also lived what he believed. Not many people have his integrity and values." Dick's primary professional interest was to develop an ecological value theory and to formulate the conceptual foundation for the scientific study of value. At the time of his death, he was working on a new concept of human ecology and its implementation within the COA curriculum. Dick had a deep concern for many environmental and ethical issues including nuclear energy and the threat of nuclear war. Active in the national peace movement, he sponsored many peace activities at the college and on Mt. Desert Island. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he earned his B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Washington University. Before coming to COA, he taught at the University of Tennessee, the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University. He was a founder and director of the Coastal Resource Richard S. Davis Center in Bar Harbor, a consultant to Maine Public television and for several years chairman of the Maine Council for the The COA community was shocked and saddened by the Humanities and Public Policy. sudden death of Dick Davis on September 14, 1982. Dick One of Dick's personal interests was to see the had just returned from an outdoor orientation trip down the establishment of a Visiting Chair in Human Ecology at the Allagash River and was enjoying an evening gathering for college. Following his death, a fund was set up to endow this new students when he suffered a heart attack. He was chair in his memory. Anyone wishing to contribute should pronounced dead on arrival at Mt. Desert Island Hospital send a check to the Development Office, c/o the Richard S. Davis Memorial Fund. despite the efforts of friends and the ambulance crew to revive him. A funeral service was held at the Holy Redeemer Judith P. Swazey Inaugurated Ed Kaelber and representatives from the faculty, students, alumni and trustees also welcomed Judith and At College of the Atlantic shared their visions of the president's role in the college's second decade. College of the Atlantic began a new tradition on October 9 with the inauguration of its second president, Judith P. The inaugural celebration ended with a reception for Swazey. In a formal ceremony at the Holy Redeemer Judith and her family at the Bar Harbor Club. Church, Board chairman Robert Kanzler presented Judith Anyone wishing a copy of the inaugural addresses with a copy of the college charter and welcomed her into the should contact Marion Kane, Public Relations Office. COA community. He contrasted the day's events with those of 12 years ago when founding president Ed Kaelber took office. "Then there was no ceremony, no faculty, no students," he said. "I'm not even sure Ed had a place to hang his hat. Today, the college has truly come of age." The ceremony which included an academic procession was attended by delegates from other Maine colleges as well as students, staff, trustees and friends of the college. In her inaugural address, Judith reaffirmed her commitment to the study of human ecology. "Being a human ecologist is more salient now than ever before in our history," she said. "My hope for the college is that it will undertake and realize a renewed pursuit of excellence. This will involve the rearticulation of our goals and methods, a fine tuning and a continual process of qualitative building. Our objective should be to make College of the Atlantic the institution for human ecological education and research in the United States, a small center of great excellence." William D. Carey, Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and publisher of Science and Science '82, gave the guest address. A friend and colleague of Judith's, Carey appealed for a revival of generosity and trust in the world. "There can be no genuine security when most of our assets are wagered on military advantage and none are invested in enhancing generosity and trust," he said. "These qualities have been battered out of shape by a century that has been shamelessly violent. Our world has a broken heart and it needs healing." He expressed the hope that institutions such as College of the Atlantic will address the question of what it is that measures a good society and teach that knowledge must be respected and its uses directed toward more humane ends. Judith P. Swazey Bangor Daily News Photo Dr. Lewis Thomas Joins The upcoming year presents some particular challenges, however. The operating budget of $1.9 million dollars Board of Trustees represents a $400,000 increase over fiscal year 1981-82; fall enrollment has declined from 170 students in 1981 to 155 Dr. Lewis Thomas, noted scientist and writer, has students this year; financial aid needs have grown from become a member of the Board of Trustees at College of the $265,000 last year to $290,000 this year; and personnel Atlantic. He fills a vacancy on the board left by the death of costs have increased by $166,000. In addition, the college Dr. Rene Dubos in February, 1982. has launched a capital campaign to raise $800,000 for a Dr. Thomas is a medical doctor and chancellor of the much-needed auditorium/community center. