I am absolutely thrilled to have received this email! Rosemonsters are stepping up and want to save our school! Even if you are not a Rosemonster, please send an email to rremick@rosemont.edu, shirsh@rosemont.edu, and strategicplan@rosemont.edu letting them know there is a place in this world for Woman’s Only Education! (I will try to create a template that people can use as a starting point– I will post that later)

Here is the email:

Dear Alumni and Friends of Rosemont College:

Rosemont College needs your help. On May 30th, the Board will meet to decide whether Rosemont College Undergraduate Women’s College will remain an all-women’s college. The only thing preventing the Rosemont UWC from becoming co-educational is your efforts in the next week.

The Save Rosemont Coalition, a group of concerned alumnae and friends of the college, embraces the idea of “meeting the wants of the age” but not at the cost of compromising the mission and identity of the undergraduate women’s college. We believe that colleges achieve success through the fulfillment of their academic commitment to their students, based on the quality of faculty, academic offerings, and their reputation within the community, and especially based on their adherence to the distinctive educational, cultural and spiritual philosophies which set them apart.

The Save Rosemont Coalition argues that this decision by the Board needs to be delayed until the following has occurred:

A legitimate opportunity for all Alumnae to contribute to the strategic plan process in the form of a town meeting. The alumni were kept at a distance during the entire strategic initiative. Town meetings were scheduled at 4:30 PM on week nights. Additionally, alumnae were not given the results of the Alumni survey until after the recommendation by the Strategic Agenda to turn Rosemont co-ed.

A chance to sit down and have exploratory talks with Villanova University. The option of merging or having a closer relationship with Villanova University was never fully realized during the Strategic Initiative. Alumnae were told half-way through the process that this was no longer an option.

A financial accounting of any investment that the college will make as the result of this decision by the Board of Trustees.

The Strategic Plan estimates that it will cost $4.6 million to renovate the college in order to make it ready for male students. Rosemont College does not have $4.6 million to invest in the college. Where is this money coming from? If we have access to these types of funds, what could $4.6 million do to reinvigorate the women’s undergraduate college?

Please email Ron Remick, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sharon Hirsh, Rosemont’s President, and the Board of Trustees to consider reinvesting in the future of the Undergraduate Women’s College. TAKE ACTION NOW by emailing rremick@rosemont.edu, shirsh@rosemont.edu, and strategicplan@rosemont.edu, or by calling the College at 610-527-0200 ext. 2805.

Let us be emboldened by the words of Rosemont College’s founder, Cornelia Connelly: “We never know what we can do until we try. Perseverance gains the crown.” Please pass this letter on to any of our classmates, parents, or friends. We welcome any questions, suggestions or words of support at saverosemont@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Save Rosemont Coalition