OLYMPIA – In a special meeting today, Thursday, July 7, The Evergreen State College’s Board of Trustees permanently appointed Dr. John Carmichael as college president with a contract through June 30, 2025. Carmichael was appointed interim president in June 2021. His salary will remain at the current level.
“The Board of Trustees is exceptionally pleased with Dr. Carmichael’s performance as interim president during the last year. He is an exceptionally able leader and has excelled in addressing administration needs and the fiscal challenges the college faces. He has provided excellent leadership as the college has developed new academic offerings, including professional certificates. Carmichael has cultivated strong relationships with Washington’s legislators, current and prospective donors, and community partners. He’s achieved all of this and more while successfully navigating the complexities of COVID-19, which has ensured the safety of students, staff and faculty on Evergreen’s two campuses,” said board chair Karen Fraser.
Carmichael joined Evergreen in 1998, serving in a variety of roles including chief of staff and secretary to the Board of Trustees and most recently as the college’s vice president for finance and operations. A 1987 Bachelor of Arts graduate of the college, Carmichael also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Evergreen and a doctorate in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University.
This move brings further stability to the college and continues the strong collaboration between Carmichael and executive vice president Dr. Dexter Gordon. “It is clear that the two of them are working very well together and providing forward-oriented leadership for Evergreen. We are very pleased with Dr. Gordon’s performance and the excellence we are seeing in the critical areas he oversees. Gordon is providing outstanding leadership for institutional improvements which will better serve current and future students,” added Fraser.
Today the board also authorized ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with the college’s Uniformed Personnel for 2023-2025.
For more information about The Evergreen State College, visit evergreen.edu.
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The Evergreen State College has publicly launched its first-ever college-wide fundraising campaign, Forever Green, to raise $55+ million to expand financial resources for students and programs.
The campaign will increase funding for scholarships, emergency funding, and holistic services for students. It will expand learning opportunities to prepare students with the skills to solve complex problems in our economy, democracy, justice, as well as climate and the environment. And it will increase the college’s support of Native arts and cultures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond with the leadership of Evergreen’s s’gwi gwi ? altxw: House of Welcome.
Alumni, donors, and champions of the college gathered Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Seattle Art Museum for a celebratory kickoff for the public phase of the campaign hosted by The Evergreen State College Foundation. During the event, Evergreen’s President, Dr. John Carmichael, and Executive Vice President, Dr. Dexter Gordon shared how important this campaign is not only for students at Evergreen but for the broader community.
“Clearing away obstacles to teaching and learning was a founding mantra of Evergreen,” explained Dr. John Carmichael, President of Evergreen. “It remains our first principle today. And one of the biggest obstacles in our path to teaching and learning is funding. We’re at a fork in the road. We’re either going to keep our footing and prosper on our own path or be transformed by forces outside of our control. It’s on us. Right now. As president, I feel that acutely. We can shape our own future, or it will be shaped for us.”
Donors have contributed $47.8 million towards the $55+ million-dollar goal – and at the launch on Tuesday evening, two new $1 million-dollar gifts were announced, one from an anonymous donor with deep ties to the college and the other from John Hennessey, a 1977 graduate and member of the foundation’s Board of Governors.
“Contributing to Evergreen creates access for those who are often at the bottom of the economic ladder, to have a leg up, to have an opportunity to climb, to have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our shared democracy.” Dr. Dexter Gordon, Executive Vice President for Evergreen told the packed house on Tuesday night. “When American democracy is revealing at once its resilience and its fragility, Evergreen needs your support. Contributing to Evergreen contributes significantly to the strengthening of American democracy.”
For more than 50 years in Olympia and over 25 years in Tacoma, Evergreen has enriched the lives of more than 46,000 Greeners who have taken their education to build successful careers and make positive change in the communities where they live, work and participate.
Forever Green will support diverse, next-generation leaders–61 percent are women, 20 percent are first-generation college students, 35 percent are low income and 32 percent are students of color. Ninety percent of first-year students identify restoring the environment, understanding and appreciating differences, and contributing to the community as important reasons why they chose Evergreen.
Gifts to the campaign have already increased student scholarships as well as emergency aid and launched a new Center for Climate Action and Sustainability where students, alumni and community members come together to find climate crisis solutions. In addition, early gifts have helped Evergreen’s s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome expand its impact as a grant-maker to individual artists and to Native Arts programs at other universities.
“It’s incredible to witness the collective impact of Evergreen’s generous community,” said Abby Kelso, Executive Director of Evergreen’s foundation. “Alumni and friends from every decade are digging deep for students and building a bright future for Evergreen. Already the campaign has increased student aid by 47%. Imagine where we’ll be by June 2024!”
The campaign, which began its silent phase on July 1, 2019, will conclude on June 30, 2024. To learn more about how you can help Evergreen students on their unique paths, visit the campaign’s website.
We were built for times like these, built for what’s next. At Evergreen, we will forever go our own way, but we can only do it together.
If you are interested in joining the thousands of Greeners who are called to make the world better, visit evergreen.edu.
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Olympia – For the first time in years, The Evergreen State College expects a larger entering class as teaching starts today at the college’s Olympia and Tacoma campuses.
This year's entering class grew by 14%, the largest proportional increase since 2000. This larger entering class halts recent enrollment losses at the college, including smaller entering classes during the last two years of COVID. The final tally will be taken after day 10 of fall quarter.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, we find that students want the kind of education that Evergreen provides more than ever. Evergreen offers an affordable, flexible education, where students work closely with faculty and with each other to achieve their goals,” said Evergreen President Dr. John Carmichael.
