Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in July announced a $10 million gift from a group of anonymous donors to make its online competency-based degree programs available to refugees in the United States and around the world. The gift will support the first large-scale initiative to provide refugees with access to degrees from an accredited American university, with a goal of educating 50,000 people in 20 locations by 2022. In partnership with the Rwandan nonprofit organization Kepler, SNHU piloted the project in the Kiziba refugee camp and graduated an initial cohort of 16 students with associate degrees, all of whom are engaged in internships outside the camp and are working on their bachelor’s degrees.
Loras College (IA) announced in August that it has surpassed the $100 million goal in its Inspiring Lives and Leadership campaign, making it the largest and most successful fundraising effort in the college’s 178-year history. Launched in 2013 as a catalyst for engaging alumni and friends of the college, the campaign’s original goal was $75 million within four years. That goal was increased to $100 million in 2015 when it took just two years to reach that initial number. Nearly half of the college’s alumni base—in total nearly 22,500 individuals—donated to the campaign, including 20 who have each given or pledged $1 million or more.
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) in July received its largest donation ever—a $40 million gift by an alumni couple who wishes to remain anonymous and hopes that Gustavus will be among the elite liberal arts colleges in the nation for years to come. The commitment will raise the profile of the institution by providing scholarship funding to high-achieving incoming students and supporting the renovation and expansion of the Nobel Hall of Science, a $70 million project that will double the size of the college’s laboratory science space.
Wabash College (IN) received an $8.1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support programming for the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion through 2021. Begun in 1996, the Wabash Center is committed to enhancing education in theology and religion in North American theological schools, colleges, and universities. Since its founding, the Wabash Center’s operations have been fully funded by Lilly Endowment with total support of more than $58 million.
Berry College (GA) received a $2 million gift in August to fund the directorship of the expanding Berry Center for Integrity in Leadership. The gift was made by John Edward Sims, a retired Union Pacific executive, in memory of his late parents, Berry alumni Elvin and Fleta Patterson Sims. The new director will work with faculty to infuse coursework related to personal integrity and leadership into every major and develop tools and training for students to practice ethical problem solving.
Southern Vermont College announced in July that it received a $1.35 million pledge from the James H. and Irene M. Hunter Charitable Trust as the lead gift to support the construction of a new Center for Student Success and Wellness. The pledge includes a gift of $1 million and a $350,000 challenge grant to match additional gifts of 50 cents on the dollar up to $700,000.
Citing deep, life-changing experiences at
Bridgewater College (VA) and a long-standing commitment to give back to the community, Rodney Smith, his four sons, and the Smith-Midland Corporation recently donated $1 million toward the expansion and renovation of the college’s library, the John Kenny Forrer Learning Commons. In recognition of the gift, the college will rename the first-floor café in the building the Smith Family Learning Commons Café. Rodney Smith is chair of the board and co-founder of the Smith-Midland Corporation; he has served on the college’s board of trustees since 1980 and was named a life trustee in 2011.
The Saint John’s Pottery at
Saint John’s University (MN) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation to establish the Mary Griggs Burke Fellowship for Japanese Artists and Apprentices. The gift is the single-largest grant to the Saint John’s Pottery in its nearly 40-year history, and is one of the largest ones for visual arts programming in the university’s history. The fellowship creates a new research and study endowment to provide opportunities for artists interested in furthering Japanese visual culture.
This summer,
Elizabethtown College (PA) received a $300,000 humanities grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for its program, Confronting Challenges with Confidence: Humanities for Our World Today. Over the next three years, the grant will support students as they conduct research in global studies and regional history and integrate technology into their humanities courses.
Trine University (IN) opened its new Thunder Ice Arena to the public in September. The 46,200-square-foot complex includes 700 seats around the ice rink, standing room for another 500 fans—and a total capacity of 1,500, including the lobby area. The arena was built at a cost of $8.5 million. (Photo courtesy of Trine University)
NEW PROGRAMS AND MAJORS
This fall,
St. Bonaventure University (NY) opened a new research center that will study the cognitive impact of students bringing cell phones into the classroom, among other research. A joint effort between the School of Education and the School of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Attention, Learning, and Memory will support faculty development for professors as well as promote research in the areas of attention and learning across departments and schools.
Azusa Pacific University (CA) launched a master of arts in music entrepreneurial studies this fall. The low-residency program is designed for music, communication, business, or marketing graduates and entertainment professionals who wish to succeed in the music industry as independent entrepreneurs.
Randolph College (VA) announced a new master of fine arts program in creative writing that will begin in July 2018. The two-year, low-residency program will include an intensive ten-day residency on the Randolph College campus and a 20-week session to complete original new writing and revise works in progress. Throughout the process, students will work closely with the program’s diverse, award-winning faculty.
Culver-Stockton College (MO) began offering an online master of education degree this fall. The MEd program, approved by the Higher Learning Commission in May, is tailored for practicing teachers in the classroom.
The
University of Dallas (TX) reopened its master of Catholic school leadership program this fall. The redesigned interdisciplinary program responds to the current issues faced by principals, presidents, and administrators at the elementary, secondary, and diocesan levels of Catholic education.
Lewis University (IL) launched a master of social work program this fall. And this summer, the university began accepting applications for its master of science degree in occupational therapy, which will begin in fall 2018.
