Nobel Peace Prize
A Benedictine College (KS) alumnus has been awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari Maathai, a native of Kenya, received the award for her numerous contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Her accomplishments include currently serving as Kenya’s Assistant Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife; and founding the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kenya that focuses on environmental conservation, community development, and capacity building. Maathai was one of the first two women from Africa to graduate from Benedictine College—then Mount St. Scholastica College—and attributes her success partly to the school’s emphasis on service and personal development.

Presidential Election Involvement
CIC institutions actively encouraged student engagement in the 2004 presidential election in myriad ways, from voter registration drives to mock debates to working at the polls. The following is just a sampling of some of these activities. Leading up to the election, Elon University (NC) held a student/faculty debate on key voter issues such as the war on terror, national security, the economy, and same-sex marriage. Flagler College (FL) held a Forum on Government and Public Policy, in which prominent speakers discussed important election issues. The speakers included a USA Today columnist and the Washington bureau chief for Hearst News Service.
     Other institutions—such as Wofford College (SC) and East Texas Baptist University—took steps to increase student voter turnout through holding voter registration drives and providing voter registration materials. Monmouth University (NJ) launched a “Stand Up and Be Counted” campaign, with the aim to register 100 percent of Monmouth students by 2008. Swarthmore College (PA) encouraged voter support and civic engagement by granting paid leave to Swarthmore staff who helped work the polls or assisted people in getting to the polls on November 2.

Celebrating Achievements
Eastern Mennonite University (VA) has been named the winner of a competition among U.S. universities to host the Fulbright Conflict Resolution Program for this year and the next two years. The program is designed to enhance non-governmental efforts to resolve political, social, and sectarian conflicts, and involves 14 Fulbright scholars from the Middle East and North Africa who will come to EMU to pursue a master’s in peace studies.
     For a fifth consecutive year, a St. Bonaventure University (NY) student is one of the seven winners of the national Jim Murray Memorial Foundation journalism scholarship, awarded in memory of the Pulitzer Prize winning Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray. The award went to Kelly Zientek, a journalism/mass communication major from Freedom, New York. St. Bonaventure University is the only school to have a student win the award all five years since the scholarship was established.
     Southwestern College’s (KS) student service organization, Leadership Southwestern, was named Organization of the Year by the Kansas Volunteer Commission, a grant-selecting organization established by the state’s governor in 1992. Award criteria include extraordinary ethic of service and dedication to volunteering. Some of Leadership Southwestern’s recent projects have been an elementary music exploration event for local 3rd-5th graders, a robotics building competition for area high school physics students, and the building of a local park playground.
     Recognition is owed to a long list of CIC member institutions selected for involvement in Project Kaleidoscope’s (PKAL) new leadership initiative, Investing in the Future: Building Institutional Leadership for Natural Science Communities. Project Kaleidoscope is one of the leading advocates in the country for building and sustaining strong undergraduate programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and the new PKAL initiative—funded by the National Science Foundation—is part of a national effort to further that goal. The list of CIC schools selected to participate includes: Augsburg College (MN), Augustana College (IL), Bethel College (KS), Catawba College (NC), Centre College (KY), Hendrix College (AR), Loyola University New Orleans (LA), Marygrove College (MI), McMurray University (TX), Monmouth College (IL), Mount St. Mary’s College (CA), Norwich University (VT), Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN), Southwestern College (KS), St. Lawrence University (NY), Transylvania University (KY), University of Evansville (IN), Villa Julie College (MD), Washington & Jefferson College (PA), and William Jewell College (MO).

Creating Partnerships
Several CIC campuses have enhanced their academic effectiveness by creating new partnerships with other colleges or organizations. The University of the Incarnate Word (TX) has formed a sister school partnership with the Universidad Olmeca in Mexico, a
prestigious regionally ranked institution with strong cultural and international exchange programs. The sister school agreement will allow UIW students to study abroad at Olmeca and expands a list of nearly 90 UIW sister school institutions available for study abroad across the globe.
     At Birmingham-Southern College (AL), the Hess Center for Leadership and Service recently became the 17th partner in the National Campaign for Civic and Political Engagement. Participation in the Campaign—established by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics to increase political engagement by college students—will create increased access for BSC to best practices, shared information, and interactive learning on student leadership theory and commitment to social responsibility.
     Rosemont College’s (PA) School of Continuing Studies has partnered with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to offer accelerated undergraduate and graduate business degrees to CHOP employees at a 15 percent discount. Dominican University (IL) has cooperated with the national Teach for America program to provide corps members the academic education necessary to teach this year in Chicago public schools. Mount Aloysius College (PA) has partnered with Salve Regina University in Rhode Island to offer students expanded study abroad opportunities. And Hastings College (NE) has partnered with an Omaha-based foundation, the Creigh Family Foundation, to create a merit-based scholarship for Hastings College students wishing to pursue graduate study. In addition to a monetary award up to $40,000, the scholarship provides the unique opportunity for each recipient to receive active mentoring from national leaders in business, government, and academia.

