Report of the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid:  Expanding upon her presentation to the full council earlier in the day, Dean Maria Laskaris ’84 reported that it was the most competitive year yet. With 18,132 applicants for the class of 2013, the acceptance rate was only 12 percent. Yield remains consistent with prior years at about 50 percent, apparently unaffected by several peer schools dropping early admissions programs and the uncertainty of the economy. Outreach programs such as “Dimensions” and “Discover Dartmouth” clearly are having a positive impact on matriculation rates. The class will be 51 percent female. The student body is more diverse than ever. SAT and ACT scores were as high as or higher than for past admitted students. Legacies continue to be admitted at a higher rate, although the majority is still denied admission. Following suggestions from the committee last year, Dean Laskaris sent personal letters to the alumni parents of denied and wait-listed candidates. This year the Admissions Office has been able to go to the wait list and offer admission to approximately 70 more candidates, including some legacies.

Alumni Recruiting and Outreach:  I-Track continues to improve and facilitate the alumni interview process. With greater numbers of applications, the interview reports become more significant and useful to the admissions officers as they distinguish among thousands of excellent candidates. Several alumni groups are focused on recruiting low-income students to apply to Dartmouth. Stan West ’78 described a program in the Los Angeles area.  Mats Lemberger ’06 has been working with some members of the committee to develop better resources for alumni interviewers. The Admissions Office Web site is being updated and should be completed by fall, when the next admissions season begins. Given the budget cuts that the Admissions Office must implement, the role of alumni in outreach activities is critical.

Leadership: Wylie Collins ’83 will chair the committee for 2009–10. Danielle Dyer ’81 will be the vice chair. Daniel Parish ’84, director of admissions recruitment and communications, continues to serve as the Office of Admissions liaison to the committee.

Action Items:  The committee will continue to work with the Admissions Office to recruit and train alumni interviewers from the classes, clubs, and affiliated groups. The committee will be preparing and distributing to clubs and district enrollment directors an outline of how to work with the Admissions Office to develop candidate lists, find venues, and invite low-income students in their area to learn more about Dartmouth. Local follow-up and support for visiting programs such as “Dimensions” will be the key to making such outreach efforts successful.