The pandemic hurt Swarthmore College’s finances but its capital projects are on track with a new student center, an expanded dining hall, and a $69 million carbon-neutral energy plan, writes Kennedy rose for Philadelphia Business Journal.

Swarthmore finished renovations to the Lang Music Building during the pandemic. It finished Maxine Frank Singer Hall, a science building that will house the biology, engineering, and psychology departments.

The college is planning a renovation of Martin Hall, converting it for computer sciences and film and media studies.

It will be keeping class sizes small.

 “We had been in the process of growing the student body in recent years, but we have decided to put a pause on that,” said Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith.

Smith said the college had to pull $107.4 million out of its $2.1 billion endowments to cover pandemic losses. 

Those included:

• Shrinking student enrollment
• Fewer students on campus
• Increased need for student aid
• A drop in bookings at the college-owned The Inn at Swarthmore.

Overall, revenue dropped from $68.9 million to $47.1 million in the 2020-2021 year.

“Many of our revenue streams diminished dramatically or dried up,” Smith said.

With vaccines in play, Swarthmore hopes to have a full in-person semester in the fall.

Read more at Philadelphia Business Journal about capital projects and other plans at Swarthmore College.

See Swarthmore College from above in this short video tour