Calvin College (MI) has expanded its graduate programming to include a master’s degree in accounting—the college’s third graduate program. The nine-month program allows accounting students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting within five years.
Webster University (MO) will begin offering its MS degree in cybersecurity at its Irvine, California, campus later this fall. The program was launched in Colorado Springs in 2014 in cooperation with the U.S. military. Since then, the program has expanded to several Webster University locations in the United States and Europe as demand from military and businesses for the program has increased.
Hood College (MD) now offers an MS degree in cybersecurity. The degree builds on Hood’s existing graduate certificate in cybersecurity and is designed for technical and non-technical students with a bachelor’s degree. The program culminates with a distinctive, team-based capstone project, linked to local industry and government partners.
This fall,
Manchester University (IN) launched a new undergraduate learning community designed to help academically strong students with high financial need pursue careers in a STEM field. Funded with a $646,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, students in the STEM Pathways Academy will take classes together, work with mentors, and explore career paths. In January 2018, Manchester University will add an online master’s degree in pharmacogenomics, building on the success of the university’s pioneering “bricks and mortar” degree.
Bethany College (WV) launched three new majors this fall. An international business major will prepare students to understand the global marketplace, how international factors affect domestic markets, how to expand business abroad, and how to analyze the global business environment. A cybersecurity major will focus on the research and development of software and algorithms for protecting digital assets. And the cybersecurity-information assurance major will focus on developing skills to oversee the security of an organization.
This fall,
Avila University (MO) began a BA degree in health care communication through its School of Visual and Communication Arts. The program will prepare students to design, produce, analyze, and evaluate media products, strategies, procedures, and content delivery for individuals, organizations, and corporations in health-related industries.
Warner Pacific College (OR) launched several new academic majors this fall, including in nursing (RN to BSN program), medical laboratory science, sports medicine, and criminal justice. The college also began offering an MBA bridge program that allows graduates of the MS in management and organizational leadership program to earn an MBA degree in just six months.
Newberry College (SC) has expanded its nursing program to include an RN to BSN degree-completion program that can be completed online. Designed for working RNs who have already earned an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing, the program will allow students to finish the nursing course sequence in as little as 12 months.
To meet the increasing need for Spanish-speaking health care professionals, this fall
Cedarville University (OH) began offering a Spanish for health care personnel minor and a certificate program in medical Spanish. Students who complete the new minor can earn the certificate in medical Spanish by taking an additional elective, completing a clinical experience with Spanish-speaking patients, and completing a final Spanish proficiency exam.
Saint John’s University (MN) reopened its Alcuin Library earlier this year after extensive renovations. The open design provides space for group study, digital media labs, a writing center, and a tech support area. The Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons, adjacent to Alcuin, opened in late August. The Learning Commons features student study areas, “smart” classrooms, a digital technology center, and a café. (Photos courtesy of of Saint John’s University; photo credit: Tommy O’Laughlin)
NEW AND RECENTLY RENOVATED FACILITIES
In August, Rhodes College (TN) held a dedication ceremony for Robertson Hall, its new $34 million, 54,674-square-foot cutting-edge science facility. The ceremony also showcased the renovated Briggs Hall—now the home for computer science studies and a virtual reality lab—and the Bill and Carole Troutt Quadrangle, which has a quadrangle layout similar to Oxford University.
Newman University’s (KS) Bishop Gerber Science Center officially opened in August. The state-of-the-art science building, complete with new laboratories and classroom equipment for various disciplines, was the main focus of the university’s Facing Forward campaign, which also raised funds to renovate existing nursing and allied health lab spaces.
In August, the first Westmont College (CA) students moved into the Global Leadership Center, a 45,000-square-foot facility that features two residence halls and a central leadership building with a large lounge, classroom, seminar room, office spaces, and coffee shop. Through the Strength for Today Campaign, the college raised $34.1 million to build the facility and another $8.7 million to fund leadership programs associated with the center.
Southern Wesleyan University’s (SC) new 67,000-square-foot residence hall provides comfortable single, dual, and triple occupancy suites for 243 students. The building also includes 15,000 square feet of space devoted to amenities such as a large lobby with a bistro and ample gathering space, fitness rooms, a theatre, and a conference room.
Aquinas College (MI) students studying in Ireland will soon have access to a state-of-the-art International Residential Education Center in the village of Tullycross, Ireland, home to the Aquinas Ireland Program for more than 40 years. The center plans were unveiled at a ceremony in Ireland on June 16. The $3.1 million privately funded project, to be completed in fall 2019, will consist of an education hub with a 50-seat auditorium, library, group study rooms, video conferencing facilities, and meeting rooms. The center also will include nine renovated iconic thatched cottages in Tullycross Village that can accommodate up to 40 students and faculty.
DePaul University’s (IL) new Wintrust Arena, home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, opened this fall. The arena anchors a neighborhood redevelopment project and will host year-round concerts, sporting events, meetings and conventions, and family-friendly shows in addition to DePaul basketball games.
CAMPUS EXPANSIONS AND NAME CHANGES
Augsburg College (MN) officially changed its name to
Augsburg University on September 1. Greenville College (IL) officially changed its name to
Greenville University on September 20, 2017.
HAVE A POTENTIAL NEWS ITEM FOR CAMPUS UPDATE?
Please email news items for review to
cic@cic.nche.edu. CIC also is interested in receiving “action” photos for possible inclusion.