Acting President’s Messages

March 21, 2025 - Weekly Message

Dear Guilfordians,

As I walked past Milner dorm on Thursday and saw this beautiful tree, perhaps the first one on campus to flower, I thought, “that’s what’s happening to Guilford – things are starting to change.”

We are flexing our muscle in fundraising, academic plans for the fall, and welcoming many alumni volunteers. It’s been an encouraging week.

Sign Up For the Community Forum Wednesday on Zoom

I will present a full progress report on the first two months of the transition period at our next Community Forum on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 pm on Zoom. There will also be a period to hear your comments and answer questions. Click here to register for the session online. After registering you will receive the Zoom link.

Guilford Madness Goes Wild

You did it! Thanks to your generosity, we far exceeded our goals for Guilford Madness. Eight hundred sixty-eight donors (compared to only 702 last year) contributed $320,000 in the College’s annual spring giving days, called “Guilford Madness” as of this morning. These totals only include gifts made online. We nailed all six challenge grants, which represent $115,000 of the total amount. We’re still tallying offline gifts and I look forward to reporting the final totals next week.

Alumni led the way with 67% of the donations, followed by parents at 15%. Donors came from all 50 U.S. states and four other countries. The challenges boosted support from first-time donors, alumni donors, faculty/staff donors and parent donors.

All Loyalty Fund gifts to Guilford Madness this year count toward the “For the Good of Guilford” campaign that is raising $5 million in cash for the College by June 30. 

Make your next gift to Guilford via this link.

SACSCOC Update

Representatives of Guilford’s senior leadership and board of trustees met this week with staff from SACSCOC, our accrediting agency. They said they were very pleased with the quick action we have taken and the progress so far on the transition. We are in regular contact with them to make sure we are staying on track to meet all of their requirements on schedule.

Expanding Adult Education and Outreach to Greensboro

Certificates representing advanced training and skills are growing in popularity among early- and mid-career professionals. This summer our Guilford Career Advancement Programs, designed for adult learners, will launch three new certificates. Instruction will be either fully online or a combination of online and in-person and will be marketed especially to Greensboro area businesses and organizations.

The new, 10-week certificate programs are in cybersecurity, adaptive leadership in public services and transformative & sustainable business practices, with each program applying an ethical leadership, community engagement and reflective learning lens, true to Guilford.

This is one of our efforts to enhance adult education offerings and grow enrollment using existing resources in a way that also generates new revenue for the college.

Restructuring of Senior Leadership

As part of the ongoing transition at the College, we have been making changes to the administrative structure in order to improve processes and reduce expenses. These include eliminating the position and title of vice president and expanding membership on the senior leadership team. This has resulted in a number of personnel and title changes. Steve Mencarini, formerly Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Retention, will continue in the same role but now has the title of Chief Enrollment Officer. Ty Buckner, formerly Vice President of Communications and Marketing, will retain the same responsibilities and carry the title of Chief Communications Officer. LaDaniel Gatling has resigned as Vice President of Advancement & Alumni Relations and John Wilkinson also resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration and Finance. In addition, the group formerly called the Cabinet, which meets weekly with the Acting President and Acting Chief Operating Officer, has been expanded and renamed the Senior Leadership Team. 

Campus news

Women’s rugby on the move: Women’s rugby is an emerging sport at the intercollegiate level and is in its third full season at Guilford. Our team has five wins in seven contests this year and will finish the regular season Saturday at UNC Chapel Hill. 

Then, on Saturday, April 5, Guilford will have the honor of hosting the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association 7's Championship. Nine teams are coming to our campus to compete, including Bowdoin College, University of New England, Emory & Henry University, Warren Wilson College and our Quakers.

Best wishes to coach Christine Newcomb and the team. Come out and cheer for them on April 5th!

Warm regards,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear Guilfordians,

I am excited to report that in the first 10 days of our “For the Good of Guilford” fundraising campaign, Guilfordians and other friends of the College contributed almost $400,000, or about 8% of our $5 million goal to be achieved by June 30. These are unrestricted cash gifts that directly impact the work of the College and move us forward in building a strong financial foundation. We are so grateful to the alumni, families and friends who have contributed so far.

With three and a half months to go, we’re operating with a sense of urgency and importance for ensuring Guilford’s future. Gifts of any level matter and are appreciated, and in the coming weeks we will provide updates on our progress. Everyone has a role in fundraising for Guilford, so please consider yours. First, make your own gift. Then, personally contact your friends to ask them to join you in supporting the College.

Guilford Madness, our annual spring giving days, is coming up next week, March 18-19. If you give early, you can help us unlock $10,000 in a “Tip-Off Challenge” if we reach $50,000 by 11:59 pm March 17, after which Guilford Madness officially begins. Contribute now by making a gift online. All gifts to Guilford Madness will count toward the “For the Good of Guilford” campaign.