Adrian College (MI) recently converted its gymnasium into the Ridge Student Center. The 24-hour facility includes fully-modern architecture while maintaining elements of the former gymnasium. It houses the Career Center, a computer lab, art studios, lounges, a TV/game room, a snack bar, and "skybox" meeting rooms. Photo courtesy of Adrian College

Announcing New Programs
Numerous CIC schools have expanded their academic offerings with new degree programs. Centenary College (NJ) has started its first fully online degree, an MA in learning and technology; Bethel College (IN) has begun an MS in nursing; Mount Mary College (WI) will offer a new MS in community counseling; Chatham College (PA) will launch both an MA and MS in interior architecture; University of Scranton (PA) has added a new major in business administration; Franklin Pierce College (NH) has introduced a new MBA in small business development; Calvin College (MI) has created a new minor in African and African diaspora studies; Rockhurst University (MO) has added a major in bioinformatics; Robert Morris University (PA) will offer several new programs—a PhD in engineering, an MS in information technology project management, and a BS and BA in environmental science; and Stephens College (MO) has added a long list of new majors, including a BS in digital filmmaking, BS in equestrian science, BS in fashion communication, BA in human development, BA in theatre arts, and BFA in theatre management.
     Villa Julie College (MD) has launched a new master’s in forensic studies. The new degree program will include tracks in accounting, law, and information technology, and will require a core set of courses such as criminology and legal research/writing.
Moving beyond academics, LaGrange College (GA) plans to add a new program that will have college sports fans cheering. Starting in fall 2006, LaGrange will begin NCAA Division III football. The new football program will make LaGrange the only school in Georgia to offer football on the NCAA Division III level.

Campaign Completions
Several CIC schools have recently completed successful fundraising campaigns. King College (TN) raised $50 million in its Building Meaningful Lives campaign. The funds will be used to establish three new schools—the School of Business and Economics, the School of Christian Mission, and the School of Education—and to enhance two existing schools—the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Nursing. Funds also will be used for constructing and renovating various campus facilities, increasing student scholarship support, and increasing endowment for faculty and academic programs.
     College of Notre Dame of Maryland completed its five-year Legacy of Leadership campaign. The campaign exceeded an initial goal of $20 million by raising a total of $34 million. Funds will be used for continuing campus renewal, sparking growth in the school’s Annual Fund, and increasing endowments for student scholarships and faculty development.      Mount Mary College (WI) raised more than $28 million in its first-ever comprehensive capital campaign, MINDing the Future. The campaign began in 1999 and closed in June 2004. Funds will be used for constructing various campus facilities, creating the Mount Mary College Leadership Institute, increasing scholarship support and faculty development, and continuing renovation and technology upgrades.
     And Wagner College’s (NY) endowment campaign surpassed its original $12 million goal by raising more than $20 million. This amount more than quadruples the school’s 1999 endowment, which stood at less than $5 million, and will be used to generate long-term support for scholarships, professorships, and other endowment-sponsored offerings.

Announcing Grants and Gifts
Two CIC member institutions—College of Notre Dame of Maryland and Moravian College (PA)—received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to offer Summer Institutes for School Teachers in 2005. College of Notre Dame of Maryland will offer “Catullus and Horace: Poets in a Landscape,” led by Sister Therese Dougherty, and Moravian College will offer “Bach Across the Centuries: An Interdisciplinary View of His Life and Works,” led by Hilde Marga Binford. For more information about the Summer Institutes, visit the NEH website at www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html.
Nine CIC institutions—Antioch College (OH), Columbia College Chicago, Hollins University (VA), Mars Hill College (NC), Morehouse College (GA), Northwestern College (MN), Philadelphia University (PA), Rhodes College (TN), and University of the South (TN)—received 2004 Campus Heritage Grants from the Getty Grant Program. The 2004 Campus Heritage Grants for CIC institutions total over $1.2 million and will be used by these colleges and universities to preserve the integrity of their historic buildings, sites, and landscapes. Getty awarded a total of 25 grants during 2004 as part of its ongoing special initiative for Campus Heritage Grants, the same initiative that funds CIC’s Survey of Historical Architecture and Design.
     Saint John’s University (MN) has received the largest gift in the University’s 146-year history—a $10 million gift from the William and Joyce Sexton family. William Sexton is an alumnus of Saint John’s, and the Sextons have been major donors to the University in the past. The majority of their gift is designated for the Joyce and William Sexton Family Endowed Scholarship; $1 million will go to the School of Theology Seminary for graduate student scholarships, $500,000 to the Abbey Guest House, and $250,000 to the University athletic program.
     Wesley College (DE) will share a five-year, $16.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health with three other Delaware schools—the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technology Community College—to fund campus-based initiatives and programs at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute; Austin College (TX) received $3 million in gifts from Austin College trustees to be used toward the College’s Campaign for the New Era fundraising campaign; Xavier University (OH) received a $2.5 million gift from late alumnus Robert C. Borcer to help support the University’s science departments; Champlain College (VT) received a $2.2 million gift from Robert and Holly Miller to be used toward Champlain’s $12 million capital campaign to build new campus facilities and boost the school’s endowment; Madonna University (MI) received gifts totaling more than $1 million from three donors—the Edward C. and Hazel L. Stephenson Foundation, the Thompson-McCully Foundation, and the Henry M. and Wanda Wojcik estate—to provide student scholarships and financial assistance; Juniata College (PA) received a $415,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create a pilot program for middle school science instruction; and Charleston Southern University (SC) was awarded a $371,249 grant from the National Science Foundation for a program aimed at developing computer science skills in students from rural areas in South Carolina.
     Additionally, Campbellsville University (KY) received a $1 million challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation—the school’s first challenge grant from the Foundation—to be used for the construction of a new student center complex. In order to receive the challenge grant, the institution must secure $6.7 million in gifts before October 2005.