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He is All of these factors make it particularly important that also professor of pathology and medicine at the Cornell students, trustees, alumni and others interested in the college University Medical College, attending physician at Memorial have a clear picture of the budget process at COA as well as Hospital and adjunct professor at Rockefeller University. the needs and expenses. Thomas is probably most widely known for two volumes of The Budget Process collected essays, The Lives of a Cell and The Medusa and the The budget process at COA begins in mid-winter with Snail. The essays, which interpret modern biology and medicine requests for individual, course and committee budgets. These with philosophical insight and humor, earned him the National are compiled by Ann Peach and a first-draft budget is Book Award in Arts and Letters in 1974, the Christopher prepared. The first-draft budget then goes back to the staff, Award in 1979 and the Award in Literature of the American committee chairs and faculty for revision, pruning and review. Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 1981. His By the end of April, a revised budget is presented to the memoirs will be published this year under the title, Notes of a Executive Committee for further additions and deletions. Medicine-Watcher. Typically, Ann presents the Executive Committee with several A native of Flushing, New York, he received his B.S. different options for such things as fringe benefits, salary step from Princeton in 1933 and his M.D. from Harvard in 1937. raises and base adjustments. It is the task of the Executive He is an overseer of Harvard University; a trustee of Committee to decide what, if any, increases in salary, capital Rockefeller University, The Guggenheim Foundation, C.S. expenditure and operating costs are appropriate for the Draper Laboratory, Educational Broadcasting Company (New upcoming year. Minor adjustments, reflecting uncertainties York), Hellenic Anticancer Institute (Athens) and Mount about enrollment and tuition income, continue to be made Sinai Medical Center; and a director of the Josiah Macy, Jr. throughout the summer. The budget is submitted to the full Foundation and Squibb Corporation. Board of Trustees for final approval at the annual meeting in July. 1982-83 Income Budget Report 1982-83 College of the Atlantic has two major categories of College of the Atlantic began its fiscal year in July on a income: unrestricted operating income and restricted funds. particularly optimistic note. According to business manager The first category includes tuition, annual giving, endowment Ann Peach, the college was "on the best footing since the first interest, federal and private grants and income from summer six months of its operation." Through the concerted fund- programs and conferences. The second category includes raising efforts of outgoing president Ed Kaelber and the restricted funds for specific projects and endowment principal trustees, incoming president Judith Swazey began her tenure gifts. These funds are not reflected in the operating income on July 1, 1982, with a clean fiscal slate. diagram because they are earmarked for single-purpose use. Budget (cont.) of the building but must raise the remaining $300,000 before the funds become available. The development office is simultaneously launching a fund drive to pay back the loan as soon as possible. A committee of island residents and Endowment Other 11% $213,432 businessmen will spearhead the fundraising drive. 5% $100,000 1982-83 Expenses The college's largest single expense lies in salaries and fringe benefits for its 53 personnel. This year, personnel costs increased by $166,000 reflecting step raises, a base salary adjustment of $700 per person and an increase in fringe Annual Giving Tuition benefits. 42% 42% The top salary for full-time faculty members at COA is $840,000 currently $21,200, consistent with the average pay nationally $845,000 at institutions without ranks. In an effort to increase actual faculty income this year without raising salaries, the college is picking up the entire cost of health care benefits. Previously, this cost was split on a 50/50 basis between the college and participating staff. By picking up the entire health care costs, OPERATING INCOME employees will realize an average increase of $60 after taxes per month. The second largest expense is operations including Tuition and Enrollment academic program expenses, student affairs, admissions, Of major concern to the college this year is a 12% the library, buildings and grounds, the president and vice- decline in enrollment and accompanying tuition income. president budgets, and capital expenses. The following Nationwide, many private colleges have experienced a 10- summary itemizes reductions and increases in each area over 15% enrollment drop this year. The recession, high cost of the 1981-82 budget. private college tuition, and a reduced pool of college-age 1981-82 1982-83 applicants are the reasons cited most frequently for the decline. Personnel $984,000 $1,150,000 In a recent report to the trustees, registrar Lucy Honig Operations: and admissions director Jim Frick pointed out that an increase Program 63,000 50,000 in the number of student leaves of absence is largely Student Affairs 265,000 290,830 responsible for the enrollment