Note: This issue of Campus Update includes news that CIC member institutions reported from late winter through early spring 2022.
Celebrating Achievements
The U.S. Department of State recently announced the U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most U.S. Fulbright Students and Scholars for the 2021–2022 academic year. The State Department recognizes institutions in each Carnegie Classification that had the highest numbers of their students (college graduates, graduate students, and early-career professionals) and scholars (faculty members and administrators, researchers, independent scholars, and professionals) receive Fulbright grants. The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the top-producing institutions in this international educational exchange program each year. In response to COVID-19 program adaptations restricting international travel, this year’s data reflect the number of awards offered rather than the number of awards accepted. Fifteen CIC member institutions were highlighted in the students category: Augsburg University (MN), Connecticut College, Franklin & Marshall College (PA), Grinnell College (IA), Haverford College (PA), Kalamazoo College (MI), Middlebury College (VT), Oberlin College (OH), Pitzer College (CA), Rollins College (FL), Scripps College (CA), St. Edward’s University (TX), University of Puget Sound (WA), University of Richmond (VA), and Washington and Lee University (VA). Six CIC member institutions were featured in the scholars category: Allegheny College (PA), Bucknell University (PA), Gettysburg College (PA), Middlebury College (VT), Millikin University (IL), and Rhodes College (TN). Middlebury was one of very few institutions recognized as top in both categories.
In March, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education published the list of 2022 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs. This national recognition—commissioned by the American College Personnel Association and Diverse—celebrates student affairs workplaces that are vibrant; diverse; supportive; and committed to staff work-life balance, professional development, and inclusive excellence. Of the 16 institutions listed, four are CIC members: Elon University (NC), Fontbonne University (MO), Holy Names University (CA), and Rider University (NJ).
The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Suder Foundation, announced the 2022–2023 cohort of First-gen Forward Institutions in March. This designation recognizes campuses that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes for first-generation college students. Of the 53 institutions in the new cohort, 11 are CIC member institutions: Catawba College (NC), Drake University (IA), Emerson College (MA), King’s College (PA), Loyola University Maryland, Marymount Manhattan College (NY), Moravian University (PA), Saint Anselm College (NH), University of Scranton (PA), Westmont College (CA), and Wofford College (SC).
The Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE), an organization of private colleges and universities that share a commitment to excellence in residential undergraduate education and affordability through generous financial aid programs, has admitted four new members. Haverford College (PA), as well as Emory University, Macalester College, and Vassar College, will formally join the other 35 member institutions on July 1, 2022, as part of COFHE’s first expansion since 2015. (CIC member institutions Middlebury College (VT), Oberlin College (OH), Swarthmore College (PA), and Trinity College (CT) are also COFHE members.)
Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to advancing the public purposes of higher education, announced the 2022 recipients of the Campus Compact Impact Awards. Dominican University of California was one of two institutions to receive the Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation. Dominican was recognized for taking comprehensive and sustainable action, over the past decade, to embed community in its curriculum and programs.
This spring, Elon University (NC) was one of three institutions to receive the Council on Undergraduate Research’s (CUR) 2021 Campus-wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments (AURA). Elon was recognized for building a sustainable model that expands participation and diversity in undergraduate research conducted outside of classes. This spring, CUR also selected George Shields, professor of chemistry at Furman University (SC), as the 2022 CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awarded Guggenheim Fellowships to a group of 180 writers, scholars, artists, and scientists—out of 2,500 applicants—in April. The 2022 fellows are drawn from 51 scholarly disciplines and artistic fields and 81 academic institutions across the United States and Canada. Nine current faculty members of CIC member institutions were named fellows: Peter Filkins of Bard College at Simon’s Rock (MA) in biology; Silvana Cardell of Georgian Court University (NJ) in choreography; Dinaw Mengestu of Bard College (NY) and Lysley Tenorio of Saint Mary’s College of California in fiction; Kathryn Ramey of Emerson College (MA) and Ioana Maria Uricaru of Middlebury College (VT) in film-video; Jerald Walker of Emerson College in general nonfiction; Rebecca Soderholm of Drew University (NJ) in photography; and Jyoti Puri of Simmons University (MA) in sociology.
