GODDARD COLLEGE ASSESSES GOALS FOR FUTURE
PLAINFIELD -- Goddard College needs to renew its commitment to progressive education, broaden diversity and launch a fund-raising campaign to build a wellness center and a conference center.
Those were some of the goals agreed upon by more than 70 people who gathered at the Eliot D. Pratt Library on campus for a "Future Search" conference Thursday through Saturday to help plot the college's future.
"Goddard is thinking about itself and where it's going," said new president Barbara Mossberg, who took over Aug. 15. "As the president, I see this as an opportunity to learn about the values, needs, concerns and agendas of all the people to whom the college is accountable."
Participants included not only Goddard faculty, staff, administrators and students, but also artists, socially responsible business people, political activists, community members and educators from other progressive schools.
The group's closing session examined list after list of ideas compiled by committees. Ideas on which there was a consensus were on a master list labeled "Common Futures" and included not only progressive education, diversity and fund raising but outreach and collaboration with the community more opportunities for study and travel abroad; plan for socially responsible technology; dismantle racism, sexism, etc.; and engage conflict constructively.
Goddard's self-assessment will continue for about another six months. Mossberg said she would like to have a five-year strategic plan in hand by June and will use it as the basis for a capital campaign.
