The “budget cuts” of last year changed programs within Saint Anselm College and forced many clubs, organizations, and faculty to rethink and reorganize how they conducted planning. Another reminder of the changes made by the budget change is the removal of Hilltop Academy. Correlated to this program being removed is the changing of Anselm 360. Although different circumstances changed these programs, they both serve as a reminder of the morphing face of Saint Anselm College. 

Starting with Hilltop Academy, the program served as an orientation process for students to join campus life early, very similar to the current Transitions program. 

Duke Addy, a sophomore psychology major, was among the last-year of students who attended Hilltop Academy. When asked about whether there was an indication of the program closing, Addy responded, “when we were in it? No, not at that time… we only found out after the fact once it was clear that they were making some major changes…by that point, I’d already started the school year.”

Dean Horton, Dean of First-year students, explained, “the college had several pre-orientation programs and wanted to ensure they were not competing for resources and that student needs were being met in the most efficient and effective manner possible.”

Israel Small, a Junior History major, was a student in the program his freshman year, and student-leader at Hilltop Academy in the same year as Addy. He stated, “there was a general concern that there were lots of eyes on the program, especially from higher-ups.”

Small continued his point regarding the student side of Hilltop. For the students, Hilltop was extremely effective. Both Addy and Small agreed that students who were in Hilltop Academy benefitted not only socially, but also academically. 

Small continued, saying, “Hilltop Academy has birthed a lot of student leaders…it was integral to the health of the campus socially…I guess you could say, a yarn has been pulled away from the fabric of Saint A’s.”

Addy added to this point by including, “Hilltop Academy accepted everyone, of course, but there was a major focus on first-generation students and students of color, and we don’t really have a program like that anymore…the backbone that that community provided isn’t there anymore”

Dean Horton, stated, “the longstanding success of the Transitions Program is something that all on campus recognized and appreciated. The college looked at ways to serve more students by combining resources from other programs and extending and improving elements of Transitions. As a result, unfortunately this meant that Hilltop Academy was discontinued, however, the program’s key elements in terms of providing support, connection, and resources for our incoming students remain in place via collaborative efforts with TRIO and Transitions. I have such profound respect and gratitude for the great work of Wayne, Siri Dabbi, Chris Lee, and Carly for the excellent work they are doing with our new students!” 

Instead of being completely dismantled, Anselm 360 changed how it operates. It must first be understood that Anselm 360 is funded by a donor, not by the college or administration. However, similar decisions were made in changes made to Anselm 360.

The donor of Anselm 360 is Dr. Ray Lorian, Alumnus of Saint A’s. The project began as an opportunity for students to go on a retreat. According to Father Francis O.S.B., Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Anselm 360 “evolved” into a 24 hour program, over the last five years.

“At the end of the Anselm 360 program last summer, we looked at the amount of money that we had left from our ‘gift’ from Dr. Lorian, we looked at our resources as a department, and we consulted our advancement office,” said Father Francis.

The advancement office helps administer funded gifts to the college. Campus Ministry determined the best use of their resources from a financial and logical perspective.

Father Francis reflected on the summer programs, saying, “there are a lot of things going on for freshmen in the summer already…we wanted to switch the retreat, for first-year students, sometime in the month of september.”

When he was a freshman at Saint A’s, Father Francis explained a program similar to the new Anselm 360 called, “The Freshman Escape,” which was specifically designed to be a short retreat for first-years. 

Father Francis continued by saying, “we’ve combined major elements of the original Anselm 360 and a few pieces of the Freshman Escape.”

The retreat took place Sept. 21 into the 22 at the Saint Methodius Center in Contoocook, New Hampshire.