THE HILL SCHOOL 2012-17 Strategic Plan

Dear Hill School community:

It may seem a bit dramatic to say that The Hill School treats strategic planning as if lives depend upon it. But, the truth is, they do.

Our planning supports the programs – from the academic program, to college advising, to alumni networking – that empower our graduates to realize their goals throughout their lives. Our deliberate thinking calls for academic facilities where creative teachers have the classroom

skills, tools, and technology they need to ensure student success; faculty housing that provides advisers and dorm parents a dynamic and appropriate environment in which to mentor students; and state-of-the-art athletics facilities where Hill student-athletes learn the leadership, teamwork, and perseverance they will rely on to face challenges throughout their lives.

The way we plan affects each and every Hill student – from the talented trombonist and future tennis standout from Vietnam, to the Pottstown student who is as passionate about the classics as she is about field hockey and service learning, to the inquisitive science scholar from Texas whose desire to test his academic potential at Hill would not be fulfilled without financial aid.

The thought inherent in this 2012-17 Strategic Plan undoubtedly benefits the entire Hill community.

This presentation outlines the ambitious goals approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2012 and further updated in January 2014. These essential objectives have been

determined by small, focused committees – faculty and trustees who continue to delve into topics including admission, advancement and alumni relations, athletics, budget

and investment, campus planning, campus life, college advising, community relations, education, faculty and staff, and technology.

This strategic planning process has equipped The Hill to tackle this overarching goal, as shared with the Board of Trustees at the beginning of my tenure, and as used as a touchstone for our ongoing work:

“While staying very true to our core values, The Hill will re-imagine and redefine a liberal arts school education. We will combine all of the powerful ideals encompassed by ‘The Family Boarding School’ with the best and most innovative practices of 21st century teaching and learning. People will simultaneously describe The Hill as the most traditional and the most innovative school in the country. In doing so, we will attract the most capable students and most talented teachers from around the world; our students will be the most highly sought after college applicants; and we will generate unprecedented financial support from our alumni, parents, and other donors.”

I am very grateful to the dedicated members of The Hill School faculty and Board of Trustees who have worked so hard on creating this impressive and tangible Plan and who continue to implement its ideals. Special and ongoing acknowledgement is due to Executive Steering Committee Co-Chairs John Dollhopf, Hill’s academic dean, and Andrew D. Soussloff ’71; Tom Millhiser ’67, P ’96 and ’00, chairman of the Board of Trustees through June 2014; Preston G. Athey ’67, our chairman of the Board of Trustees effective June 2014; and the Steering Committee and subcommittees.

Guided by this Plan, we look forward to continuing our relevant, immensely inspirational work as educators and mentors, and we pledge to meet the heightened expectations of all members of our Hill family. Together we will achieve great, enduring things for our students, for our School, and, ultimately, for the world.

Warm regards,

Zachary G. Lehman Headmaster

The Hill School MiSSion StateMent the Hill School prepares young men and

women from across the country and around

the world for college, careers, and life.

Within a family school environment and a

rigorous liberal arts curriculum, we challenge

our young people to work hard; think and

reason; be fulfilled; serve the common

good; and be prepared to lead as citizens of

the world, uniquely guided by our motto,

“WHatSoever tHingS are

true.”

Within our core mission of preparing our students for college, careers, and life as citizens of the world in the 21st century, we commit The Hill School to a thorough review of its priorities, with the goal of being the preeminent family boarding school in the nation, true to its ideals and ambitious for its future.

The Hill will evaluate, address, and enhance six key areas

of impact through implementation of this 2014 Strategic Plan.

students...eduCAtIOnAL PROGRAM...

FACuLty...CAMPus...tOwn...FutuRe...

“People will simultaneously describe HILL as the

MOst tRAdItIOnAL and MOst InnOVAtIVe

school in the country.” Headmaster Zachary g. lehman

We will: address the affordability

of a Hill School education with

the aim of increasing financial aid

and addressing financial need to

achieve a long-term objective of

attracting and enrolling the most

qualified students from around the

world. Furthermore, we will attract

these students by providing the

programs, facilities, resources, and

overall experience they should

expect from our close, diverse

living and learning community.

For our StuDentS...

We will:

� Meet vigorous goals set to ensure an exceptional student body:

• Raise $50 million to increase our financial aid endowment so that Hill offers the most financial aid dollars per student among our peer schools.

• Further expand our geographic social-

economic, and racial diversity.

� Engage all students – boarding and day — in a community that promotes the values embodied in our motto of “Whatsoever things are true”:

• Develop a residential life curriculum that enhances interactions between students and their teachers, dormitory parents, advisers, and coaches; and

• Promote health and wellness in all aspects of campus life.

For our StuDentS...

Hill graduates will demonstrate reSilience and flexibility

attained through rigorouS StuDy, Self-reflection, and

cHaracter-builDing experiences.

