Thank you for your interest in learning more about Davidson College and our review of the bylaw regarding the selection of our president. This site has been created by Davidson College to provide you with the latest information and to provide updates on the process. Please take a few minutes to review the frequently asked questions, and check back regularly to stay up to date.
Davidson College values openness and inclusiveness, and these same values will serve as the guiding principles for this discussion. We encourage you to leave comments or questions using the comment box at the right. You also can e-mail us at talk@davidson.edu.
Recent Updates
Update: Faculty Resolution and Alumni Association Board Statement – May 9, 2013
I write today to share an update on the church-relatedness discussion. At today’s faculty meeting, Associate Professor of Psychology Scott Tonidandel, who is the faculty representative on the Alumni Association Board, read an Alumni Board statement on the presidential bylaw into the faculty meeting minutes. It states: The Board of the Alumni Association believes that every alumnus/a of Davidson College …
Read More →Board Update – April 17, 2013
I write to you today to update you on the church-relatedness discussion of the Board of Trustees. As I shared with you in February, the Board heard from the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness and began its consideration of the committee’s work. Since that time, the Trustees have continued to explore this issue. The committee has followed a rigorous, thorough and thoughtful …
Read More →Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness – Summary of Committee Work
During Davidson’s recent presidential search in 2010-11, the Presidential Search Committee met with groups of faculty, alumni, parents and others to solicit ideas and suggestions about who could best lead Davidson. At several meetings, constituents asked questions about the Presidential Bylaw, the constitutional bylaw that establishes the qualifications for service as the President of Davidson College.
Read More →Trustee Committee Update – February 1, 2013
I write today to update you on the work of the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness. On January 31, the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness led the full Board in a thorough discussion of the committee’s extensive work on Davidson’s church-relatedness, including the religious requirement of the presidential requirements bylaw. The conversation was candid, thoughtful and mutually respectful, and a wide range …
Read More →Summary of Survey on Davidson’s Religious Heritage and Campus Values
This past summer, members of the Davidson campus community received an invitation from the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness to respond to a question about Davidson’s religious heritage, the values that define the college, and ways in which those values might be experienced. The form of the question differed somewhat for alumni, faculty and staff, current students, and their parents in order to best reflect each group’s particular affiliation with the college. The specific questions received by each group of prospective respondents are included in their respective sections.
Read More →Trustee Committee Update – September 10, 2012
I am writing to give you an update on the work of the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness. As a reminder, our committee’s charge is to understand the college’s relationship with the Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Faith, and, in that context, review the Presidential Requirements By-law. For more background, please see the April 10, 2012 letter from Chairman of the …
Read More →Reading List For Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness
The Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness has read and discussed several books about the Reformed Tradition, as well as material related to how other schools have engaged in reviews like this. A partial list of the committee’s reading is included in this post. Additional books and articles will be posted as the committee continues its work. Benne, Robert. Quality With Soul: …
Read More →Trustee Committee Update on Presidential Election Bylaw Discussion – June 15, 2012
As promised in my April 27, 2012 e-mail, I write with an update on the work of the Trustee Committee on Church-Relatedness, and with information about how you can help with our work. The committee met on campus for most of the day on Wednesday, June 6. We had helpful presentations by College Chaplain Rob Spach ’84 and Doug Ottati, …
Read More →Trustee Committee Update – April 27, 2012
I write to follow up on Board Chair Mackey McDonald’s April 10 email about the college’s review of the Presidential Requirements Bylaw. Mackey promised that you would receive regular updates about the work of the Committee on Church-Relatedness. This is the first of those updates. First, a brief reminder about the committee and our work: As Mackey explained in his …
Read More →Davidson’s Religious Heritage – Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided about the Presidential Bylaw? At the April 16 meeting, the Board of Trustees came to the following conclusions: The Board reaffirmed the Statement of Purpose and the continued voluntary relationship between the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Davidson College. The Board acknowledged that there are differing views among the Trustees with regard to the Presidential Bylaw and recognized …
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