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Aspirational Design Updates (Week of 10/13)

October 13, 2025

This Email in 10 Seconds

Three more focus charrettes are coming up in October and November. More details below. All members of the campus community are invited and encouraged to participate. 

Still not sure what Aspirational Design is and why we’re doing it? Aspirational Design is the process we’re using to develop our strategic plan for the college with the input of stakeholders from across the campus. More details and FAQs at hamilton.edu/aspirational-design.

What Happened Last Week

• All Campus Charrette, Oct. 8: Over 30 campus community members joined the Aspirational Design Core team and design theme facilitators to explore the ideas that have emerged so far in the first three Focus Charrettes on Open Curriculum 2.0, Democracy & Imagination, and Creative Campus & What If. If you did not attend you missed great conversation and desserts! Please look for a second all campus charrette on November 12.
• Tabling, Oct. 9: Conversation and cider donuts were shared around campus during tabling last Thursday. Discussions were held about Innovation, Technology, & Authentic Intelligence and many students shared their thoughts about how they are using or not using AI and technology and where they think Hamilton can be distinctive in its approach.
• Synthesis Charrette, Oct. 10: President Steven Tepper shared his thoughts about “Social Intelligence,” his framework for Aspirational Design that focuses on our unique value and how we learn and work together. Then, the core team and design facilitators reviewed the portfolio of ideas that emerged from the first three thematic charrettes—Open Curriculum 2.0, Democracy & Imagination, and Creative Campus & What If, as well as ideas from the Fallcoming Alumni Charrette, Alumni interviews, the first Faculty Mini-Charrette and the October Community Charrette. The group identified connections and synergies across all ideas and will continue to work on next steps.

Coming Up This Week

The Design Hub is open! Located in Burke Library outside the Stryker All-Night Reading Room, the Design Hub will remain open throughout the fall. Stop by anytime to learn more about Aspirational Design, and share what sparks your imagination.

 Coming Soon

• Focus Charrettes: To participate in any of these charrettes (or other Aspirational Design activities), please email aspirationaldesign@hamilton.edu.
  • Oct. 21-22: Hamilton 360
  • Oct. 23-24: Practicing the Liberal Arts
  • Nov. 6-7: Innovation, Technology, & Authentic Intelligence
• Faculty Mini-Charrettes: Additional opportunities for faculty to engage with the process are being offered in October and November. Please see the recent email from the Dean of Faculty for dates and to RSVP. Please reach out to Dean Munemo with any questions.
• All Campus Charrette, Nov. 12: Explore ideas that come out of the last three focus charrettes, share your feedback, questions, and ideas. Dessert and drinks will be provided.

Questions?

Visit the Aspirational Design website or email aspirationaldesign@hamilton.edu.

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Aspirational Design Core Team
Joe Shelley
Marisa Benincasa
Kimberly Butler
Mike Klapmeyer
Lisa McFall
Miriam Merrill
Ngoni Munemo