Evergreen board accepts $2 million in gifts as it hears mostly positive news about the college
The Evergreen State College’s Board of Trustees heard a largely positive update on the four-year school on Friday, including that the college has received two, $1 million gifts from former students.
The board also received updates on the School of Professional and Continuing Education, the college’s budget deficit, enrollment and housing.
President John Carmichael said the college’s fundraising campaign, Forever Green, has so far raised more than $47 million of its $55 million-plus goal, including the two gifts. One of the $1 million gifts came from an alumna and her husband who wish to remain anonymous, he said. Their money will go toward technology and scholarships in the arts, Carmichael said.
The other donation came from John Hennessey, who graduated from Evergreen in 1977 and later earned a graduate degree at Dartmouth University. Carmichael said Hennessey works as an angel investor, someone who typically invests in early-stage startup businesses. He has created an “angel fund” for the college that’s aimed at enrollment and starting projects that can build enrollment.
Hennessey also serves on the college foundation’s board of governors, according to the school.
School of Professional and Continuing Education
A year ago Evergreen created the new School of Professional and Continuing Education to drive enrollment, reach new students and enhance the college’s reputation with professional and academic certificate programs, Provost David McAvity said. He said the school is on track with its curriculum and enrollment goals, with an ultimate enrollment goal of 500 new students.
Dean Lori Blewett said the full launch of the new school will take place next year, bringing with it more certificates and larger degree completion programs. Upcoming certificate programs are mycology (the study of fungal biology), marine bio-resources, behavioral health, supervision (which was requested by area employers), trauma-informed engagement (a state Department of Corrections certificate) and a health administration certificate.
Budget deficit
The college continues to whittle away at a budget deficit that grew to $7.4 million as enrollment fell during the pandemic, Chief Financial Officer Dave Kohler said. As students have returned, the deficit was reduced to $3.7 million to start 2023 and the college is expected to end the year at $1.8 million in the red.
To start 2024, the deficit is expected to grow to $2.8 million because of some unfunded legislative mandates, he said, but with fall enrollment forecasts pointing higher, he expects to get the deficit down to $1.1 million.
“We are going in the right direction,” Kohler said, adding that if higher enrollment trends continue, balanced budgets will return.
President Carmichael said enrollment growth remains job No. 1. “The urgency and importance of maintaining our focus on enrollment recovery cannot be overestimated,” he said.
Total college enrollment at Evergreen used to be closer to 4,500 students, but it tumbled in recent years to about 2,000 students.
Enrollment
In fall 2022, new undergraduate enrollment grew 17 percent. As for spring enrollment, the college is expected to add 40 new students, which is up 37 percent from spring 2022, Chief Enrollment Officer John Reed told the board.
Early estimates for the fall 2023 show enrollment growth, he said. He said housing applications, financial aid-related completions and deposits to attend the school all are higher than last spring.
“We have a pretty good chance of having a strong fall class,” Reed said. He credited Evergreen faculty for helping with the student recruitment process.
Housing/Cell tower
Chief Administrative Officer William Ward said the college is adding 125 beds by fall for new students in A-dorm, which is one of the tallest buildings on campus.
The college is restoring all of the infrastructure of the building and making it more aesthetically pleasing inside and out, he said.
The college also continues to work to bring a cell tower to the campus to improve cellular phone service. Ward said his department is still working with the legal department to get the best contract possible for the college.
Evergreen Police
Two Evergreen police officers received praise during the meeting.
Officer Joey Gallardo was singled out for his role in reuniting a child with her family after she got lost on campus.
Officer Tyson Forrest was mentioned for two acts: He helped a student who suffered a mental health emergency on campus. He also responded when a passenger on an Intercity Transit bus near the school appeared unresponsive.
He determined that person had overdosed on opiates. The person was successfully revived and taken to an area hospital.
