Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 11, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 11 Clark's endowment Clark University's endowment has nearly doubled in the most recent decade on record. Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (2004-2017), Worcester Business Journal survey (2018) in my presidency to really think about all that there is to work with, to look for untapped potential, to really develop a deeper, greater sense of, what does it really mean to be educated at Clark?" Racial unrest e school made headlines for cutting ties with the Worcester Police Department aer four Clark students were arrested in a protest over the summer about racial equality. At the same time, Clark's Black Student Union raised concerns about racism on campus and what members said was a lack of the school prioritizing their concerns. In the interview, Fithian addressed those issues in broader terms. "What are we about? We're about preparing students," he said. "If we can't have those conversations here then we're not really preparing our students to make their way in the world successfully," he continued. "at's been a growing concern for decades, how colleges have come to be less tolerant to ideas that aren't the prevailing ideas. I think that's a dangerous and risky thing for colleges, to try to shut down ideas that are unpopular. "at's a complicated topic," Fithian concluded, "but I do really believe freedom of expression on college campuses is under assault, and that has to be a core institutional value, to continue to fill our educational mission for students." Keeping the pandemic at bay On the pandemic, Clark had more unquestioned success. Of roughly 85,000 tests conducted between mid-August and early December, 44 came back positive – about half of 1%. In a one-month stretch, the campus had not a single positive result. It wasn't until the week before anksgiving – when the campus was about to close for the semester and move online anyway – that Fithian decided to shi to online learning early. Seven tests came back positive in one day, just as the area's virus numbers were beginning their sharp rise. Fithian had students, faculty and staff sign a compact called the Clark Commitment, a pledge to keep the campus and neighborhoos safe. "No one took it as an imposition that I know of," Fithian said. "Everyone really did take it to heart." He credits students most for keeping the pandemic largely away, as well as the Broad Institute in Cambridge, which helped it and many other colleges quickly turn around test results. e spring semester has been pushed to a late February start to avoid the winer surge in cases. The pandemic's aftermath e pandemic accelerated most campuses' adoption of online learning, and in the long term, courses that are fully online or mix in-person and online components are likely here to stay, Went said, because of the flexibility they offer. To Fithian, the pandemic also demonstrated the value of an in-person education, and having people together on campus, learning and living together. "We had a real moral imperative that some students needed to get back to campus, and we needed to make sure that we made that possible in the safest way," he said. Fithian isn't among those who think online courses will replace campus life. Clark officials' sense in talking to students who've deferred is that many will come back – as soon as for the spring semester. And despite the pandemic forcing athletics, clubs and other campus events to be canceled, the school has found a desire to be on campus hasn't disappeared. "We think about it all the time. What is the future of higher education, and what will it look like in five, 10 or 20 years? I think the pandemic has sharpened that forward look," he said. "I would say it's still unclear, honestly. We're not through it enough to know. "I really believe if distance learning becomes more of a feature, I don't think it'll completely take over," he said. "ere's something about that in- person, direct contact that's incredibly important, and incredibly powerful from an educational aspect, and really important from a social, psychological aspect for students." W $500M 0 $100M $400M $300M $200M 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 '10 '11 '12 '19 '18 '17 '13 '16 '15 '14 '10 '11 '12 '18 '17 '13 '16 '15 '14 '09 Clark's endowment Clark's enrollment $215M $424M 3,083 3,273 Clark's enrollment Clark University's enrollment makes it the fourth largest college in Worcester. $500M 0 $100M $400M $300M $200M 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 '10 '11 '12 '19 '18 '17 '13 '16 '15 '14 '10 '11 '12 '18 '17 '13 '16 '15 '14 '09 Clark's endowment Clark's enrollment $215M $424M 3,083 3,273 Thank you to our clients, staff and supporters. We could not have done it without you! Best Plumber/HVAC Contractor BOB A W A R D S B E S T O F B U S I N E S S

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