Executive Vice President Dr. Dexter Gordon attributed part of the enrollment turn-around to a dedicated admissions team, a range of initiatives, and an innovative partnership between staff and the college’s faculty union. In addition, Evergreen launched new certificate programs in its school for Professional and Continuing Education geared towards adult learners, and a new Early Childhood Education program at the Tacoma campus. A new scholarship to encourage former students who have yet to complete their degree was also added. “Evergreen took an all-hands-on-deck approach to new student recruitment where nearly 50 faculty, administrators, and even college board of trustees members partnered together to work directly with students and guide them through the admissions process,” said Dr. Gordon.
“The team met hundreds of students in one-on-one meetings that were exciting and enjoyable. We approached each student as an individual and showed them how Evergreen practices education. Evergreen respects students by trusting their curiosity. That trust, combined with individual attention, makes all the difference,” said faculty initiative leaders Dr. Nancy Koppelman and Dr. Bradley Proctor.
“This collaboration demonstrated what can be done when faculty and college staff partner together for the benefit of students. As such, this teamwork will continue as the college ramps up for its next recruitment cycle,” added Gordon.
A year ago, Evergreen embarked on a new leadership model which put Carmichael and Gordon at the helm as president and executive vice president to co-lead the college. In the past month, Washington Monthly’s national magazine ranked Evergreen No. 1 for contributions to the public good among more than 600 colleges and universities. The U.S. Department of Education also recently awarded the college a $2.1 million Title III grant to increase access and success for students.
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OLYMPIA – This week, the U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $2 million in Title III grant dollars to The Evergreen State College for its Strengthening Institutions Program.
The grant money funds a five-year project that will continue Evergreen’s work to increase college capacity in student access and success for historically underserved students through holistic advising and coordinated wrap-around services. The funding will also help leverage technology to strengthen Evergreen’s student support services and expand community- and career-connected learning.
“Evergreen’s vibrant, cross-divisional collaborations were critical to designing and securing this exciting grant,” explained Dr. Therese Saliba, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence & Student Success. “Many thanks to all the Evergreen faculty and staff who helped envision what proactive, holistic support for our diverse students could look like. We are excited to move forward to fully support our students both personally and holistically.”
“The Evergreen State College was created to bring affordable, world-class education to everyone – especially those who are typically underserved by higher education,” said Executive Vice President, Dr. Dexter Gordon. “This federal funding is an investment in Evergreen so we can expand student support thus enabling them to focus on their educational success.”
Evergreen will also use the funding to create an early alert system that will identify students who are struggling and provide them with the resources they need to get back on track.
“This is Evergreen’s first Title III grant award and will help us in our ability to identify and support students in need and provide tools for faculty and staff to ensure that all roads lead to student success,” explained Gordon.
For more information about The Evergreen State College, please visit evergreen.edu and to learn more about student success initiatives, please visit the college’s Inclusive Excellence and Student Success webpage.
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OLYMPIA – The Evergreen State College has earned the top spot ranking by Washington Monthly in their 2022 University Rankings.
Since 2005 Washington Monthly has ranked four-year, liberal arts colleges based on their contributions to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and promoting public service.
“This first-place ranking by Washington Monthly in our category includes more than 600 colleges and universities around the country. It celebrates how Evergreen’s learning model is grounded in values of service, community, social responsibility,” said Evergreen President, Dr. John Carmichael. “Our faculty are committed to teaching students problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate tough issues through respectful and thoughtful discourse to be of service to our communities.”
Evergreen is about collaboration and collective problem solving while bolstering access to a dynamic learning model, especially for populations who have historically been excluded from higher education. “This recognition shows that Evergreen’s approach to learning works for students, for their families, and for the communities they are part of", added Carmichael.
“Washington has some of the best public colleges in the country,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “The Evergreen State College’s number one spot is no surprise to those of us who know just how dedicated the college’s students, educators and staff are. This is a well-deserved recognition of the opportunity Washington’s students have to receive top-notch higher education that includes academic offerings dedicated to public good.”
Over the decades, Evergreen’s graduates have done amazing things. They have contributed to groundbreaking research, become industry leaders, teachers, public servants, policy experts and successful entrepreneurs.
Evergreen also landed the #15 spot on Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck Colleges” list.
For more information on how you can take the next step in your career path by earning your degree at Evergreen, visit www.evergreen.edu Check out Evergreen’s new Professional and Continuing Education certificate offerings and graduate programs too.
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OLYMPIA — The Evergreen State College will host several info sessions on the new lineup of certificates being added to the list of offerings this fall.
The certificate programs are designed to help individuals build skills in growing fields such as:
• Business and administration
• Integrated computer science
• Environmental solutions
• Interdisciplinary art, media and design
The first information session is scheduled for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30 and other sessions are scheduled in both August and September.
“Our mission is to provide transformative education to professionals by combining theory with practice as they continue to develop more skills and competencies,” said Evergreen’s Board of Trustees’ chair Karen Fraser. “Through these new offerings, students will be able to advance in their careers and create a better world.”
The certificates are the first in a series of new credentials at Evergreen that will roll out over the next few years. All the offerings aim to give students hands-on experience in their field and provide an accessible, affordable and practical way to build new skills.
The college, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, continues to provide bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addition to the new certificates.
Learn more about certificates at Evergreen by attending an upcoming info session.
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