(The President's Letter, July 2012)
As the excitement from Bethany’s 172nd
Commencement recedes into memory, we are busily planning to welcome the Class
of 2016 in late August. For the moment, at the July mid-point of our summer as we
close one fiscal year and officially start a new one, Bethany looks forward to
a new academic year in which we continue to position the College to meet the
needs of a highly competitive and volatile marketplace.
The College’s strategic plan for sustainable
growth continues to undergird all our endeavors, driving program initiatives.
Our recent agreement with Carnegie Mellon University for six dual degrees
offering accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs is a strong example of our
growth potential. Another is our new Master of Arts in Teaching degree program.
At Commencement on May 12, we awarded the first seven degrees in this
program, the first accredited graduate degree in the history of the College.
Finally, this summer, 33 students are enrolled in our first online academic
session. Bethany students are allowed to take 12 hours of online classes from
the College during their four years here.
As we reflect on the new academic year ahead, we
note other significant recent developments:
- The incoming Class of
2016 is among the strongest in history. Our enrollment team continues to
expand its recruiting beyond our Tri-State region into New England, the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.
- Nine incoming freshmen have
been awarded the prestigious Bethany College Kalon Leadership Scholarship.
Dating back to 1984, this competitive scholarship program determines
awards based on eligible incoming students’ past leadership achievements,
school record, submission of a required essay and an interview with the
selection committee.
- Bethany’s capital
campaign “Transformation Now!” has reached the $42 million mark in gifts
and pledges. The campaign benefits operations, capital improvements and
the endowment. Our endowment, while the largest of any private institution
in the state, lags behind the national average of $496 million for the top
50 national liberal arts colleges. We seek additional partnerships,
auxiliary enterprises and gifts to close the gap while ensuring that a
Bethany College education retains its accessibility, affordability and
value.
- Alumni continue to give
back to their alma mater, mentoring young alumni and current students. It
was especially gratifying to welcome several back to campus this spring,
including Chad Barnett ‘96, Headmaster of the Linsly School, who was
keynote speaker at the Kalon Scholar Service Leaders Leadership Academy;
Emmy Award-winning producer Jhamal K. Robinson, ’98, Head of Production,
Third Party, Yahoo! Studios, who keynoted the 28th annual Kalon
Scholarship Luncheon in March; and Susan Lister ’89, former Assistant
Commissioner of The Big Ten Conference and senior specialist in global
communications for Whirlpool, who was guest speaker at the 65th annual
Darline Nicholson Spring Breakfast honoring Bethany senior women.
Formal research has shown that the strength of our alumni network and
enduring, close faculty-student relationships represent a significant
marketing advantage that Bethany can leverage in the recruiting process.
- Bethany’s strong
scholar-athlete tradition continues. Our women’s volleyball team, coached
by Courtney Kline, boasted three academic All-Americans and two graduates
with 4.0+ grade point averages, while the team won a record 31 contests
and earned its second consecutive ECAC championship this spring.
- The Bison men’s
basketball team continued a history of success, winning the conference
championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. They were led by
junior Nick Wilcox, PAC Player of the Year.
Although Bethany is doing all of the right things
to remain competitive, it is critical for us to stay on top of the trends that
impact the health of private colleges. In April, I was invited to attend a
conference, the “Lafayette Group,” convened by President Daniel H. Weiss of
Lafayette College who framed the discussion with a detailed opening keynote
address that provided a far-sighted perspective on trends in higher education.
Sixty of America’s most prestigious private liberal arts colleges,
including Bethany, were represented.
Cost, competitiveness and value were dominant
themes of President Weiss’s analysis. We learned that college expenses have
grown at rates in excess of the cost of living, and that educational costs now
make up more than half of median family income. On campuses, the
cost-per-student rate has risen faster than the economy.
We are already seeing some results of shifts in
consumer confidence toward traditional colleges and universities. These include
a proliferation of online education and for-profit providers and growing
discussion about the number of years it takes—and should take—to complete a
four-year undergraduate degree. A June 3, 2012, article in The Washington Post
reminds us of government figures that show a four-year graduation rate of 31
percent for public institutions, 52 percent at private schools. (Bethany’s
average is 4.2 years to complete an undergraduate degree.)
The good news for private colleges, according to
President Weiss and the Lafayette Group conference, is that those institutions
offering a comprehensive, residential learning environment, committed faculty,
strong post-graduate outcomes and the formative educational approach offered
through the liberal arts, with careful financial management and wise
investments in technology, will be sustainable. I would add that sound
strategic planning, understanding of shifting demographics in the higher
education market and a focus on student-centeredness are imperative. Bethany
definitely meets these criteria.
The greatest area of need, of course, is to
ensure that a solid liberal arts education in a comprehensive, residential
setting such as that offered by Bethany remains accessible to all who can
benefit from it. Although the College has kept tuition increases below the level
of many other peer institutions, tuition has nearly doubled in the last
decade. Tuition revenue currently accounts for 54 percent of our
institutional revenue, with income from endowment at 9.6 percent and auxiliary
enterprises at 27.3 percent. We continue to explore new sources of
revenue, including establishing a possible Master of Fine Arts degree;
expanding the current, highly successful Master of Arts in Teaching program,
and enhancing current dual-degree programs such as those we now have with Carnegie
Mellon University.
In my August State of the College remarks to
faculty, staff, volunteer leadership and friends (to be webcast on the Bethany
Broadcasting Network), I will highlight the continued momentum of the College
in enrollment, fundraising, academic and student-life programs, while
discussing opportunities to prepare us to prosper in a changing higher
education landscape with shifting demographics. It’s a tall order for a
small private college, but Bethany—consistent with our 172-year history of
overcoming every challenge—is up to the task.
Enjoy your summer, and be sure to visit if your
travels take you in the direction of A Small College of National
Distinction.
