The considerable progress reported in these pages represents only a part of the work of Berklee College of Music over the past five years. There have been many accomplishments at all levels and divisions of the institution: students, student affairs, student activities, faculty, faculty development, chairs and assistant chairs, directors and associate directors, deans, and vice presidents.

Berklee during this time saw the retirement of its long-time second president and executive vice president and the inauguration of a new president, who promises to streamline and continue to enhance and improve the institution’s service to its mission and its constituencies: students, trustees, parents, contributors, friends, faculty and staff. The adaptation of a new mission statement in 2003 summarized and reaffirmed the college’s central purpose:

“The mission of Berklee College of Music is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in music as a career.”

As this progress report concludes, it also marks a new beginning; more accurately, a new continuation of Berklee’s service and mission. The vision statement included at the beginning of the report shows clearly that many of the current initiatives will continue and strengthen, as the four new primary vision statements indicate:

1. The student experience is rich and multi-dimensional and gives students the skills and competencies they need to succeed in careers in music and in life.
2. The scale of the college is determined by our ability to attract students who can benefit from the Berklee experience, and our capacity to support them with quality facilities and infrastructure.
3. The innovative ideas on which the college was founded are applied to the new circumstances of the 21st century.
4. The college is an inspirational place to learn, teach, and work.

That these visionary elements will flow from those already begun is clearly seen, and eagerly anticipated.