In April, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation named 58 students—from among 705 candidates at 275 U.S. colleges and universities—as 2022 Truman Scholars. Nine are from CIC member institutions: Fatimata Cham of Lafayette College (PA), Robyn Griffitts-Harper of the College of Idaho, Owen Mortner of Swarthmore College (PA), Veronica Penales of Baylor University (TX), Maddi Schink of Colorado College, Cooper Smith of Wabash College (IN), Loyal Terry of Grinnell College (IA), Lorena Bonet Velazquez of Centre College (KY), and Sydney Walker of College of Saint Benedict (MN).
Of ten students selected to receive a John & Daria Barry Scholarship (Barry Scholarship) in 2022, three are from CIC member institutions. A Canterbury Institute initiative that is funded by the John and Daria Barry Foundation, the scholarship provides full funding for at least two years of study at the University of Oxford. Grace Aquilina, who graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University (PA), will pursue an MPhil in history of science, medicine, and technology at Magdalen College. Lexy Gillette, who graduated summa cum laude from Westmont College (CA), will pursue a DPhil in inorganic chemistry at Worcester College. And Nicholas West, who graduated summa cum laude from Hillsdale College (MI) will pursue an MS in mathematical modelling and scientific computing at Oxford.
Special Initiatives
This fall, Augsburg University (MN) will launch the American Indian Recognition Full Tuition Program to support and promote the importance of American Indian students on campus. Augsburg’s full-tuition program does not limit eligibility to American Indian students who live in the state. The program defines “American Indian” as an enrolled member of any federally recognized American Indian tribe, Alaskan Native Village, or Canadian First Nation, or the child or grandchild of an enrolled or tribally verified member.
In celebration of Hartwick College’s (NY) 225th anniversary, Hartwick began a yearlong service drive, “One Wick Worldwide.” The initiative challenges all members of the global Hartwick community to register and complete at least ten acts of kindness in 2022, and to share a photo and description of their acts.
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) celebrated the 100th episode of its Learning for Life @ Gustavus podcast in March. The podcast, hosted by Greg Kaster, James and Patricia McPherson Endowed Professor of American History, was launched in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been streamed in 43 countries and 45 states. Episodes have explored topics such as the college’s response to the pandemic; racial justice issues in the wake of George Floyd’s murder; and faculty, student, and alumni accomplishments.
Creating Partnerships
Loma Linda University’s School of Nursing (CA) and McKendree University’s Division of Nursing (IL) are two of ten programs in the nation to receive grants to participate in a new American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) campaign. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new AACN initiative, “Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence among Nurses and in Communities,” will build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines by tackling health misinformation. McKendree will partner with the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, the Southern Illinois Public Health Consortium, and four community colleges to focus messaging on rural areas. Loma Linda students will partner with two art professors at California State University, San Bernardino, to use art to bring information to specific communities.
Bethany Lutheran College (MN) and Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) in Mankato, Minnesota, recently announced a partnership in which MCHS will support the new Bethany Activity and Wellness Center. The center will consist of two facilities under one roof—a 68,000-square-foot activity center and a 16,000-square-foot wellness center with exercise rooms, locker facilities, and gathering spaces. Bethany will recognize MCHS with signage that represents the partnership, and Mayo Clinic employees will have access to the building for certain wellness activities.
Under a March agreement, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSU Health New Orleans) will begin reviewing applications recommended by Xavier University of Louisiana for early acceptance into medical school. Upon conditional acceptance, eligible Xavier residents who commit to the medical school will receive a conditional full four-year scholarship.
In a collaboration with Apple, Allen University (SC) will soon transition to a fully Apple campus. Faculty, staff, and administrators began receiving iMacs or iPad Airs in summer 2021, and all students in good standing will receive MacBook Airs with Apple’s M1 chip this spring. The transition is intended to eliminate equity gaps among students and support workforce preparedness.
Champlain College (VT) is partnering with education technology company InSpace Proximity, Inc. to expand use of the video collaboration platform InSpace in the college’s online learning division. Champlain College Online (CCO) has been using the platform since fall 2020 for faculty and student communication, peer collaboration, and networking, and now plans to roll it out across all asynchronous courses. Once complete, the full virtual campus will allow online students to experience all aspects of the Burlington, Vermont, campus.
A new collaboration will enable students to earn a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College (IN) and a master’s degree from Notre Dame University in five years or less. Beginning this fall, Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business will offer eligible Saint Mary’s students guaranteed advance admission into four accelerated programs: a master degree in nonprofit administration and master of science degrees in management, finance, and accountancy.
