Transitioning into the future

By Jiselle Lopez

As Hood students and staff return from summer break to begin the new school year, incoming freshman are faced with the challenge of entering a college in transition.

In May of 2014, a strategic plan was posted on Hood’s website that maps out the changes the college administration has laid out for Hood from 2012 to 2017.

In the fall of 2001, Hood brought in a Planning consultant from Columbia, Maryland named Carole Lyles Shaw. Shaw began planning a three-phase plan for bettering Hood as a school and as a community. Phase one began in 2002 and carried on till 2006, where the school eased its way into co-education. Phase two is coming to an end from when it started in 2006, as Hood has improved in enrollment and finances. Now we approach the beginning stages of the third phase. Phase three entails expanding our potential for competitive learning and admission by implementing new technological advantages and investing in other useful human resources as stated on Hood’s website.

Many of these changes have been anticipated as both the economy and the job market continue to change. This is an important reason for the third phase to happen now, to alter certain areas at Hood and orient them to the national economic atmosphere. The major part of the academic side of these plans focuses on the needed support and altering in experience based on student involvement in their first year at Hood. Under the plan’s section labeled, “Academic Development, Priority one,” some of the main goals are listed as to be determined based on the first year experience.

The main focus of the overall plan is to address any problems with admissions and retention while studying incoming freshman classes and the core curriculum alongside student affairs. Within this five-year plan, Hood strives to raise graduation and enrollment rates. To achieve this goal Hood turns to changing the advertising through the media. The sixth priority section of the Strategic Plan states, “Increase traditional media advertising in support of undergraduate and graduate recruiting…expand efforts to promote the college using social median and other electronic media and marketing tools.”

In June, Hood announced the new e-billing system for tuition and otherwise that can now be accessed on self-service. Fortunately for freshman this will be something they can orient themselves with as something to be used to for the remainder of their time here at Hood. For upperclassmen this may be a change not accepted or considered a non-habit. However the brighter side of this is freshman and upperclassmen can transition to e-billing together as a collective group.

Among the list of changes to the Hood community, one of the biggest changes is the stepping down of President Volpe at the end of this school year. Therefore this year students and staff will be celebrating him and all his accomplishments here at Hood. Freshman will only have this one year to get acquainted with a truly inspirational man that was so influential to Hood’s community. Since becoming President in 2001, “The College has transitioned to co-education, increased its enrollment more than 50 percent, established new academic and athletic programs, made numerous campus improvements and strengthened its financial health,” according to Hood’s online Biography.

Before we say goodbye to our President, Hood will participate in the continued celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights act with the March on Frederick. Hood marks the realization of “The Dream” with information about the time period,  and is giving students the opportunity to volunteer as well as holding an essay contest to hear their voices contribute to the history we remember.

Overall, for incoming freshman, returning students and staff what we are entering or returning to is a school in transition. We will each be able to see some part of that Strategic Plan take effect and fall into place this year as we march together, as we celebrate our President, and as we orient ourselves to the strategically anticipated plans towards bettering out school and our community.