Major Milestones in the Transition Process

Major Milestones

• October, 2005: The Franklin Pierce Board of Trustees authorizes the due diligence necessary to consider a move to university status. Discussions are held with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission (NHPEC).

• Spring 2006 and Fall 2005: Due diligence is initiated and conducted. Discussion takes place with numerous constituencies. Senior staff teams make campus visits to recent university-status institutions.

• March, 2006: Declarative letter from NHPEC indicates that the College is eligible for university-status upon formal petition.

• June, 2006: College’s Board of Trustees authorizes transition to university-status.

• August, 2006: Transition timeline is finalized. Outside positioning, marketing, and media-relations counsel and internal teams for transition to university-status are identified and in place.

• October 12, 2006: Trustees approve name for the University and approve transition activities/timetable.

• November, 2006: Year of transition to university-status commences.

• May, 2007: Spring Commencement marks the final graduating class of Franklin Pierce College.

• July 1, 2007: New University name becomes official for legal purposes to coincide with the new fiscal year (FY 2008).

• September, 2007: First University class is enrolled.

• October, 2007: Board of Trustees meeting.

• November 12, 2007: Founders’ Day: University community celebrates the formal establishment of the University.

• May, 2008: Spring Commencement marks the first graduating class of the University.