Join the next Community Forum

I will present a progress report on the first two months of the transition period at our next community forum on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 pm on Zoom. There will also be a question and answer period. Click here to register for the session online. After registering you will receive the Zoom link.

Online Summer School

We are taking the opportunity to do some things differently as we work to stabilize finances, including experimenting with offering summer school entirely online this year. Until now, summer school courses were only offered on campus. This will provide flexibility for students and faculty and create cost savings. We’ll evaluate the effort and determine if we continue with an online summer program in the future. A set of undergraduate and graduate courses will be offered beginning May 28. Registration begins March 28.

Celebrating Gary York '65

On March 6, former trustee Gary York ’65 received North Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, in a ceremony in Elkin, N.C. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions through dedication and service to their communities. Gary has been a Surry County commissioner, Mt. Airy Board of Education member, UNC-TV trustee, Surry County Educational Foundation member and an Elkin Rescue Squad board member over the years. He served on Guilford’s Board of Trustees from 2003-09. Congratulations, Gary!

Campus news

Baseball success

Guilford athletics teams continue to bring positive attention to the College. On the heels of the men’s basketball team’s ODAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth, the baseball team is 11-1 – its best start in 50 years – entering conference games at Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) this weekend. Coach Zach Booker, who is from a notable baseball family, is in his third year leading the Quakers. Guilford is scheduled to host Greensboro College Tuesday, March 18, at 2 pm at McBane Field on campus. Come out and cheer on the team!

CPPSET update

In a message to faculty and staff colleagues Thursday, Mark Justad announced he will be stepping down as director of the Center for Principled Problem Solving and Excellence in Teaching at the end of this fiscal year. However, he will continue at Guilford as a faculty member in Religious Studies and Ethics. Mark was the founding director of CPPSET and we appreciate his leadership for the past 18 years.

We’re making good progress on our transition, and I look forward to seeing you at the community forum on March 26.

Warm regards,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Guilfordians,

What an exciting Spring Break week we’ve had at Guilford! 

Our outstanding men’s basketball team won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship in Salem, Va., last weekend, clinching the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. I met with the team Tuesday as they resumed practice, and I joined other supporters in sending the team off by bus to Atlanta on Wednesday. Make sure to tune in to our first-round game against Berry College (Ga.) at 4:20 pm today. The live broadcast is available online. The second round is Saturday evening. 

If you’re in Greensboro, join the watch party today at 4 pm at Steel Hands Brewing (1918 W. Gate City Blvd). Appetizers and Guilford apparel will be provided.

Get all the details at NCAA Tournament Central on the Guilford athletics website.
Read about Nick Farrar ’25, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.
Read about Chase Ellis ’25 MBA, who previously played at Berry.

Our men’s basketball team exemplifies Guilford’s commitment to excellence. Good luck to them in the tournament!

Student Guitar Orchestra on Campus

While most of the campus was quiet during Spring Break, sweet sounds filled the Carnegie Room in the Hege Library today at an all-day festival for Guilford County middle school and high school guitar programs. Interim Provost, Dana Professor of Music and classical guitarist Kami Rowan hosts this event annually, showcasing Guilford’s commitment to musicians and music education. 

Fundraising Report

On March 1, we kicked off the “For the Good of Guilford” campaign that is a key component in balancing our FY25 budget and putting the College in a stronger financial position by the end of the fiscal year. I am dedicating the majority of my time to meeting with prospective donors in this important, four-month fundraising effort. I’m energized by the opportunity to tell Guilford’s story and get more people to invest in the College. 

The campaign has two goals: to raise $5 million in unrestricted cash (not future pledges) by June 30 and, to double the number of alumni making gifts (of any size).

Elizabeth Freeze, Senior Director of Philanthropy, is leading the Advancement team and a group of alumni volunteers in making appeals. We have a goal of 1,800 alumni donors this year, up from 900 in fiscal year 2024. This sign of alumni support for the College is important to foundations and other large donors.

The two-day annual Spring giving event that is known as “Guilford Madness” is scheduled for March 18-19. But you don’t need to wait: make your gift early to Guilford Madness. 

Planned giving: Many Guilfordians want to benefit the College while they are living yet still receive income. Recently, we received a very generous gift from the estate of Betsy Bingham Klein ’53, who passed away in January. After graduating from Guilford, Betsy studied theater at Boston University and appeared in off-Broadway productions. She had a successful career in New York’s garment industry. Betsy established a Charitable Gift Annuity, a giving option that benefits donors and the College. If you would like to know more about a Charitable Gift Annuity or other forms of planned giving, contact Rick Lancaster ’88 in the Advancement Office at rlancaster@guilford.edu. 

Campus news

Biennial Physics reunion: About 50 graduates with degrees in Physics or Mathematics will be on campus March 14-15 for the biennial Physics Reunion and Sheridan A. Simon lecture March 14-15. We are delighted to have Tom English ’82 give the Simon Lecture on March 14, focused on “new astronomy” techniques employed by pioneering astrophysicists in the late 19th century. His talk is entitled "Faith in the Future: Nineteenth Century Eclipse Chasing and the Struggle to Understand the Sun." Registration for the reunion is underway.

