Dear Sagehens,
As the spring semester gets underway, it is wonderful to experience the fresh energy of campus life. I share here some of the major developments ahead, with gratitude for this College community as a rich wellspring of inquiry, creativity, discussion and discovery—particularly at this challenging time in our national life. Each of you helps carry our mission forward every day, and I am grateful.
Pomona is part of a higher education community that plays an irreplaceable role in the success and progress of this nation and of our world. We continue to work with our peers to represent our students, faculty and staff in discussions with government representatives. One of the greatest strengths of higher education is this spirit of collaboration. By working in partnership, we affirm the essential role of higher education and its enduring impact in our local communities and across the country.
Before the holiday break, our International Student and Scholars Office reached out to Pomona visa holders who could be affected by the federal government’s expanded travel ban, which went into effect January 1. The travel ban does not affect students currently in the U.S. or those who are abroad but hold a valid student visa. Concerns, however, remain about customs and immigration processing at U.S. borders. Almost all of our potentially affected students were able to remain in the U.S. over the winter break, and based on our current understanding of the new policy, we do not expect issues for those returning to the country. We recognize the stress this new policy presents and will continue to provide support and guidance as the situation evolves.
Looking ahead to this semester, I want to highlight several major initiatives at the College.
Campus Climate Survey
First, I want to encourage everyone to participate in this spring’s campus climate survey. Your responses will provide important insights that will help strengthen current programs and develop new ones to address our community’s most pressing needs. Please look for the survey invitation the first week of February.
Admissions update
Our admissions team concluded another strong recruitment season this fall. They’ve extended initial offers to the next cohort of Sagehens through Early Decision I, QuestBridge and Posse, and in the coming weeks and months, will turn their attention to Early Decision II, Regular Decision and yield season. I can’t wait to see how our class of 2030 comes together.
During this recruitment cycle, our admissions officers visited more than 300 schools in 206 U.S. cities as well as 48 international locations. As part of our Middle-Income Initiative, the College hosted several additional public sessions for prospective students, their families and high school counselors—a total of 71 sessions overall.
Financial Aid
Last fall, more than 1,000 Pomona students received institutional aid, with an average award of $79,944. The College’s commitment to providing accessible, loan‑free financial aid that meets the full demonstrated financial need of our students remains a defining commitment of our community.
Oldenborg and CGE
This academic year will also see the transformation of the Oldenborg Center into Pomona’s one-of-a-kind Center for Global Engagement (CGE). For 60 years, since world-traveling businessman and philanthropist Diederick C. Oldenborg first envisioned and helped establish a residential hub for language fluency and international relations, the Center has brought Pomona distinction around the world. The CGE will take this vision to another level, demonstrating once again Pomona’s leadership as an innovator in global and immersive education.
Where Oldenborg had space for 130 students, the CGE will house 200 residents. Where Oldenborg focused on language and intercultural programming, the new facility will maintain and expand those programs, and will also be a vibrant hub for dialogue, interdisciplinary research and experiential global and local learning. It will feature a 24,000‑square‑foot event and dining forum, teaching and meeting rooms, living space for nine visiting scholars, and offices for faculty and staff.
Watch for opportunities to engage in celebrations and commemorations of Oldenborg over the weeks and months that follow. And, pending a final trustee vote this spring, we’re getting ready to break ground on the transformative facility that will carry and expand on Oldenborg’s foundational legacy. Throughout this semester, the College will also offer a host of opportunities to learn more about CGE’s future.
Shared Governance
This semester will also be a pivotal point in our Shared Governance initiative. I thank everyone who has engaged in these important discussions. The community participation in this process gives me confidence that this work will inspire both cultural and operational evolutions in how decisions are made and communicated. Look for updates in the coming weeks as the Task Force prepares its final drafts, including an invitation to a Shared Governance forum at 4 p.m. on February 3.
CGU partnership discussions
I want to remind you about the town hall we’re hosting on the first day of classes, January 20, to gather feedback about the ongoing partnership discussions with CGU. We need to hear your voices, which are integral to our review and decision‑making. I hope to see you there.
Finally, I invite you to read a recap of 2025’s top stories at the College that our communications team has shared online. I think you will enjoy it.
Best wishes for the new year and a great start to the spring semester.
Sincerely,
Gabi