Flagler College's (FL) Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team celebrated another huge success—second place in the SIFE World Cup 2004. As mentioned in the previous issue of the Independent, Flagler's team had advanced to the World Cup after winning the 2004 SIFE USA national title. At the World Cup, the team once again showcased their work on community educational outreach projects, competing against teams from 37 nations to win the second-place title. Photo courtesy of Flagler College.

Opening New Facilities
CIC member institutions continue to build new facilities at a rapid pace. Ohio Northern University opened the James F. Dicke building, which will house the Ohio Northern College of Business. The state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot facility features the latest in classroom technology including “smart boards.” The complex also features breakout rooms and houses a Center for Entrepreneurship, Family Business, and Business Resource Center; contains a 160-foot-long, two-story “Central Business District” lobby; and includes a “Forum” to accommodate formal meetings and events with the latest communication technology.
     Saint Joseph’s College of Maine unveiled its new $10 million academic building, the Harold Alfond Hall. The 50,000-square-foot, four-story building is the first new academic building on campus in nearly 50 years. It contains 32 classrooms, including media, business, computer information systems, and academic computer labs, as well as a new auditorium. All of the classrooms utilize wireless technology and many have built-in DVD and overhead projection technology.
     Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL) opened Gregory Hall, which will house the University’s School of Pharmacy. The $6.8 million structure—built in a contemporary Mediterranean style that matches the rest of the campus—contains three 75-seat lecture halls (combinable to seat 225), three large classrooms, a drug information center, computer lab, research and teaching labs, and various administrative offices.
     Two CIC schools—Buena Vista University (IA) and Converse College (SC)—have built new science centers. Buena Vista University opened the Estelle Siebens Science Center—a $26.2 million, 70,000-square-foot facility that includes 24 offices, 18 laboratories, and seven classrooms. The facility will house classes in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science; many of the laboratory/classroom facilities have windows shared with public areas of the Center—part of a “putting science on display” design philosophy that allows visitors to see science in action. Converse College opened Phifer Science Hall, a $10.6 million, 36,000-square-foot technology-packed building that houses eight major lecture rooms that double as laboratories, smaller research labs and prep rooms, a custom-designed greenhouse, and a fully equipped computer lab.
     Additionally, Doane College (NE) has renovated a historic landmark facility on its campus—the Whitcomb Conservatory and Lee Memorial Chapel. Built in 1906 and closed for the past 30 years, the building reopened in October after a $3.2 million restoration project. The facility boasts such original architecture as articulated piers, Roman pressed brick, and a 200-plus-capacity auditorium seated under a 10-sided pyramidal roof. It will be the new venue for Doane theatre, performance groups, and community functions.

Project Pericles
Six CIC institutions—Berea College (KY), Chatham College (PA), Dillard University (LA), Rhodes College (TN), Wagner College (NY), and Widener University (PA)—have recently joined Project Pericles, a nonprofit organization that works with colleges and universities to promote social and civic engagement among college students. Project Pericles institutions—known as “Pericleans”—adopt a goal of developing centralized programs to foster social and civic involvement in the classroom, on campus, and in the community, and help achieve this goal through formal action and involvement by each institution’s governing board. The list of “Pericleans” already includes nine other CIC members: Allegheny College (PA), Bethune-Cookman College (FL), Elon University (NC), Hampshire College (MA), New England College (NH), Pace University (NY), Pitzer College (CA), Swarthmore College (PA), and Ursinus College (PA).

Hurricane Relief
Several CIC colleges and universities deserve recognition for providing relief efforts during this past hurricane season, one of the worst in recent years. Bethel College (IN) and Clearwater Christian College (FL) sent staff, students, and faculty to help with cleanup tasks and provide food for storm-ravaged cities in Florida; Saint Leo University (FL) donated cash and supplies for hurricane victims; and Barry University (FL) offered to temporarily host medical students from St. George’s University of Grenada who were forced to relocate due to extensive hurricane damage on campus.

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Last updated: December 2004
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