Wrestling championship: Guilford students are doing amazing things in and out of the classroom. Jacie Livengood ’27 is a member of our Omicron Kappa Delta academic honors society and an Experiential Design major minoring in Philosophy and Sports Marketing. She has been competing for our new co-ed wrestling club team and will participate in the National Club Wrestling Championships in Bossier City, La., March 13-15. Read more about Jacie.

EMF suspension: For the past 63 years, Guilford has been the home base for the Eastern Music Festival and School. Recently, the board of EMF, which is independent of the College, decided to cancel the 2025 season and recalibrate while working to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the union representing faculty musicians. There is a loss of revenue for Guilford, offset somewhat by a reduction in expenses we incur as host. We will miss having the festival on campus this summer but look forward to its return in 2026.

Meet Keith Millner ’82

Guilford is incredibly fortunate to have alumni stepping up to support the institution in many ways. A prime example is Keith Millner ’82, a trustee who accepted appointment as Acting Chief Operating Officer in January. Keith is working with our Finance Division and areas across campus to resolve financial and operational challenges. He brings not only his passion for Guilford but a wealth of business knowledge and experience to the job. Recently, Keith recorded an interview about his experience as a student at the College and the value it provides him and others. Thank you, Keith, for all you are doing for Guilford.

Warm regards,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Guilfordians,

The Guilford campus this week was winding down for Spring Break, as students started leaving once they finished their mid-term exams. I took this picture at dusk last night as I walked across the quad and reflected on how beautiful the campus is in all seasons and all times of day. 

For the Good of Guilford Campaign

Raise $5 million in new, unrestricted cash contributions for this year. This is to ensure Guilford meets the SACSCOC requirement for a balanced budget for this fiscal year. We have successfully reduced our monthly expenses from $3.1 million to $2.4 million in the last two months, but additional revenue is needed as well as expense cuts.

Increase the alumni giving rate from five percent to 10 percent. Last year there were about 900 alumni donors. We are currently at 600 and want to reach 1,800 by June 30.

Rarely are colleges able to increase their alumni giving rate quickly, but if everyone who has given already this year recruits two Guilford alumni friends as new donors, we'll reach it. 

In order to increase the giving percentage, the size of donation doesn't matter -- it's the number of donors. The alumni giving rate is important in soliciting grants from foundations and other large philanthropic sources. Five percent is low; the average in 2022-23 for all schools surveyed by US News was 8 percent. 

For the Good of Guilford will launch March 1 and will be led by Elizabeth Freeze, senior director of philanthropy. Trustees, staff members and dozens of volunteers will contact prospective donors. “Guilford Madness” on March 18-19 will be focused on donations to the Loyalty Fund (the unrestricted account used to meet the greatest needs). 

You may donate now at this link. If you prefer, a QR code for contributing is at the bottom of this email.

If you would like to volunteer, please complete this form. 

Tracing History

A genealogy workshop at Guilford this week proved a fitting end to Black History Month and a good starting point for Janelle Morris, Associate Director of Career, Academic and Personal Exploration (CAPE), as well as other staff, faculty and students, to research their family histories. Gwen Erickson, Quaker Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, showed attendees how to use information online to begin the process. Read more about the session.

Commencement 2025

About 200 students who were first years during COVID are graduating on Saturday, May 17. Their smaller class size reflects the impact that the pandemic has had on students and their colleges. Enrollment dropped significantly at Guilford as it did at many other schools, but these students persisted and are set to receive their well-earned diplomas on Commencement day. More information about ceremonies is online. Congratulations!

Cheering on the Quakers

The men’s basketball team is competing in the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday at 2 pm in Salem, Va. If you can’t make it to Salem, watch the livestream of coach Tom Palombo’s team in its matchup with nationally ranked Randolph-Macon. Go Quakers!

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Guilfordians,

We’re winding down February at Guilford College with a chill in the air and touch of snow on campus. However, the cold weather has not prevented us from making progress on our financial and operational challenges.

As I wrote in my last message, high school students and their families were visiting campus for information sessions and interviews on Scholarship Day last Saturday. Twenty-seven students participated, and we’ve received heartwarming feedback from them, as well as from our faculty and staff who helped on site. Divine Mack of High Point, N.C., and Carly Richards of Madison, N.C., who plan to study Chemistry, are excited about enrolling as first years in the fall. Another 34 students will interview this week virtually, and we look forward to many of them joining us this fall.

Fundraising Plans

Fundraising is one of the key factors in balancing our FY25 budget and putting Guilford on a sound financial footing for the future. A college president is expected to invest a great deal of time in fundraising, and it is my responsibility to do so for Guilford. I want to report some recent developments that are designed to strengthen our fundraising efforts:

Advancement and Alumni Relations & Engagement Reorganization: As part of the reorganization of the College's administration and operations, the functions of Advancement, including fundraising and Alumni Relations & Engagement, will now report to the Office of the President rather than be a separate department led by a Vice President. This cost-saving restructuring is part of refocusing the Advancement staff on the College's primary goal for FY25 -- meeting the financial requirements of SACSCOC to retain accreditation. 