� Encourage our students to pursue excellence in both their academic pursuits and their co-curricular endeavors and passions:

• Ensure visibility and recognition of our students for their achievements – in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the arts, in community service, and in other commitments; and

• Continue to evaluate and redefine our athletics offerings, specialization

opportunities, and requirements.

� Ensure that our students thrive in dormitory facilities befitting The Hill’s high standards:

• Annually assess dormitory rooms and common areas and make prioritized improvements.

For our StuDentS...

For our StuDentS... � Empower our students to take responsibility for their college search process and make insightful decisions about their life after The Hill:

• Maintain data and metrics that will help inform the process for our students; and

• Achieve and maintain ambitious acceptance rates for top colleges and universities while working one-on-one with students to identify institutions where they will experience the greatest challenge and success.

For our eDucational PrograM...We will undertake a wise, enlightened examination of our educational program and create a curriculum that uses best current pedagogical practices, thus establishing the Hill as a leader in 21st century education.

We will:

� Graduate confident students who possess:

• A comprehensive liberal arts background;

• The ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and express themselves creatively; and

• Resilience and flexibility attained through rigorous study, self-reflection, and character-building experiences.

� Conduct a mission-driven restructuring of our educational program:

• Highlight and spark creativity and character development;

• Reaffirm and strengthen Hill’s emphasis on the fundamental core curricular skills of critical reading, writing, oral communication, quantitative analysis, information management and research skills, and ethical reflection;

• Review all aspects of our calendar and daily schedule, including athletics, campus life, and off-campus activities;

• Integrate appropriate technology in all aspects of our educational program;

• Facilitate opportunities for service-learning in our extended community of Pottstown and beyond; and

• Review graduation requirements.

For our eDucational PrograM...

The Hill School

will be a

destination place

of employment

for a diverse

group of women

and men who

are PaSSionate

about teacHing

and inSPiring

equally

MotivateD

young WoMen

anD Men.

For our faculty...

We will demonstrate our commitment to recruiting, retaining, and enhancing the professional and personal lives of our faculty and their families. We will:

� Increase faculty salaries to within the top quartile of ABOPS median teaching faculty salaries by 2017 and regularly review all benefits programs;

� Meet the need for first-class faculty housing by:

• Completing the renovation of all faculty housing units by September 2017, and

• Completing an additional eight units by August 2017

• We have completied eight initial units of the East Campus Faculty Village (2014).

� We have implemented a comprehensive faculty development program (2014)

� We have appointed a Director of Human Resources (2014)

For our caMPuS...We will enhance our world-class campus by creating a premier facility and curriculum supporting

innovate, interdisciplinary, and project-based learning approaches in science, technology, mathmatics,

engineering and design; renovating new classrooms for humanities subjects; expanding our athletics

facilities; and infusing our facilities with cutting-edge technology.

We will:

� Create premier facilities for the interdisciplinary study of Science, Technology, Engineering, Aesthetics and Design, and Mathematics;

� Renovate facilities for classes in classics, history, philosophy, and religious studies;

� Renovate the Widener Arts and Crafts building to fully accommodate the visual arts;

� Refurbish and expand the Dining Room and kitchen and pantry facilities;

� Remove the old outdoor hockey rink to expand and enhance our campus green space; and

� Enhance our Fitness Center and the entrance to the athletics complex.

� With all construction, we will pursue the best green building practices in

construction and renovation.

We have:

� Achieved a 100 % wireless campus

� Constructed two artificial turf fields, a championship track-and-field facility, and

a new soccer pitch

For our toWn...

We will seek to invest in and partner with Pottstown to pursue mutually beneficial ends in the arts, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and the environment.

We will:

� Place The Hill at the forefront of revitalization of the Pottstown community, particularly in our immediate neighborhood:

• Working with other anchor community organizations to achieve common goals, including added safety measures such as lighting and beautification;

• Encouraging local commerce and business development;

• Supporting Pottstown’s cultural initiatives by sharing Hill talent and facilities as well as attending downtown events; and

• Facilitating community volunteerism and service learning among our students and

faculty.

For our toWn...

For our future...We will undertake a multi-year

comprehensive campaign, fundraising with

passion and focus to achieve this Plan’s

strategic objectives and secure the future

of our School. We will:

� Conduct a campaign feasibility study and report those recommendations by June 2014;

� Address campaign, The Hill Fund, and Alumni Relations staffing needs; and

� Grow The Hill Fund to a sustained level of $4 million and 12% to 15% of the 2017-18 operating budget, with:

• 100% Board participation (30% of The Hill Fund goal),

• 35% alumni participation,

• 75% parent participation, and

• 100% faculty participation.

The Hill School depends upon the involvement, input, and support of our alumni, parents, and friends. We thank you for your interest in the Strategic Plan and we encourage you to share your questions and comments about our initiatives as well as other aspects of the School with Headmaster Zack Lehman.

E-mail: Zlehman@thehill.org 610-705-1280

tHank you...