Dear Bryn Mawr Community,
We write to update you on the most recent Board of Trustees’ meeting, which was held October 23-24, 2026, overlapping with Owls Fest. This was the first in-person board meeting for several new trustees elected in the spring.
We welcomed board members to campus with a dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Alumnae/i Relations and Development, honoring this year’s Alumnae Service Award winners. On Friday, the Board met in plenary sessions to discuss enrollment strategy, an early draft of a long-term financial model, and the role of the libraries at Bryn Mawr. The Board also joined several Owls Fest programs including Making an Impact at Bryn Mawr and Beyond, the opening of two new quantum sensing laboratories at the QMSEC Center, and the portrait unveiling of President Emerita Kim Cassidy.
During its Regular Meeting on Saturday, the Board and campus representatives heard reports from standing committees, subcommittees, or working groups, outlined below.
Audit Committee: As it does every October, the committee received a presentation and report from Grant Thornton, the College’s audit team. During their committee meeting, they approved the audit, a recommendation subsequently confirmed by the full Board. The committee also received a report from the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
Buildings and Grounds Committee: The committee reviewed current utility infrastructure and discussed priority projects and funding for facility maintenance and renewal. The committee will bring a proposal for maintenance renewal funding to the board later this year. The committee discussed the current state and future potential of air conditioning in residential buildings and also reviewed vacant buildings on campus.
External Relations Committee: The committee discussed reputational strategy for the College and received a presentation on college rankings. They also reviewed a new fundraising dashboard.
Finance Committee: The committee reviewed the results of the operating budget from the prior fiscal year and the projections for the budget for the current fiscal year. The committee also approved the tuition rate for the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research for academic year 2027-2028, which was subsequently confirmed by the full Board. The committee also discussed updating their approval cycles for both the budget and undergraduate tuition and fees.
Nominations and Governance Committee: The committee shared plans for three working groups this year focusing on governance and board education, pipeline review and strategy development, and board engagement and development.
Academic Affairs Working Group: This group of trustees meets with the Advisory Council of the Faculty. They discussed strengthening the conditions for academic excellence, global aspirations, the first-year experience, and living learning communities.
Student Experience Working Group: This group of trustees met with graduate and undergraduate students, including student representatives to the Board, for an informal dessert gathering with an ice breaker activity to help attendees get to know each other.
As ever, we are grateful for all the ways our community, including students, staff, faculty, Board members, alums, parents, friends, and so many more, works together in ongoing support of Bryn Mawr’s mission. The Board enjoyed getting to be on campus for and participating in the festivities of Owls Fest.
With thanks,
Wendy Cadge
President and Professor of Sociology
Saskia Subramanian ’88, MA ’89
Chair, Board of Trustees