Fundraising Goal for June 30, 2025 – $5 million: Our fundraising team of Advancement staff and volunteers has a goal of raising an additional $5 million in cash or cash equivalents designated for our greatest needs (the Loyalty Fund) by June 30. We need your help to reach or exceed this ambitious but exciting goal. To accelerate the campaign, I will lead a Zoom call on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 pm for anyone who is interested in learning about volunteering to reach out to friends, former classmates and others to encourage them to give to Guilford. Please register here for this information session. 

Other Important News

Supporting our Community: On Feb. 14, Guilford College, like most colleges in the U.S., received the "Dear Colleague" letter from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education to "clarify and reaffirm the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and other entities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education." Guilford will continue to comply with State and Federal laws in all regards, while remaining attentive to support and serve all members of our community.

Strong Trustee Leadership: Guilford has a truly dedicated and supportive Board of Trustees now led by Interim Chair/Clerk Dan Mosca. This week Dan shared his thoughts about the importance of Guilford in a video interview. As many of you know, he has been a fierce advocate for the College since his daughter Stacey ’90 and son Paul ’93 were students here. Dan has provided leadership with his time and talent as well as his generous philanthropy, modeling what it means to be a fully fledged supporter of Guilford.

Thank you for being supportive alumni and friends. I encourage your full participation in helping ensure Guilford’s long-term sustainability. 

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Guilfordians,

It’s always a great day when outstanding prospective students are on campus and can get a preview of the unique Guilford experience. Despite the predicted cold and wet weather, tomorrow 30 admitted students and about 60 of their family members will be at Guilford for Scholarship Day, during which the students will interview for some of the College’s prestigious scholarship programs: Honors, Quaker Leadership Scholars, Bonner, S-STEM and Ethical Leadership Fellows.

As we move through the process of stabilizing the College’s finances and meeting the requirements of our accrediting agency, we remain deeply committed to attracting and retaining students who will thrive in the excellent liberal arts environment for which Guilford is well known. 

Thanks to Steve Mencarini, Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Retention, and his team for hosting these important guests. If you’re on campus and encounter them, please offer a warm welcome and share your own Guilford experiences.

Early Retirement and Reduced Hours

One aspect of our program to have a balanced budget for FY25, ending June 30, and for FY26 was to offer incentives to employees who wish to request reduced hours through June 30, or retire early, thus lowering our salary and benefits expenses. A number of employees have chosen these options. Their requests are being evaluated by department managers, Human Resources, Acting Chief Operating Officer Keith Millner ’82 and me, and decisions about implementing these changes should be finalized next week 

Temporary Academic Calendar Change

In another cost-saving action that will also open possibilities for strengthening the academic program, on Wednesday, the faculty approved a temporary academic calendar change for 2025-26 and appointed a committee to make recommendations for the long term on how the calendar can best support the academic program and students' needs, including the availability of financial aid. Nothing will change for the current 2024-25 academic year.

The temporary calendar adjustment will make the fall and spring semesters the same length and maintain the option for a three-week term at the end of spring semester. The FY26 cost savings to the College are possibly as much as $800,000.

Student accounts receivable update

Some students and their families responded to last week’s notification about revenue from student accounts for which payment was due at the start of the spring semester by paying their bills or signing up for a payment plan, but more is needed. During the last week, about $200,000 has been paid or committed to a payment plan of the more than $2 million owed. This shortfall in expected revenue makes the College’s cash flow and ability to pay its own obligations very tight.

This is a very serious situation. If the remainder of the revenue owed to the College is not paid promptly, or is not part of a payment plan, it will be necessary for Guilford to make additional reductions in its already very lean FY25 budget. 

Seniors are reminded that they will not be allowed to participate in Commencement this May if they have an outstanding balance on their account. Starting next academic year, students will not be permitted to start classes if they have not paid in full or arranged a payment plan for the semester.

It is unfortunate, in my view, that the College failed to practice the kind of stewardship and clear communication with students that would have avoided this situation, but now we must firmly move in the direction of integrity and accountability over financial resources. Only that will ensure the College’s long-term sustainability.

Thanks to all

I continue to be impressed with the Guilford community, the always interesting activities and ideas of students, and the creativity and commitment of faculty and staff. Together we are making difficult choices and thus moving steadily toward meeting the mandates of SACSCOC and laying the foundation for the College to thrive. Next, we must apply ourselves vigorously to fundraising. More on that next week.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear Guilfordians,

As we make the turn into our second month of the leadership transition period, we are making steady progress yet also have more work to do to meet the expectations of our accreditor, SACSCOC, by June 30. 

