Dear Eckerd College Family,

Can you imagine a more enriching and inspiring academic conversation for a college community than one between a prophet of peace and survivor of the Holocaust and an author and activist for the cessation of genocide in Darfur? Such is the program planned as the centerpiece of the "Plight and Promise of Africa: An Eckerd College Initiative" this spring. On March 11, 2010, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel will join the co-founder of the Enough Project, John Prendergast, to discuss, "From the Holocaust to Darfur: If We Had Only Learned Our Lesson." The Plight and Promise of Africa is a two-semester initiative aimed at deepening an understanding of Africa through academic study, discussion, and community consciousness-raising. This is the type of rich intellectual programming that is a hallmark of Eckerd College.

We continue to strengthen our academic and student life programs and expand innovative initiatives through careful resource management and through the vision and generosity of our supporters. As an important part of maintaining our commitment to excellence, tuition and fees will increase next year by $1,124, which is a 3.5% increase. As always, we stand ready to work closely with our students and their families to assist with individual financial challenges.

I am pleased to announce that we are well on our way in planning and funding the new $30 million dollar Center for Molecular and Life Sciences. This 51,000 square foot building will house Biology and Chemistry, and we expect the groundbreaking for this state-of-the-art facility to be Fall 2011 or early 2012 with completion in 2014. In addition, Trustee George Off made a generous gift to the College to establish the GO Pavilion on campus. This 10,000 square foot outdoor, tensile style athletic/entertainment complex will be adjacent to the athletic fields and will provide students with a venue that can house recreational athletic activities such as basketball, volleyball, roller hockey, and wiffle ball and entertainment activities such as concerts and performances. We anticipate that the Pavilion will be completed in Fall 2010.

The College continues to enhance health, wellness, and fitness programming on campus and recently received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida in support of these initiatives. Our new 24-hour coffee house is one result of this funding, and its creation has significantly expanded the late-night alcohol-free options available to students on campus. The grant also has provided additional funding for the College's Smoke-Free Campus initiative by making it possible for us to offer extensive smoking cessation resources to students, faculty, and staff. The Office of Campus Activities, in partnership with the Eckerd College Organization of Student (ECOS), also has been able to launch the first-ever "Eckerd College Wellness Challenge," which teaches students and staff how to manage their health and wellness through diet, fitness, and education.

Our students donate thousands of service hours throughout Tampa Bay and abroad. This spring, our Office of Service-Learning is offering 15 alternative spring break trips throughout the world. Places where our students will participate in service-learning include Honduras, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Panama, Eastern Kentucky/Appalachia, and Washington, D.C. During Winter Term, 260 students studied abroad, with two service-learning courses in Malawi and Ethiopia.

We continually seek new ways to enhance academic and co-curricular support for our students. Some of our more recent appointments include Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Director of Hillel Tampa Bay, as Campus Rabbi; the Rev. Doug McMahon, as Interim Director Campus Ministries and Chaplain; and Brett Stone, as an academic coach in Counseling and Disability Support Services. Brett is providing vital support for our students by helping them to improve their organizational and time management skills.

We are ever-mindful of the financial sacrifices that you make to allow your student to attend Eckerd College, and we make every effort to maximize College resources to provide the highest quality undergraduate experience for your student. Our alumni are effective communicators, analytical thinkers, and sensitive, thoughtful individuals who, through their professional endeavors, have made a significant impact in the realms of science, medicine, social work, the arts, law, and education. We look forward to counting your student in this distinguished company.

All best wishes,

Donald R. Eastman, III
President