In March, Culver-Stockton College (MO) and William Woods University (MO) announced a partnership that will allow students to complete both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in athletic training in as few as five years. Starting this fall, students can begin their degree with undergraduate coursework at William Woods for the first three years and transition to Culver-Stockton to complete two years of graduate study. This streamlined application process reduces the cost for students.
In March, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) agreed to use California Lutheran University’s Thousand Oaks campus as its training base for the next two years. ACFC is one of the first majority female-founded, -owned, and -managed professional soccer teams. The team’s founders include actress and activist Natalie Portman; technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman; media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman; and venture capitalist, Seven Seven Six founder, and former executive chair of Reddit Alexis Ohanian. ACFC will support the renovation of the university’s North Field, where it will practice, laying the foundation for the site of a future track after the club departs. ACFC also will provide Cal Lutheran students with internships.
TRONUS, the sneaker company owned by star female pro football player and influencer Santia Deck, has selected Benedict College (SC) as the inaugural partner in an HBCU internship program. Several Benedict students started internships with TRONUS in January, and more students are being placed on an ongoing basis. During February, TRONUS donated 20 percent of the proceeds from purchases of the Motherlands, limited edition African-inspired sneakers, to Benedict College as part of the company’s “Prideful Journey” campaign.
Ralph Lauren recently expanded its partnership with Morehouse College (GA) and Spelman College (GA), unveiling a limited-edition fashion collection in March inspired by the colleges’ rich heritage. The Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection honors the history of both institutions and celebrates the nature of life at HBCUs. Conceptualized and designed by Morehouse and Spelman alumni at Ralph Lauren, the collection marks the first time the brand has produced a campaign with an all-Black cast including its photographer, creative directors, cinematographer, and talent. (The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation pledged $2 million to support scholarships for students at Morehouse, Spelman, and other HBCUs in December 2021.)
In partnership with Getty Family and Stand Together, the new Getty Images Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs Program has committed $500,000 to help institutions digitize HBCU photographic archives for the benefit of students, professors, and the public. Claflin University (SC) is among the four inaugural recipient institutions. Getty Images will partner with photo archivists at each institution to make more than 100,000 archival and contemporary photos accessible and available for licensing in the new HBCU Collection on www.gettyimages.com. Revenue generated from the collection will provide each participating university with a new revenue stream.
Rider University (NJ) was recently named to the University Affiliates program of the GRAMMY Museum. The partnership will give students and faculty members in Rider’s Westminster College of the Arts access to the rich archives of the GRAMMY Museum for educational purposes and will create opportunities for guest lectures, professional seminars, and programming. Rider is only the second university in New Jersey and one of 23 institutions worldwide to receive the designation. CIC member institutions Baldwin Wallace University (OH), Monmouth University (NJ), and Pepperdine University (CA) are also affiliates.
Major Gifts, Grants, and Campaign Successes
Augustana College (IL) announced in April a $40 million commitment from alumnus Murry Gerber (’75) to provide financial aid and scholarships to high-achieving first-generation students and high-achieving lower-income students. The largest commitment ever to the college will match gifts dollar-for-dollar in support of endowed financial aid, providing as much as $80 million to Augustana’s endowment. Gerber is a longtime supporter of the college and a member of its board of trustees.
Middlebury College (VT) announced in March a $25 million grant from an anonymous donor that will create the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation. The cross-disciplinary program will support conflict transformation work across five campus units: Middlebury’s undergraduate college, the Bread Loaf School of English, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, international programming, and experiential learning.
The Cummings Foundation recently committed $20 million to Roger Williams University (RI) to establish the Cummings Institute for Real Estate within the university’s school of architecture. The gift will fund a multidisciplinary program that integrates legal, financial, and environmental aspects of real estate development with principles of architecture, preservation, and urban and regional planning. The program will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional certificates.
Longtime supporters of the university, Louis and Mary Kay Smith committed $10.7 million to endow the operations of St. Olaf College’s (MN) international and off-campus studies office. Half of the funds will be given over the next five years; the remainder will be provided via their estate. In recognition of the gift, the international and off-campus studies office will be named the Smith Center for Global Engagement.
Tougaloo College (MS) and Brown University announced a $10 million gift from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and documentary film producer Patty Quillin. Split evenly between the institutions, the gift will bolster the Brown-Tougaloo partnership, which was established in 1964 to enrich both campuses through student, faculty, and administrative exchanges.