Trustees make additional gifts

As noted in last week’s update, our three-part approach to balancing the FY2025 budget includes reducing expenses by $3 million, raising $3 million in philanthropic revenue above what was budgeted and monetizing assets for an additional $3 million in revenue.

In terms of new philanthropy, trustees are donating $365,000 toward operating expenses in this half of the fiscal year in addition to their contributions in the first half of the fiscal year, with 100% of trustees participating. Interim Board Chair Dan Mosca said, "The College is experiencing very tight cash flow this semester and I am gratified that trustees are redoubling their efforts toward financial sustainability.”

As Acting President, one of my major responsibilities is fundraising and I take this obligation seriously. I have already met with some of the College’s most loyal donors and I will be doing even more in the weeks ahead. Dan and I urge alumni and friends to give to where their funds are needed most, which is the unrestricted Loyalty Fund. Giving to the Loyalty Fund is quick and easy.

Business programs are accredited

I am delighted to report that the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has renewed the accreditation of Guilford's undergraduate Business Administration program and awarded accreditation for the first time for the undergraduate Accounting program and the Master of Business Administration. Congratulations to Department Chair Michael Dutch for his leadership! Read more about this good news here. 

Business Administration, our largest major with more than 200 students, was first accredited by ACBSP in 2014. 

FY2026 budget preparation

Work is underway on the FY2026 budget, which is very important to maintaining Guilford’s SACSCOC accreditation. The College’s Budget Committee with representation from faculty, staff and administrators across campus is preparing its preliminary budget. After extensive reviews and transparent sharing with the College community a budget eventually will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval in May.

Bruce Stewart memorial Saturday

Chattanooga Friends Meeting will hold a Memorial Meeting for Worship Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 pm to celebrate the life of Bruce B. Stewart ’61, beloved Guilford alumnus, administrator and trustee chair, who died on Jan. 26. You may view the memorial on Zoom.

Celebrating basketball success

Guilford’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are enjoying success as they hit the home stretch in the regular season. The men’s team hosts Washington & Lee tomorrow at 3 pm while the women’s team visits Randolph-Macon. I encourage you to support our student-athletes, including senior men’s player Nick Farrar, who was featured today in the News & Record sports pages (may be subject to a paywall). 

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear Guilfordians,

This has been another busy and eventful week at Guilford. Now at the end of our fourth week of our leadership transition period, I continue to be amazed at the resilience of our campus community, bolstered by the support and encouragement of alumni, families and friends.

On Wednesday evening more than 140 members of the wider Guilford community participated in a Post-Trustee Meeting Community Forum to hear College updates and offer questions and ideas for ensuring Guilford’s long-term sustainability.

In a presentation, we showed a chart illustrating our financial picture for the past few years – expenses did not vary much, but revenues declined dramatically post-COVID. We have a three-pronged approach to balancing the College budget for FY25:

• Reduce expenses by $3 million. Reductions of almost $800,000 have already been implemented, and on Thursday, Human Resources introduced to faculty and staff three voluntary programs: Early Retirement, Voluntary Early Exit and Voluntary Reduction in Hours, that are components of our budget-balancing strategy. 
• Raise $3 million in philanthropic revenue above the $2.4 million budgeted, for a total $5.4 million for this fiscal year. 100% of trustees have made a commitment to this fundraising effort. 
• Monetize assets for an additional $3 million in revenue, in particular, outparcels of College property.

Next week we should be able to share details about administrative restructuring that is designed to improve communication and collaboration, create efficiencies across campus and achieve some cost savings.

If you would like to listen to the forum, here is a link to the recording.

How can you get involved right away? Here are a couple of ways:

Alumni and Friends of Guilford (AFOG), through the Guilford Admissions Ambassadors Network, is rallying Guilfordians to write personal notes to prospective students. They will provide a packet of note cards and a script as a guide and will pay for postage. The letter-writing campaign is Feb. 1-15. Email gaan1837@guilford.edu with your best mailing address if you are willing to help with this critically important effort.

Another way is making an unrestricted gift to the Loyalty Fund at the College that can be used for our greatest needs at this time. Making a Loyalty Fund gift is quick and easy through our giving portal. Thank you for your financial support of Guilford.

As some of you know, former Trustee chair and beloved College administrator and mentor Bruce Stewart ’61 died on Sunday. Chattanooga Friends Meeting will hold a Memorial Meeting for Worship to celebrate his life Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 pm. You may view the memorial on Zoom.

Finally, during the evening forum on Wednesday, Professor Eric Mortensen inspired the group of alumni, parents and friends with his reflections on Guilford today.

In part, this is what he said: “One of the most magical things about Guilford is our students are still very much Guilford students. There's something different about Guilford students that makes them really wonderful. (They are) brilliant, kind people. We're still attracting them. Guilford hasn't lost its soul. That I can promise you from experience on a day-to-day basis.”

