This was a wonderful way to collect a broad spectrum of perspectives and gain good ideas from many who care most about Belhaven.  These outcomes will be shared with the Board of Trustees.

It is our desire from the Board to find God’s clear leading and voice in this decision, and gaining insights from God’s people has been an important part of this process.

Thanks to all of you who participated. Not only did you respond to the questions, but over 500 of you left comments, and I’ve read every one of them.

Here are the significant findings of the survey

The most important finding was an overwhelming number assuming there are official criteria that qualifies a school to be a university rather than a college.  Those who said they were surprised there is not a criteria – Students 85%, Alumni 73%, All Employees 69%, Only Faculty 67%.

When asked if the name “college” or “university” would make a difference in which schools  they  were willing to consider, they responded that University made a difference among 38% of students and 52% of alumni.

When asked which name on the diploma they believe would help most in a job search, University was the preferred choice among Students 70%, Alumni 52%, All Employees 74%, Only Faculty 82%; and College was the choice for only a handful – Students 3%, Alumni 3%, All Employees 1%, Only Faculty 2%.

When asked if changing the name to University would be overall positive or negative, only a small minority said it would be negative – Students 5%, Alumni 11%, All Employees 3%, Only Faculty 3%

When asked, “If you alone made the decision, which would it be?” they responded for “college” – Students 12%, Alumni 26%, All Employees 14%, Only Faculty 10%.

 

 

 

When asked, “If the change is made, when would you prefer it happen?” those who responded immediately or January – Students 77%, All Employees 64%, Only Faculty 66%.

The concept has also raised a number of questions, and I thought it would be helpful to answer a few of those that came  in through the survey comments or emails:

Would renaming Belhaven a University change who we are? No, instead, it would reflect who we have already become.  There would be no change in mission, style, or priorities with a name change because we already operate as a complex multi-level Christ-centered academic institution where our standard is Christ.

Would we become a larger residential campus if we changed to University? Our traditional age student program could grow by only about another 20% or  until we run out of space (we grew about 5% this year.)  We can only house about another 100 students on campus in double rooms, and I don’t see a new residence hall on the near horizon.

Would we become larger overall if we changed to University? I sure hope so!  We would love to have more students in our adult programs on all four campuses, as well as in our graduate programs.  The most significant enrollment increase will come in our new online master degrees which begin in January.

Here is one of the things I love most about what God has given us at Belhaven

Belhaven is unique among nearly every college in the country, in that we are blessed to be able to grow dramatically without it changing at all the spirit and nature of the residential campus.  Because we have multiple campuses, we can have a small campus feel in each of our locations, while still being a large institution overall and enjoying those accompanying benefits and economy of scale.

Would becoming a University raise the tuition? The name won’t have anything to do with tuition.  That is driven by market conditions, financial needs, and overall enrollment.  This past year we had a tuition increase half the rate of a normal year because of the economy – while the majority of schools had increases higher than a normal year.  This year’s fee rate increase will be more back to normal, about 5%, depending on the program and location.

Would class sizes change if we becaome a University? No, the name change won’t change the current class structure.  Again, a name change would only reflect who we’ve already become.  So, if you like the class sizes now, you’d like them with the change of name.  If you want huge classes with 300 in a lecture hall, we can’t help you.

Would hiring standards for faculty and staff change and would they still be required to teach from a Christian worldview? Our mission, worldview focus, Christian commitment, and hiring standards would not change one ounce!  We will never budge on our standards for hiring or anything else.  “Our standard is Christ” will be our driving force even if we were called Belhaven Royal Conservatory (which was a suggestion someone sent me, and I kind of like the sound of it!)

I’m glad for the active dialog and the prayerful thought that has gone into this decision.  The survey will be open through the weekend, and if you’ve not had a chance to fill it out, I’d encourage you to join the 700 people who have already responded.

It started off fast with 75 alumni responding within minutes after it was posted, but now the current student survey has pushed ahead in total number of responses.

As of right now, I’ve had responses from:

269 current students

214 alumni

124 faculty and staff

In addition, I’ve had about a dozen students write me directly.

I have received 271 comments on the surveys, and I’ve read every one of them. They include some very helpful ideas and perspectives.

If you’ve not yet responded, please do so….even if you’ve shared with me your thoughts in some other setting.  It is helpful to have the reaction of all of us tabulated in these surveys.

