HAMILTON — Colgate University President Brian Casey will lead the school as it moves forward with its Third-Century Plan and the recently announced $1 billion campaign for the Third Century. Colgate’s board of trustees on Aug. 29 voted unanimously to extend Casey’s contract through 2030. It represents the second contract extension for Casey, the university […]
HAMILTON — Colgate University President Brian Casey will lead the school as it moves forward with its Third-Century Plan and the recently announced $1 billion campaign for the Third Century.
Colgate’s board of trustees on Aug. 29 voted unanimously to extend Casey’s contract through 2030.
It represents the second contract extension for Casey, the university said in its Aug. 30 announcement.
“We are fortunate to have one of the nation’s most strategic and visionary presidents. Thanks to President Casey’s guidance and collaboration with our University community, Colgate has moved forward with a series of transformative initiatives that have improved access and affordability and touched every corner of campus, while also increasing faculty support to extend the academic reach and reputation of the University,” Michael Herling, chair of the Colgate University board of trustees, contended. “On behalf of the board of trustees and alumni around the world, I am honored to announce the extension of his contract, and I want to take this opportunity to thank President Casey for his leadership, his vision for Colgate, his focus on creating a caring community of scholars, and his commitment to excellence.”
Casey started his duties as president in 2016, and Colgate first renewed his contract in 2019.
“I am honored by the trust that this University community has placed in me and the senior team at Colgate. My interactions with our faculty, students, staff, and alumni over these past six years have shown Colgate to be an extraordinary place,” Casey said. “As a student of the history of American higher education, I know that most leading colleges experience periods of growth when the right combination of academic talent is aligned with ambitious students from all walks of life and a supportive administration. We are at one of those moments now at Colgate, and I am proud to be part of its trajectory.”
The contract extension comes at a time of “unprecedented growth” at Colgate, the university said. The university considered an “all-time record” number of applications for admission this year with 21,153 prospective students seeking entry to the Class of 2026. Colgate has had a 146 percent increase in applications in the past two years, per its announcement.
Now in its second year of implementation, Colgate’s Third-Century Plan has resulted in the launch of the Colgate Commitment, which includes a No-Loan Initiative — eliminating federal student loans for all admitted students with family incomes under $150,000 — and students with family incomes of $80,000 or less attend “tuition free.”
Since taking office, Casey has led the school through several major construction projects, including the creation of two new residence halls and Benton Hall — Colgate’s home of career services and the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships.
Colgate’s Oak Drive is undergoing a “renewal project to beautify and re-envision the historic entryway” to campus, and construction is now underway to create the new Robert H.N. Ho Mind, Brain, and Behavior Center at Olin Hall.
Groundbreaking for the Benton Center for Creativity and Innovation will happen this fall, starting Colgate’s new Middle Campus, the school said.