He added, “There's a sense of hope now, finally, that we've been looking for and waiting for. … This is the moment we're going to get. We're not going to maybe get another one if we miss this one. This is the time that I would encourage people to find out how to best make a difference and get reengaged, financially and in terms of their connections in their communities. So please don't wait.”

Eric’s teaching inspires us all, and his words express better than I can the importance and excitement of right now for Guilford. Onward together!

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear Friends,

I am saddened to share with you that Bruce B. Stewart ’61, a beloved Guilfordian, died Sunday morning after a short period in hospice care. The quintessential Guilfordian, he is a former Trustee of the College and served as Board Chair from 1999-2003. As one of the Richardson Fellows he encouraged and inspired, I am grateful to have known Bruce for more than 50 years.

The son of a Scottish immigrant and native of Lynn, Mass., Bruce was introduced to Guilford and the Quaker community as a teenager by J. Floyd “Pete” Moore ’39, who was studying for his doctorate at Boston University. He considered his choice of Guilford for college and the experience he had here to have transformed his life. And what a life he had.

After earning an Economics degree at Guilford, Bruce started his career as a social studies teacher and school counselor at Page High School in Greensboro, coordinating the school’s first efforts at integration in the turbulent 1960s. Next, he helped establish the N.C. (now UNC) School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, serving as the school’s first Dean of Student Affairs.

Bruce returned to Guilford as a faculty member and administrator, working in a succession of jobs, as Director of Admissions, Assistant Professor of Education, Director of the Richardson Fellows Program, Assistant to the President, Acting Academic Dean, Provost and Associate to the Vice President for Development. 

With Guilford classmate and fellow administrator Jim Newlin ’61, he was a founder of the New Garden Friends School in Greensboro. He consulted on the establishment of the N.C. School of Science & Mathematics in Durham and on public school desegregation in the state. 

Deeply committed to Quaker education, he served two notable secondary institutions as Head of School: Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pa. for 14 years, and Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., for 11 years before his retirement in 2009. He resided in Chattanooga, Tenn., in his later years.

Bruce was the recipient of Guilford’s Charles C. Hendricks ’40 Distinguished Service Award and Alumni Excellence Awards.

In 2003, trustee Bill Soles ’81 – for whom Bruce was a mentor – and his family made a significant gift to the College to create the Bruce B. Stewart ’61 Awards for teaching excellence and community service that are presented to Guilford faculty and staff on an annual basis.

We will share memorial arrangements when they are available. Please join me in holding Bruce’s family and friends in the Light as we mourn his passing and celebrate his life. 

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear Guilfordians,

In the third week of the leadership transition at Guilford, I am very pleased to share that we are approaching this work in a spirit of optimism and making good progress on a number of fronts. Guided by a period of listening and learning for myself and other leaders, on campus and with Guilfordians at large, we are taking action to sustain the College well into the future and provide a positive experience for our students.

As many of you know by now, Guilford has been dealing with a structural deficit for a number of years. We are committed to resolve it so that it does not impede our future progress. Efforts are underway to align our revenues and expenses for this fiscal year, ending June 30, and make achievable, financially responsible projections for FY26 and FY27 that meet and exceed the expectations of our accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). We are approaching decisions about any cuts with the utmost care and sensitivity.

While dealing with pressing financial matters, our interim leadership team moved quickly to ensure that our students will have a great spring semester.

• We worked with the Provost’s Office and the bookstore to quickly get books for the spring semester in the hands of students when we learned there were some temporary delays.
• We worked with Facilities and Student Affairs to provide options for residents of Shore Hall to move to other locations on campus and will be taking the hall offline at the end of the academic year to bring it up to our residential standards.
• We worked with Finance and Student Activities to provide more funding for student clubs so that they can proceed with activities planned for the spring semester.

Some of you are acquainted with our long-term trustee and Guilford parent Dan Mosca. I am pleased to share that last week Dan was appointed interim clerk/chair of the board. Dan’s passion for the College is based on his deep appreciation for the education his son and daughter received here and his experience with the institution since the 1990s. Keith Millner ’82, Acting Chief Operating Officer, and I resigned from our board positions because SACSCOC, our accrediting agency, does not permit board members to serve as administrators, even in an acting capacity.

We are concluding our two-day, regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting later today, and I would like to invite you to participate in an hour-long post-meeting forum for alumni, families and friends on Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 6 pm EST. We will provide a briefing on the board meeting at that time. To register for the Zoom call, please click here. A link for accessing the meeting will be provided next week.

On behalf of the College, I want to express our deep appreciation for the support of the wider community of Guilfordians, including Alumni & Friends of Guilford College (AFOG) and the Black Alumni of Guilford College (BAGC). They and their members are organizing a variety of ways to support students and strengthen the College.

I will be in touch again next month by email and encourage you to join the Zoom call on Jan. 29. In the meantime, I welcome your suggestions, feedback and concerns. Please feel free to contact me at president@guilford.edu.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Faculty and staff,

We have made the turn into the second half of the fiscal year with roughly five months to go. As you all know by now, FY25 is critical for Guilford as we do the hard work of aligning revenues with expenses and creating achievable, financially responsible projections for FY26 and FY27. We must do this in order to comply with standards for accreditation with SACSCOC, which will make a judgement about our accreditation in December following two years of probation.