See the links in yesterday’s blog post the survey.

Has Belhaven College grown in size, influence, and stature that it should be renamed Belhaven University?

This is a decision of the Board of Trustees, but we do not want to go further in the discussion until we gain insights from our current students and alumni.

There are no official criteria distinguishing a college from a university.  But some of the reasons we are considering this change include:

• We serve 2,800 students in four states plus our online program.
  

• We have six master degrees and three more under consideration.
  

• We currently have four schools plus our honors college.
  

• We are considered by many to the leading school in the scholarship of building a Christian worldview into the teaching curriculum.
  

• We have gained national distinction in the arts and in business, as well as national program accreditation for many of our departments.

• There are 77 schools that have changed from college to university in the past six years.
  

• Up to an enrollment of 5,000 students, in the south there are only 4 schools larger Belhaven that still use college and 67 smaller than Belhaven that use university.

• All schools in some states (like Texas) use university.
  

• There are 52 southern and 34 Christian universities that do not offer a doctorate.

• The majority of schools in our athletic conference are university.

• Trade schools (Antonelli, Virginia, and Magnolia) have changed their names to “college.”

• Many community colleges around the country are starting to drop “community” from their name making it confusing for prospective students.
  

• A college is considered a high school in most other countries of the world.

With this background in mind, it would helpful in this decision making process to get your response to the following questions.  Please complete the appropriate survey.

CURRENT STUDENTS click here

ALUMNI click here

Belhaven’s 2009 King Alex Freel and Queen Madison Childs

If you’d like to hear this 8 minute interview click here:  Roger Parrott Interview- Prime Time America, Moody Radio.

I was thrilled that the gracious host, Greg Wheatley,  invited me to begin by sharing about Belhaven, and I was able to give a brief message about the College to that nationwide audience.

I’m pleased to have had opportunities to talk about Belhaven during every radio interview I’ve done about the book.

I couldn’t agree more!

We get so busy doing what we do on campus, it is easy to miss all that is happening around us – and the joy of working and serving at Belhaven.

Dr. Parrott,

My point of view…..Every staff member should get out of their office once a week (at least in my opinion) and experience the sights and sounds of Belhaven College.

This afternoon the sun was shining and the weather was perfect. Standing on top of the hill by the flagpole overlooking the Soccer Bowl the men’s soccer team could be seen and heard practicing while the Cheerleaders were working on their cheer routines in front of Heidelberg gym.

Inside the Auxiliary Gym our Volleyball team was practicing and the Women’s basketball team was practicing in Rugg Arena.

Some students were sitting out on the lawn talking on the phone or talking to friends, and some were sitting at the Pavilion enjoying the fountain.

A peaceful day on campus watching students enjoy their college days at Belhaven College.

Yes all employees should take a waltz around campus… if nothing else to clear their head from schedules, meeting, paperwork, etc. But also to experience the sights and sounds of Belhaven College.

Wow. What a great place to work.

Tomorrow morning from 8:00 to 8:30 I’ll be a guest on the Gallo Show on Supertalk Mississippi. It is heard on a number of AM and FM stations around the state.

It has been a joy to share about the book on regional radio stations over the past two weeks.  And I always get opportunities (especially in the 30 minute interviews) to talk about Belhaven.

The website for the book is www.thelongview.info

Yesterday we wished Mrs. Harmon a 103rd happy birthday.  Larry Mills, Assistant to the President, went to see her yesterday to wish her happy birthday from all of us. She still lives alone at 103 years old. Larry told me he went to see her after Thanksgiving last year and she was up the attic ladder getting out her Christmas decoration.  Oh, to be 102 again!

She grew up in Goodman, Mississippi and graduated from “the W” in 1932 where she studied home economics.

At the request of President Gillespie she joined our faculty in 1952 “to finish out a semester for another professor”  She stayed 30 years, and of course, is a member of our Legacy of Learning Faculty honor roll.

She taught our own Ms. Bettye Quinn at Belhaven.

I know from reliable sources that Mrs. Harmon took most of her paycheck while teaching and put it right back into her classes.  She especially loved the Dr. Ford choirs, and her classes would help make the costumes each year.

Mrs. Harmon says that every morning she reminds herself that “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it.”  That is a great way to live to 103 and make the most of each precious day the Lord gives us on this earth.