Caldwell College's (NJ) new $8.2 million, 60,000 square foot Student Activities and Recreation Center, estimated to be completed in spring 2002, will meet the recreational and social needs of a growing student population. (Drawing courtesy of Caldwell College)

Tuition Trends
Bethany College (WV) this fall announced it will cut tuition by 42 percent, calling it one of the largest price reductions in U.S. history by a private college. The tuition reduction is intended to help families in the region, who have been hit hard by the loss of coal and steel jobs, be able to afford private higher education. Beginning with the fall 2002 freshman class, Bethany will reduce its tuition—from $20,650 to $12,000—and will phase in the new price structure over the next four years. In announcing the news, Bethany President D. Duane Cummins said, "We are at a level of financial stability and growth where we can institute this tuition reduction, which is unprecedented in size. Students will continue to have access to a quality private education, and Bethany will continue its current period of transformation and growth." He also indicated that Bethany anticipates an increase in freshman enrollment next year because of the lower tuition.
    Other good news on tuition trends comes from The College Board's 2001-2002 student aid and tuition reports released October 23. The annual survey reports that tuition increases at the nation's private colleges and universities remain steady, continuing a five-year trend. The study predicts that a low and stable rate of inflation likely means future changes in college tuition will be fairly steady as well.

Changes on Campus
As the academic year opened, several institutions announced changes of significance, including joint ventures, new leadership, additional programs, and new names.
    CIC member Columbia College Chicago announced this fall it will partner with DePaul and Roosevelt universities in opening the largest student housing facility in the nation operated by multiple institutions. The jointly owned, $130 million, 18-floor dormitory is expected to open by fall 2004; it will house about 1,600 students and staff members, and will include retail outlets and a cafeteria.
    Spring Arbor College (MI) has grown out of its "college" label 128 years after its founding. This fall, now as Spring Arbor University, it introduces two new undergraduate degree programs in youth ministry and nursing.
    Robert Morris College (PA) unveiled its 124-person apartment-style residential complex this fall, and officials there have approved a switch to "university" for January 2002. The institution added a master's degree in engineering management to its 35 undergraduate programs and 11 doctoral and master's programs. The college also announced that its Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management is teaming with Duquesne University's Nonprofit Leadership Institute to introduce Boardnet USA, an innovative, web-based leadership development tool that links existing and future business, community, and government leaders to nonprofit boards.
    Elsewhere, St. Edward's University (TX) starts a bachelor of arts degree in human services; Utica College of Syracuse University (NY) opens three new master's programs in its Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education-childhood education, adolescence education, and adolescence education apprenticeship teacher certification; and Mount Mary College (WI) initiates new majors in international studies and computer science.
    In addition, College of Saint Elizabeth (NJ) restructured its coeducational graduate and adult undergraduate degree programs to form the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies. The college's student population has grown to more than two-thirds of the campus population.
    Eastern College (PA) inaugurated The Institute for Global Engagement, led by Ambassador Robert Seiple, past president of World Vision, Inc. The Institute is an organization created to develop sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide and to inspire and equip emerging leaders with faith-based methodologies of engagement.
    George Fox University (OR) moved into its new $7 million, 40,000 square-foot Edward F. Stevens Center, the largest construction project in school history. The building harbors admissions, registrar, financial aid, student life, residence life, campus ministries, and other offices, as well as a new institutional technology center.
    In other events, Shenandoah University (VA) formally dedicated its Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg; Dickinson College (PA) and the Army War College in Carlisle signed a formal agreement to establish a joint teaching chair in strategic planning; Ohio Dominican College opened an off-site adult education site in Dublin, OH; and Northwestern College (MN) established a branch campus in conjunction with the Christian Center for Communications in Quito, Ecuador.

Foundations Collaborate
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation announced a collaboration that will explore and strengthen new models for liberal education. With $7.5 million of support, they will examine initiatives in the areas that Hewlett has funded for much of the past decade-liberal education, general education, and the support of diversity and pluralism. They will identify and analyze practices and strategies that improve the quality of liberal and general education.
    Hewlett, in partnership with Carnegie, will work over a five-year period with higher education institutions to capture and disseminate more widely the knowledge and successes experienced by the colleges and universities involved in these tasks.

Technology Ideas
Instead of students bringing apples to professors, Saint Leo University (FL) is giving its students and faculty the apples. That is, the technologically oriented campus will provide all of its residential students with an Apple iBook notebook computer. The notebook is a completely wireless and portable computer that can connect to the Internet when used within 300 feet of one of the campus' many AirPort hubs.
    Moravian College (PA) recently unveiled its "online community" service for alumni. It provides a forum for alumni to exchange ideas, keep up-to-date with campus events, post messages and chat with other alumni, as well as network about career and job opportunities. The "community" has an online directory, business yellow pages, permanent e-mail addresses, personal web pages, and many other features.