Balancing our budget and eliminating a structural deficit will require strengthening enrollment, generating more philanthropic support, leveraging third-stream revenues and carefully considering academic offerings while being very strategic in our budget planning and spending on an ongoing basis. Today, we are reissuing a set of spending control guidelines in effect through June 30, 2025, with a reminder of how important they are to our financial objectives.

To put a fine point on it, through the FY 2024-25 budget period, no spending shall occur unless necessary to maintain Guilford's essential operations. Essential operations refer to the core functions and activities that are absolutely necessary for the College to remain operational and achieve its goals. The spending guidelines lay out procedures for requisitions and reimbursement requests and limits on purchasing, travel, catering and hiring.

Please review the guidelines carefully as they have been prepared to assist us in being the best stewards possible of Guilford’s resources. Vice Presidents and other department leaders will work with you on compliance, but we are all accountable. If you have questions about spending, please inquire with your supervisor before proceeding with a transaction. The spending control guidelines, including employee liability, will be enforced.

Everyone in the Guilford community has a role to play in sustaining the College. We will be stronger as we come together to work toward solutions. We are grateful for your daily contributions to the College’s important mission. If you have questions or concerns about the guidelines, please contact Administration & Finance by emailing financeworkday@guilford.edu.

Sincerely,

Jean Parvin Bordewich, Acting President
Keith Millner, Acting Chief Operating Officer
John Wilkinson, CFO
Danielle Pfaff, Controller

Dear Guilford community,

I’m writing to let you know that after consulting with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Board of Trustees has made some changes in its leadership plan for the Presidential transition period.

SACSCOC has advised Guilford that members of the Board cannot have long-term administrative and trustee roles simultaneously under their rules. Therefore, Keith Millner ’82 and I resigned from the Board in order to fulfill responsibilities as Acting Chief Operating Officer and Acting President, respectively.

On Jan. 16, the Board approved Dan Mosca as Acting Clerk/Chair, to serve throughout the transition period. Dan, who has been a trustee of the College for nearly two decades, was serving as Vice Chair. As administrators for the College, Keith and I will report to the Board.

Those who know Dan will attest that he is deeply committed to the College, inspired by the education his children received here and his own experience with this community since the 1990s. He has been generous with his time and resources, and we will greatly benefit from his leadership as Clerk/Chair.

Relatedly, trustees Carla Brenner ’73 and Paula Sours ’76 will continue to provide support for the transition as representatives of the Board.

I am excited to work with Dan and the other Board members as we engage the Guilford community in resolving financial difficulties and our SACSCOC sanctions. There are tough decisions to be made and implemented, and we have dedicated people to do this work.

Thank you for everything you are doing to help Guilford thrive.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Guilfordians,

The Guilford Board of Trustees announced at the beginning of January that Kyle Farmbry was stepping down as President of the College after three years and that I will serve as Acting President.

As someone with deep family roots at the College and personal experience here dating back 50 years, I am committed to strengthening Guilford as a learning community of courage, compassion, creativity, accountability and excellence; a place where students learn to connect their talents, interests and personal commitments to the needs of the world. Here they sharpen their purpose and their ethical foundation to change the world. They don’t have to wait to have an impact. They can do it now, at Guilford, in practical ways that develop meaningful, lifelong habits and skills.

While the College works to resolve its financial difficulties, I want to make this clear: Guilford is not closing, it is changing to become truer to the unique set of values and identity that were embedded at its founding by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) almost 200 years ago. Our College has endured many hard times. It was one of the few colleges in the South that remained open during the Civil War. It survived the Great Depression of the 1930s. It has emerged from previous periods of financial peril by recognizing and deepening its unique calling in the field of higher education. That’s what we are doing now. They don't have to wait four years to make an impact. They can do it now, at Guilford, in practical ways that develop meaningful, lifelong habits and skills.

Our primary tasks this year are to ensure students grow and thrive, and to change outdated practices and attitudes that helped create the current financial difficulties. College leadership must pay greater attention to stewardship of our financial resources for the long term. We must change. We are starting now to reposition Guilford for the next generation – as a college grounded in Quaker values that is ever evolving to be a stronger beacon of light in each student’s life and in the world.

I am working with a team of four current and former trustees who are volunteering to be on campus during this period of change. Our goal is to put the College on track to meet and exceed the requirements of the SACSCOC accreditation agency this year. We are immersing ourselves in the community to rapidly institute overdue improvements in certain areas of the College’s operations. 

In the two weeks we’ve been on campus, we’ve met with, listened and learned from students, faculty, staff and friends. These open sessions have generated dozens of insights and ideas which we are acting on this month.