decline at COA. While the Admissions 35,000 38,000 actual attrition rate of students here remains low and stable President's Office 4,000 20,000 and the proportion of students graduating each year is getting Vice President Academics 500 13,000 higher, the college has an unusual number of one- and two- Vice President External Affairs 14,000 25,000 year students and others who take extended leaves of absence Library 30,000 50,000 for financial, personal or professional reasons. The admissions Registrar - 1,500 effort, therefore, goes largely toward keeping pace with the Internship 1,000 1,000 high turnover and maintaining a steady pool of degree Buildings and Grounds 70,000 82,000 candidates. General Administration 65,000 70,000 In an effort to reverse this trend, the advising system for Capital Expense 168,250 205,000 students already at the college is being strengthened and more Total $1,600,580 $1,996,330 are also being made to increase the applicant pool through an One substantial increase in the 1982-83 budget is expanded direct mail campaign and use of alumni recruiters. for student affairs/financial aid. This 20% increase reflects The admissions office has acquired a word processor to a new student loan program initiated by the college to streamline and personalize responses to inquiries about the replace funds no longer available through federal grants. college, and the COA Association has appointed an This year's library budget includes $5,000 in one- admissions committee to make use of the considerable time expenses for the installation of a computerized recruiting talents of our alumni. interlibrary loan system. The remainder of the $13,000 Tuition and fees at College of the Atlantic have cost of the new system will be funded by a grant from the remained low in comparison with other private colleges in Pew Foundation. The computerized loan and cataloguing Maine. This year's tuition and fees are $4850 compared system will link COA's library with resources in 2,500 to $8100 at Bates, $7650 at Colby, $7665 at Bowdoin member libraries nationwide. and $4800 out-of-state tuition at UMO. The Executive Finally, the capital expense budget includes loan Committee voted recently to increase next year's tuition repayments ($135,000), equipment purchases ($15,000) and fees to $5550 but to offer a prepayment with savings and capital improvements. The largest single capital as an incentive for early enrollment. improvement scheduled for 1982-83 is expansion of the science labs into the present maintenance shop ($30,000). Annual Giving, Endowment and Other Income As any of you who have worked in the lab in recent years Annual giving consists of private gifts solicited from know, it is woefully inadequate for concurrent use by five friends of the college, alumni and trustees. The major science faculty members and their classes. Superintendent responsibility for reaching the annual giving goals rests with of buildings and grounds, Millard Dority and his the trustees, particularly the development committee, president maintenance crew will temporarily use the student Judith Swazey, vice-president Albert Smith and the alumni greenhouse as a headquarters until a new maintenance fundraising committee. Annual giving needs this year are shop can be constructed, probably as part of a building $845,000 up $250,000 from last year. and design class. College of the Atlantic's endowment now totals $1,250,000 with an additional $2,000,000 pledged over the Debt repayment next 3-5 years. The endowment includes general unrestricted 7% funds which provide income for the operating budget; $135,000 endowments for special purposes such as student aid, the president's fund, the R. Amory Thorndike library fund, capital endowment for The Turrets and auditorium, and other assets. New endowment is also being sought at a rate of $500,000 Salaries per year. Operations 58% Other income incudes $7,500 earned from the summer 35% $1,150,000 school, Elderhostel programs, and use of COA facilities by $711,330 other organizations; $149,000 from federal grants; and $16,139 from private grants. Restricted Income For Community Center This year $300,000 is being sought toward the construction of an $800,000 auditorium/community center. The college has received initial approval of a $500,000 loan from the Farmers Home Administration to begin construction EXPENSES Summer Wrap-Up Elizabeth Reed has replaced Elizabeth Sheema as secretary to Albie Smith in the development office and Elaine Tetlow assists Ann Peach in the business office. COA had an active and successful summer season under the direction of Ted Koffman. Among the activities sponsored Lucy Honig has resigned as registrar effective by the college were: December 31. She has been accepted for a residency at Elderhostel, a nationally coordinated educational/ Yaddo, an artist and writers community in Saratoga travel program for senior citizens. COA hosted four, one- Springs, New York. week sessions of 40 participants each. a three-week graduate program in Science Education and Social Responsibility taught by COA faculty Craig Green, Don Cass, Harris Hyman and visiting instructor John Kustler. a four-week marine mammals course taught by COA faculty Steve Katona and Sentiel Rommel. a graduate program