Campaigns, Gifts, and Grants
Millikin University (IL) in October announced it had surpassed its capital campaign's original goal of $75 million and is well on the way to achieving a new goal of $120 million. The campaign, entitled "Advancing the Vision: Millikin's Second Century" is now set to conclude in 2006, and will fund, among other projects, a new facility to serve the business and technology needs on campus, and a unique new blended student union and theater facility.
    Two CIC institutions, Wilson College (PA) and Merrimack College (MA), completed successful capital campaigns. Merrimack raised more than $40 million from 13,000 donors during its five-year campaign. The total was more than 62 percent above its original goal of $25 million set in 1997. Wilson raised more than $57 million during the campaign it began in 1996 to raise $10 million.
    A number of CIC member campuses have recently received sizable gifts and grants, among them: Greensboro College (NC) captured a $2 million gift that will help the school turn the central YMCA into a multipurpose student life center; The Sage Colleges (NY) announced a $2 million gift from a member of its class of 1965 for current capital projects and endowment; and California Lutheran University received $1 million toward construction of its Spies-Bernemann Education and Technology Center, and $750,000 from the John Stauffer Charitable Trust to endow a professorship in analytical chemistry.
    In addition, Anderson University (IN) attracted a $4.8 million three-year grant designed to improve reading skills of kindergarten to third grade students in Madison County schools; St. Edward's University (TX) will receive $2 million in federal funds over the next five years to increase access and produce graduates in the experimental sciences (psychology, biology, biochemistry, and chemistry); St. Norbert College (WI) will receive $1.8 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Title III funds for three years (to improve the college's ability to conduct assessment about how students learn and how the college can help them learn more effectively); and Saint Martin's College (WA) attracted $1.8 million and Lewis University (IL) gained $1.74 million from the U.S. Department of Education Title III funds for five years to help prepare students for the increasingly complex global and technological society.

New Programs
A new academic program by Allegheny College (PA) turns traditional learning programs "inside-out." The college recently announced the creation of the Allegheny College Outdoor Programs (ACOP), which provides students with opportunities for education and participation in outdoor adventure activities. The program offers group development programs, educational programs and seminars, and a resource library to enhance learning through experiential education.
    A teacher training consortium operated by Alverno College (WI) and Mount Mary College (WI) this year implements a new program designed to improve the quality of education in central city private schools in Milwaukee. The Urban Education Fellows Program is a two-year program consisting of a series of accelerated courses and professional development opportunities for those who already hold bachelor's degrees and would like to teach at the middle school level, but who do not have a teaching license. The program leads to a middle school teaching certificate and a master's degree in education from either institution.

Ideas for Next Summer's Programs
For those looking for ideas to increase activity on their campus next summer, a review of CIC institutions' past summer operations provides a medley of diverse events and activities. All of them involved planning ahead and forming alliances with outside business, government, community, or sports groups.
    More than 700 students helped the Swannanoa Gathering Folk Arts Workshops at Warren Wilson College (NC) celebrate their tenth anniversary. The event marked ten consecutive years of growth for what has become one of North America's premier folk music and dance programs. It offers week-long workshops in a variety of folk traditions including old-time, Celtic, dulcimer, guitar, a vocal program called "Sing, Swing & String," a performance lab, and contemporary folk.
    Marian College (IN) arranged a five-week National Youth Sports Program for youngsters that combined sports with life skills and educational learning. The Lake Erie College (OH) Environmental Science Program provided an interdisciplinary workshop, "EcoTrek: Natural Resources of Lake Country." The workshop targeted elementary and secondary school teachers for five-day traveling adventures that explored area sights such as Mentor Marsh, Stebbins Gulch, Headlands Dunes Nature Preserve, and Gully Brook.
    Juniata College (PA) hosted the Pennsylvania Governor's Institute for Early Childhood Educators. Educators from across the state met in teams to study the relationship of academic standards and assessment in early childhood education. And at Nazareth College (NY), 25 teachers from all over the world attended the institution's first Montessori Teacher Education Program, co-sponsored by Rochester City School District and Association Montessori Internationale.
    Ursinus College (PA) engaged 53 "Summer Fellows"—women students at Ursinus who spent the summer studying and researching topics at the college that were outside their majors. They studied subjects ranging from the writings of John Updike's mother to high performance liquid chromatographics and World Trade Organization environmental policies.
    Walsh University (OH) hosted a "Summit on Education" regarding Catholic education for the principals, pastors, and associate pastors in the Youngstown diocese's 51 elementary and high schools and 118 parishes.

	Students from Rollins College (FL) made a human histogram for a psychology project on campus. (Photo courtesy of Rollins College)
	The Great Oaks Hall study area in the new $14.5 million Roger Milliken Science Center at Wofford College (SC), provides seating for 200 students, each with Internet, voice, and video access in addition to wireless capabilities. "The School of Athens" wall hanging is one of many pieces of artwork throughout the building. (Photo courtesy of Wofford College)

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Last updated: November 26, 2001
Copyright © 2001 The Council of Independent Colleges