October 5, 2005

Dear President’s Committee on Diversity –

The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee has been discussing ways to attract and retain a diverse student body. We as a committee have come to understand that promoting a diverse student body requires creating enough support for students of various backgrounds to feel at home on the Wells campus. In other words, recruiting a diverse student body is senseless if we cannot retain a diverse student body. We applaud the College’s recent efforts to this end.

Recently, AFA has discussed the effectiveness of the Peachtown Festival, both in its earlier incarnation (as a Pow Wow) and in its most recent incarnation (as a Native Social Dance and reach out to local High Schools, both on the reservation and off, making non-Native students aware of Native culture and making Native students aware of Wells College). We have concluded that although there has not been an immediate response to these events as recruitment tools, strong connections are being made within the Native community. Personal connections are key to making students think about Wells as an option for College, and for making them feel at home once here.

Although great strides have been made in making these connections, we fear they may not be sustained. Several people, some volunteering their time, made the Peachtown events a success this year. We fear that without an effort to institutionalize these efforts, the ties people have worked hard to make will wither.

Therefore, we suggest that the position that is currently being discussed and formulated (the reworking of a Dean Morales like position) include responsibilities to continue the Peachtown efforts. We suggest this position act as an overseer and major coordinator for recruitment events for Native American students and students interested in Native cultures. This person should also oversee and act as a major coordinator for events, like bringing Native speakers to campus and an annual Pow Wow, that help to make students feel at home once they are at Wells.

Sincerely,