about us
My Colby-Sawyer Experience
“I enjoyed the Jack's Coffee project because it was a real world situation. Our recommendations and information will result in real business strategies and changes.” - Carly Rademaker '07, a student in Marketing Research
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president's welcome
Welcome to the Colby-Sawyer College Web site. Colby-Sawyer is one of the Northeast's leading comprehensive baccalaureate colleges with a distinguished history, a vibrant present and a bright future. Every major decision at Colby-Sawyer begins with the same question: how will this benefit our students?
Our students' educational experience is at the center of everything we do, from the design of our academic and co-curricular programs, to each student's learning experiences in the classroom, laboratory, internship, residence hall, on the playing field, and beyond.
Unlocking Students' Potential
An infectious spirit of excitement and optimism pervades our campus. After a decade of visionary leadership under President Anne Ponder, we are poised to continue Colby-Sawyer's upward trajectory. I begin my presidency after 20 years of teaching and academic leadership, the last eight as dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law. What has fueled my career is a love of teaching and learning and a desire to excite and engage my students in their education.
That is what we do best at Colby-Sawyer. We engage our students in their education and in our campus and community life. We create an environment in which our students develop their intellectual abilities and hone their professional skills, and we inspire them to unlock their own potential and become active participants and leaders in their communities and in the world around them.
Colby-Sawyer's faculty are accomplished teachers whose primary mission is to teach undergraduate students. Our classes are small and interactive, allowing students and faculty to share perspectives and pursue knowledge together. Faculty and staff participate with students in learning experiences across the campus and beyond.
Leading with Liberal Arts
Colby-Sawyer students receive a well-rounded liberal arts education that prepares them for their professional and civic lives. Our Pathways Program is one of the most innovative foundations for liberal arts education you will find anywhere in the world. It brings together small groups of students and faculty to investigate theme-based questions and explore perspectives and solutions using critical thinking skills and an interdisciplinary approach.
Ninety-eight percent of our students participate in hands-on internship experiences in their fields of study. Under the guidance of faculty, staff and professionals, these experiences allow our students to test their knowledge and skills and prepare for life's challenges and opportunities.
Part of the Community
Within one of New England's most beautiful areas--the Lake Sunapee Region of New Hampshire--our students find many opportunities to hike, boat, climb, ski, run, bike and otherwise enjoy outdoor recreation.
Our students are a vital part of the community, working in area schools and businesses, participating in environmental conservation projects, and contributing to community service projects. Our students are also active in cultural life: They are more likely to attend an art show, a dance recital, or a theater performance than students at many other American colleges.
Cool Tools in Education
Over the course of their education, Colby-Sawyer students reflect on and document what they have learned in their own electronic portfolio. These dynamic and multi-faceted portfolios are wonderful tools that allow our students to gauge their own growth and development over the course of their college careers.
Just as importantly, these portfolios give our students a way to integrate their varied, individual accomplishments into a coherent and cohesive educational experience. As they graduate, our students take their portfolios with them, providing entrée into their professional lives and advanced study.
As Colby-Sawyer's new president, I invite you to explore our Web site and learn more about our dynamic teaching and learning community. If you are intrigued by what you find, we welcome you for a visit to campus, where you can discover The Colby-Sawyer Experience for yourself.
Thomas C. Galligan Jr.
President and Professor of Humanities
tgalligan@colby-sawyer.edu
