“...we are a small college, deeply personalized, intentionally outdoor-oriented, residential, community-centered, and rooted in lived experience.”
Dear Sterling Community,
Welcome to "On the Common," a new addition to the Expeditioner that gives space for voices from across the Sterling community. With this platform, we will share recent news and events from our campus in Craftsbury, celebrate our collective achievements, and keep you connected to the heart of our vibrant community.
In May, family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered at Houston House Garden to celebrate Sterling College’s Class of 2024 during their Commencement Ceremony. Always the most cherished day of the academic year, this year was particularly powerful. Our commencement speaker, Rev. Dr. Wayne Meisel, reminded us that our graduates’ accomplishments at Sterling, combined with the singular challenges this class has faced - from the pandemic to domestic political volatility to global military conflicts - uniquely prepare them to serve and lead in communities around the world that are being transformed through climate change.
This was the first year of implementation of Sterling’s new academic curriculum. We’ve condensed to a single major— Environmental Science with multiple concentrations that include Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, Ecology, Outdoor Education, and Environmental Humanities, among others.
In the fall of 2023, we launched Experiential Endeavors- students earned credit through impactful work and experiential, project-based endeavors – reinforced by hands-on academic courses. The Sterling approach, emphasizing the intersection of academics, work, and community continues to distinguish the College nationally.
Our updated academic calendar allows for a series of six 4-week intensive blocks across two semesters (Fall and Spring). A week in between each block provided space for catch up, rest, and reset. Sterling’s All College Work Day remains a staple of our programming. We’ve also added an All College Service Day where faculty, staff, and students go out into our local community in small crews to spend the day working with partner organizations.
This spring, our work crews spent the day engaged in work with The Green Mountain Club maintaining a section of The Long Trail; organizing a donation of clothes and homewares for Goodwill; participating in roadside litter clean up on several Craftsbury main and backroads; cleaning and organizing at The Civic Standard continuing to make their headquarters a space that promotes community gathering and helps the continued progress of their organizing efforts; helping the Craftsbury Conservation Commission focusing on Japanese Knotweed management; and doing spring grounds clean up at the Craftsbury Community Care Center.
While this has been a year of change, Sterling has retained its most cherished and distinguishing features: we are a small college, deeply personalized, intentionally outdoor-oriented, residential, community-centered, and rooted in lived experience. Spring was a time of student protest on campus with a group of students calling for a ceasefire and a free Palestine. We will always champion and protect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest at Sterling. These freedoms are essential to allow for the expression of diverse opinions and the challenge of norms in our society. They are also part and parcel of a healthy democracy and serve as a platform for advocating change. I am proud that Sterling can play a respectful role in this process.
The protests yielded a close review of the College’s investment policies. The Board’s Investment Committee shared the endowment’s investment holdings with the student representatives, along with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) divestment list, to show that the College’s funds comply with a demand for divestment from companies involved with the Israel-Palestine war. It was determined that, per its existing investment policy, Sterling College does not invest in companies with direct involvement in war materials and will continue to follow guidance from the AFSC in its annual review of investment policies. The Board’s Investment Committee is committed to offering community members further input as they conduct annual reviews in future years.
In addition to the investment policy review and action, the College will establish a “displaced student scholarship.” This scholarship will be directed to support students forced to leave their homes or home region as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations.
At the May meeting of the Board of Trustees, we welcomed Alan Ross and Dr. Peter Smith as new Sterling College trustees. Alan is a Sterling School alumnus (‘72). Alan worked in accounting, computer services, and finally founded Gallagher Fire Equipment, which has grown into a successful fire protection company. Peter, a nationally recognized leader in higher education, has held significant roles, including Founding Presidencies at California State University Monterey Bay and Vermont Community College. Peter has extensive legislative experience, having served as a Vermont State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, and Vermont’s member of the US House of Representatives.
We also bid farewell to two outgoing trustees. Our deep gratitude goes to Eric Becker for his dedicated service since 2013. The Board also expresses deep gratitude to Helen Ouellette for her service on the Board since 2021. Both Eric and Helen have made significant contributions to the College during their time on the Board.
As we look forward to the next year at Sterling College, we remain committed to our mission: Advancing ecological thinking and action through affordable experiential learning that prepares people to be knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible leaders in the communities in which they live. The faculty, staff, and students at Sterling College look forward to collaborating with all of you. Together, we will continue to transcend traditional educational boundaries and offer a model of learning that serves as a vibrant community resource enriching learners of all ages on campus and throughout the region.
Best,
Scott L. Thomas, President