lecture series including a talk on medical ethics by Judith Swazey. a summer forum on "Perspectives on War and Peace." a new natural history museum which drew over 5000 people to the campus to participate in interpretative programs and learn from 30 skillfully prepared exhibits. bi-weekly guided tours of The Turrets including shows of "The Bar Harbor Film" about the historic cottage era. Stewart Brecher Robin de Jong art exhibits on display in The Turrets' gallery. a piano concert by Tom Brockman to mark the completion and dedication of The Turrets. and a number of parties and special events to Briefly welcome Judith Swazey to the college and community at COA historian Susan Mehrtens and her husband Ed large. Davis celebrated the completion of their 36-foot yawl with an COA facilities were also used for conferences sponsored old-fashioned boat launching party August 7 at Goose Cove, by other organizations including the New Jersey Audubon West Tremont. Over 200 friends gathered on the shore to Society, the Maine Association of Financial Aid watch the replica of Joshua Slocum's "Spray" slide down the Administrators, the Nature Conservancy and the Maine skids amid champagne and cheers. Ed began building the Counsel for the Arts and Humanities. boat in 1978 and Sue signed on as crew in 1981 when the In addition to bringing many interesting people to the couple was married. They took a group of COA students on campus, the summer activities netted over $7,500 in income the "Spray's" maiden voyage as part of outdoor orientation this for the college. fall. Norah Davis' book on the Mississippi River, The Father of Waters, was recently published by the Sierra Club. The Mississippi sponsored by COA. Norah has also just Faculty and Staff News completed the first draft of a novel. An article co-authored by Judith Swazey and Renee Fox COA added two new members to its regular faculty on the Chinese health care system was published in the this fall. Stewart Brecher will teach environmental design. August 20 issue of Science. The article is entitled "Critical A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he is a Care at Tianjin's First Central Hospital and the Fourth registered architect in both Britain and the United States Modernization." Judith has also given several lectures locally and has taught in the departments of architecture at the on her 1981 trip to China including one at the George Kingston Polytechnic in Surrey, England, the University of Stevens Academy in Blue Hill. Nairobi and the State University of New York at Buffalo. COA faculty members, Peter Corcoran and Rich Borden, He has extensive experience in theatre and furniture design and recent graduate Catherine Kiorpes gave presentations on as well as building construction. He and his wife Melita, a "process ecology" at the annual meeting of the National sculptress, have two children. Association for Environmental Educators held in New York in Robin de Jong joins the faculty in carpentry and fine October. Six students from the college also attended the woodworking. A native of the Netherlands, he learned the conference. woodworking craft from his grandfather, a Dutch guild Peter has also given presentations during the pastyear master. He has worked as a cabinet maker, carpenter and at the Conservation Education Association National house builder and has taught several courses as a visiting Conference in North Carolina, the National Marine Education instructor at the college. He lives with his wife Roni and Association Conference in Texas and the National Science two children in East Sullivan. Teachers Association conference in Tennessee. Five visiting instructors are teaching at the college this A portion of the Turret's hot water now comes from the fall including Jim Haskell, Director of the Hancock County sun. A solar water collector, built during a spring workshop at Planning Commission; Ed Meadows, a forest resource the college, was installed during the summer by recent management consultant and licensed Real Estate Broker; graduate, Bruce Friedman. It is being used to preheat water Sam Kilbourn, a lawyer, professional performer and in the student housing wing of the building. teacher of clowning; John Buell, associate editor of The Progressive Magazine in Madison, Wisconsin, and instructor in comparative economics; and Edward Shenton, an alternative energy specialist from Cutler, Maine. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Three COA faculty members are on sebattical leave. Name Butch Rommel is working with Knut Schmidt-Nielson on physiology at Duke University; Steve Andersen is teaching Old Address economics at the University of Hawaii; and Harris Hyman is doing engineering consulting work in Lamoine. Judith Blank resigned her position in anthropology at New Address COA in June. The future of anthropology study at the college is a topic under close study by the personnel and curriculum committees this year. Date Anne Napier will be at the college for 10 hours each week to provide personal counseling for students. She Please help us keep in touch with you. holds graduate degrees in nursing and counseling and When you change your address, complete and return this form conducts a private practice in Southwest Harbor. to Elizabeth Reed, COA.