We also want to connect with you, as valued alumni, and we welcome your suggestions. We need your help. As Guilford alumni, you are our ambassadors. You amplify Guilford and its importance to the world and to the students who come here. I understand that there have been times you have felt like the College didn’t listen to you.. The College is working with existing alumni groups that want to become more active and more involved in supporting the students and supporting the College. 

Alumni and Friends of Guilford College (AFOG) is organizing a skills bank of alumni volunteers. That will be a tremendous resource for us. The Black Alumni of Guilford College (BAGC) works hard to connect the Black alumni with activities here on campus and offer scholarships for Black students. I hope you will consider reaching out to Toiya Hancock ’93 with BAGC or Esther Hall ‘74 at AFOG because the College and our students need you.

Stay tuned! We are consulting widely and acting fast. You will hear more from me and Guilford over the next few weeks. My hope is that in the coming weeks you will be as excited as I am about the path forward for Guilford.

I will be in touch again next Friday. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me at president@guilford.edu.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

P.S.: You might enjoy this conversation Jacob Mitchell ‘25, President of the Guilford Student Body Association had with me last week. And here’s Jacob’s fun, 60-second version: 

P.P.S.: Finally, here’s another interview I sat for that I hope you find informative.

Members of the Guilford Community,

I am writing to thank many of you for participating in conversations with trustees last week that were incredibly informative and enjoyable. Your passion for Guilford and our students is encouraging. I urge all members of our campus community to be actively involved as we navigate our challenges in the coming months.

This transition period calls for transparency, intensive collaboration and a focus on what makes Guilford unique. These are priorities for my leadership. Compassion, courage, accountability and dedication to community will guide us and will be important as we make decisions and set the transformation in motion soon. The trustees are meeting as a full group along with College leaders Thursday, Jan. 16, and in their regularly scheduled board meeting next week. I expect to share more information with the community after those meetings including a more concrete timetable for actions to re-imagine, re-structure and re-invent Guilford to be a leader through its innovative and unique approach to higher education.

I have heard rumors that some people believe the College is closing. I assure you that the trustees, including those on the coordinating committee, are committed to our institution’s long-term success. The dedication of our collective volunteer time and energy reflect, I hope, our confidence in Guilford’s future. 

Guilford is actively addressing the issues of non-compliance identified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and fully expects to meet the expectations of our accreditor. We are confident in our ability to demonstrate compliance through efforts of our faculty, staff and all members of the Guilford community.

I recognize that uncertainty can create anxiety, but I hope you will find reassurance in the steps we take in the coming weeks and months to strengthen our College and build for the future. Guilford is an institution rooted in resilience and community, and together, we will overcome any challenges we face.

If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. You will receive regular updates from me in the weeks ahead, and I welcome your comments and feedback. Please contact me at president@guilford.edu.

Thank you for your dedication to Guilford College. It is your passion and belief in this community that make our College truly special.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President

Dear students,

The first week of work for the coordinating committee was enlightening, including a series of informal meetings with students, faculty and staff. I want to thank everyone who participated in conversations with us and encourage others to be actively involved as we move forward.

I want to address particular concerns that some of you shared in last week’s meetings. 

Potential closure of Guilford: I want to assure you that College trustees, including those who make up the coordinating committee, are committed to our institution’s success long-term. The dedication of our collective volunteer time and energy reflect, I hope, our confidence in Guilford’s future. 

Guilford is actively addressing the issues of non-compliance identified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and fully expects to meet the expectations of our accreditor. We are confident in our ability to demonstrate compliance through the efforts of our faculty, staff and members of the Guilford community.

Even while we are working on our compliance, Guilford is moving forward as it always has in preparing for the 2025-26 academic year. We are admitting first-year students for the fall semester, and our commitment to providing a transformative educational experience remains steadfast for you and new students.

Access to textbooks. Trustees became aware last Tuesday that some students did not have access to their textbooks a day after the semester began. We immediately removed the roadblock the same day and all students had access to their textbooks Wednesday morning. I apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused you.

Funding for student clubs. We became aware from the meetings with students last week, that the clubs do not have funding for this semester. I believe that Clubs should be able to access their allocated student fee-funded budgets in a timely way. We are addressing the issue this week. I will let you know when it is resolved.

Reports of mold in residence halls. On Friday, Carla Brenner, another trustee, and I made an appointment with the College’s Facilities & Maintenance team to inspect Shore Hall. We saw mildew and some instances of mold. We are looking at remedies and expect to have answers later this week.

I understand that being a student at a College that is working to resolve some challenges might be unsettling for some of you. I hope you will find reassurance in the steps we take to strengthen the College and build for its future. Guilford is rooted in resilience and community, and together, we have always overcome our challenges.

If you have further questions or concerns, contact me at president@guilford.edu. Open communication is vital as we continue to move forward, and I encourage you to remain engaged in conversations about our College’s future.

Thank you for your dedication to Guilford College. It is your passion and belief in this community that make it truly special.

Warm wishes,

Jean Parvin Bordewich
Acting President