At the start of the meeting we reviewed the official statements and activities that came out of the Antioch Reunion. To summarize: during Reunion 2007 it was decided that alumni would work in three main areas (government/legal action, communication-internal and external, fundraising) . They began a public relations effort to get alumni to donate in an attempt to keep the college open. A website (antiochians.org) has been created to provide alumni with information and action plans. Ultimately we hope to negotiate with the University’s Board of Trustees to establish a separate board that will only be accountable to the College and to provide a string of revenue to support undergraduates and the college. These actions were approved unanimously by the Antioch Alumni Board.

After reviewing these initial action steps, the Chicago Chapter reviewed what has gone wrong in recent years that has led to the decision to close the college. These actions include:

• A renewal plan in 2003 to changing the curriculum and cooperative education program (led to a loss of students and valued employees)
• The Board of Trustees promise to raise 6.5 million dollars over five years as the college and enrollment adjusted due to the new curriculum
• Since this money was not raised, ultimately the college faced a deficit
• Enrollment for the college has been down for the last 20 years (from 2000 students to 600 students)
• While enrollment is beginning to increase, the Board of Trustees did not keep its promise to earn additional funds leading to the current funding crisis (we determined that there has not been an independent financial audit of the college)
• Since you must legally must provide notice prior to shutting down a college (to prepare faculty and students) the college declared a state of financial crisis and declared exigency (allowing them to suspend operations)
• Faculty will be terminated on 06/30/08- 2012 plan is calculated since faculty contracts expire in 2012
• The Board had not properly communicated this information to the college
• Since the Board has not kept their promise to raise money, we have started a separate fund to ensure the money is spent properly. While these occurrences have been negative, they have positively galvanized communities to organize

As we move forward, we began to review in-depth the recent actions that have occurred

• Nationally there are currently three teams that are organizing (Government and Legal, Fundraising, Communications).
• Fundraising Group

• Determined that they can use the logo but is still working on whether the name can be used (due to copyright) in efforts
• 15 Development and admissions staff have been fired, only efforts are to transfer current students (21 total staff have been fired) so all fundraising is externally at this time
• Short term goal is 10 million this year, 10 million next year, and 50 million dollars as a long tern goal
• Also working to reach out to other universities and causes that have supported Antioch in the past
• Admissions- we cannot currently organize to acquire students since the curriculum, state of the college, and plan are unclear (can’t recommend the college if it could potentially close)
• Is the endowment available? No, it is subject to restrictions due to the declaration of exigency
• Any fundraising needs to coincide with improvements

• Communication Group

• The website antiochians.org contains information and ways for alumni to get involved
• We need more communication between alumni and current staff (unions as well)
• Working to collect narratives to create an accurate picture of the recent history of Antioch

• Legal Group

• Most information is currently confidential due to the legal actions being taken, and few are privy to this

• Pledge cards are being circulated for an independent fund (that the Board of Trustees will not be able to touch, since the development department can only raise funds for after 2012 since the declaration of financial exigency)
• A structure is being put together to handle and effectively manage all funds raised
• People are being organized by skills, so they can be matched and placed in committees
• Alumni are mobilizing locally to create smaller actions outside of the national action
• We ultimately hope to persuade the Board to call an emergency meeting to reconsider the closure of the college
• Left with things we can do RIGHT NOW to save the college

• Write letters to the editor/press
• Complete “Skill Bank” forms so we can determine how to mobilize
• Complete an Antioch narrative and forward to Communication Committee
• Write a check
• Get others to write checks
• Regularly examine Antiochians.org

Next meeting will be scheduled in late July/early August

Last Modified : June 30th, 2007 Filed under : Chicago Navigate : Previous post / Next post