In March, Kalamazoo College (MI) announced a $5 million gift in support of its Brighter Light Campaign from alumnus Robert J. Kopecky (’72). The gift will establish the Ervin J. and Violet A. Kopecky Endowed Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Kopecky’s parents, and the Robert J. Kopecky ’72 Endowed Study Abroad Fund. It also will support other study abroad funding and scholarships and the Kalamazoo College Fund.
Hampshire College (MA) announced a $5 million commitment from an anonymous donor in honor of alumnus and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns (’71). The gift will help fund the Ken Burns Initiative to Transform Higher Education and advance a new curricular model that organizes undergraduate education around urgent and timely challenges.
This winter, the Mellon Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $16.1 million to 12 liberal arts colleges as part of its Humanities for All Times initiative, which supports new curricula that instruct students in methods of humanities practice while demonstrating the relevance of those methods to broader social justice pursuits. Six of the institutions selected to receive a grant of up to $1.5 million are CIC member institutions: Austin College (TX), Bard College (NY), Colorado College, Kalamazoo College (MI), Knox College (IL), and Morehouse College (GA).
Franklin College (IN) recently announced a $1.8 million gift of real estate from Southpoint Farm, LLC. The approximately 29-acre property, located near the campus, will become a biological field station used for botany and field ecology studies and research. It also will support growth of academic programs in natural sciences and environmental studies.
New Schools, Institutes, and Programs
This fall, Culver-Stockton College (MO) will launch a master of arts in counseling featuring specialty tracks in clinical mental health and in school counseling. The program is designed to prepare students to become professional advocates in the field of mental and behavioral health counseling and child advocacy networks.
Gordon College (MA) is enrolling the first class of students in its new master of public health program. The 18-month program offers two concentrations—epidemiology, and health policy and management—and is the college’s fifth graduate program.
Beginning this fall, Saint Mary’s College (IN) will become the first college or university in the state of Indiana to offer a master of science in nursing program. The direct-entry program is designed to be completed in two years. Upon passing their licensure exams, program graduates will begin their careers with an RN-MSN.
With a multi-million-dollar gift from alumna Ruth Whitaker Holmes (’55) and a grant from the Maryland Department of Commerce E-Nnovation Initiative Fund, Hood College (MD) will establish the Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences. The school will house graduate and undergraduate degree programs—including nutrition, counseling, nursing, social work, and public health.
Cottey College (MO) will add two new baccalaureate majors this fall: BA degrees in history and in theatre. The theatre program will offer tracks in theatre generalist and theatre as an agent of social change.
Caldwell University (NJ) announced several new academic programs in recent months. The university launched bachelor of science degree programs in communication science and disorders; environmental science; business administration and literary studies; business analytics; supply chain management; and exercise science.
Bridgewater College (VA) has launched the Bridgewater Academic and Social Experience (BASE) program, a student-centered initiative offered to students with autism spectrum disorder. Run by the college’s Office of Academic Support and Disability Services, the program helps students apply the skills, strategies, and self-advocacy needed to navigate the demands of college.
New and Recently Renovated Facilities
In April, John Brown University (AR) hosted a grand opening ceremony for the Togami Center for Innovation located in the Soderquist College of Business. The space features movable whiteboards and flexible seating, a focus group room, and several spaces for activities and projects; a maker-space and showcase room for demonstrating products will follow. The center was named for Kai Togami, a longtime JBU professor, and his wife Wendy Soderquist-Togami, the founding director of the Soderquist Leadership Center.
Virginia Wesleyan University’s renovation and expansion of the Brock Commons—which connects the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Center—was completed this spring. The expansion provides a new main entrance to both facilities from the campus quad and provides increased gathering and dining space.
Southern Wesleyan University (SC) recently established the Warriors Courage, Academic Success, Respect, and Empowerment (CARE) Center, through funding received from the U.S. Department of Education’s Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program. The center focuses on addressing veteran students’ academic, financial, physical, and social needs.
Husson University (ME) celebrated the official opening of its esports facility this winter with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a demonstration of the facility’s capabilities, and a brief esports competition. The university invested $170,000 to renovate a room in the Darling Learning Center and purchase the necessary equipment for the facility. Husson has joined two conferences that offer intercollegiate esports competition—the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference and College League of Legends—and has seven teams.
Campus Name Changes
Utica College officially changed its name to Utica University (NY) on February 17. Utica offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral programs in physical and occupational therapy; MBA programs in general management, economic crime and fraud management, and professional accountancy; and master’s programs in health administration, nursing, and education. It operates two academic extension sites in New York State, two in Florida—and began developing a third site in Florida this winter.