Oct. 29, 2024

Dear Colleagues:

This academic year has been filled with many “last first days and events” for me. During my “last fall semester” with you, I am profoundly grateful to have the privilege of working with you to educate and serve our students. May God continue to be glorified in Messiah’s mission for all the years to come!

Now I’d like to share with you an update about the fall board of trustee meeting, enrollment, giving and other related campus news.

Highlights from the October board meeting

On Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, Messiah’s board of trustees held their annual fall meeting—enjoying all of the vivid autumn colors of our particularly beautiful campus at this time of year! Thursday’s general session included an engaging presentation about faculty and student scholarship. Provost Gardner also led the board in a creative thought exercise focused on Messiah University 2044! Board Chair Craig Sider provided an update about the presidential search during the board executive session. Following Thursday afternoon committee meetings, the board, along with donors, alumni and other friends of the university, formally dedicated the new Sawyer Pavilion and Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium. A brief ceremony and ribbon cutting recognized the generosity of the lead donors and supporters for this important addition to Starry Athletic Complex and the much-needed hospitality these facilities now provide to our home and visiting athletes, coaches and guests. 

Friday’s final board session concluded with reports and action items from the board’s various committees, which are summarized below.

From the Committee on Assurance: The board approved the University’s FY24 audited financial statements and approved the 403(b) Benefits Audit 2023.

From the Committee on Education: The board reviewed and approved term tenure renewal for COE members, as presented, based on the recommendation of the Term-Tenure and Promotion Committee, the provost and the president.

From the Committee on Finance:

  • FY24 surplus designation: The University experienced an FY24 year-end operating cash flow surplus of $1,131,000 as a result of savings in operating expenditures. The board approved the entirety of this $1.13 million surplus be retained as institutional surplus/contingency reserves.

  • FY25 financial plan: Trustees approved the University’s FY25 financial plan as presented and as approved previously by campus governance groups.

  • Approval of FY26 tuition, fees, housing and food: Trustees also approved Messiah’s tuition, fees and housing and food rates for FY26 as presented and recently approved by campus governance groups. Per Messiah’s usual practice, the approved FY26 tuition and fee schedule will be publicly announced to students and their families in early 2025.

  • Approval of an adjustment to policies and guidelines for endowment investments: Trustees approved the annual Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) adjustment from 3.08% to 3.36% in the Policies and Guidelines for Endowment Investments as presented by the Committee.

  • Approval of adjustment to joint venture activities policies: Trustees approved various revisions to the Policies for Joint Venture Activities as presented by the Committee.

From the Committee on Governance: The board approved the recommendation to confer Trustee Emeritus Status on Dr. Emerson L. Lesher ’74 following his 20 years of faithful service to the board and to Messiah.

Enrollment snapshot

Overall fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment: While uncertainties related to the delayed FAFSA release of spring 2024 caused some families to postpone enrolling, we are pleased with how the fall 2024 class came together. In addition, we experienced strong retention rates among returning students. The fall snapshot taken on Sept. 10 reports a total undergraduate headcount of 2,218 students which translates to a projected annualized undergraduate FFTE of 2,174 versus our budget goal of 2,183 students (-9). Domestic students of color are at an all-time high of 552 students, accounting for 21.1 percent of the student body, compared to last year’s 20 percent. Below is a look at additional “snapshot day” numbers for our undergraduate enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year.

FY25 undergraduate admissions update 

  • 564 new, first-time students versus goal of 580 (-16) 
  • 78 transfer students versus goal of 75 (+3) 
  • Incoming (new, first-year and transfer combined) undergraduate domestic under- represented and international student diversity:
    • 147 (22.9 percent) domestic under-represented students versus 24.2 percent last year (-1.3 percent)
    • 10 (1.8 percent) international students versus 12 or 1.8 percent last year (-.2 percent)
    • 157 (26 percent) combined domestic under-represented and international students versus 172 or 26 percent last year (-1.5 percent)
  • 331 Dual Enrollment students taking 1,390 credit hours versus last year’s 252 students taking 1,003 credit hour (+79 students and +387 credit hours). 

 Student Retention 

  • Our first-to-second year retention rate landed at 88.6 percent compared to last year’s 85.3 percent. We celebrate this improvement!
  • Our first-to-second year domestic students of color retention rate landed at 83.4 percent compared to last year’s 79 percent.
  • Our fall 2023 transfer cohort retention to 2nd year was 78.3 percent versus 81.5 percent last year. 

Fall 2025 undergraduate recruiting: The undergraduate enrollment team is fully engaged in the fall 2025 admissions cycle. Admissions counselors are traveling to more than 220 college fairs and high school visits. Of course, persuading students to visit campus remains a primary strategy for achieving enrollment goals. The first two fall campus events were successful as we welcomed nearly 200 prospective students and their families. Individual campus visits are tracking well above this time last year. Please help encourage prospective students in your spheres of influence to register for the Nov. 9 Open House or the Nov. 22 Spotlight day. The Nov. 15 free application deadline is quickly approaching.

Oct. 22, 2024
  Fall 2025 % to goal Goal Fall 2024 3-year average
First-year Students
Applications 831 35% 2,400 831 791
Acceptances 516 27% 1,900 447 453
Active Deposits 79 14% 580 68 60
 Domestic Students of Color/SURECP (FY)
Applications 166 28% 600 153 158
Acceptances 78 16% 475 56 73
Active Deposits 10 7% 145 9 10
Transfer Students
Applications 17 6% 290 28 26
Acceptances 7 3% 210 11 13
Active Deposits 4 5% 80 3 2

 FY25 graduate enrollment: Graduate enrollment continues to be on target for this academic year. The FY25 budgeted credit hour goal is 15,548. Currently, we have reached 7,283 registered credit hours (47 percent to goal). Comparing where we are this year to where we were last year on Sept. 10: 

  • 191 new students (58 percent to goal) this year compared to 176 (50 percent to goal) last year 
  • 774 unduplicated students (84 percent to goal) this year compared to 751 (82 percent to goal) last year 
  • 7,283 credit hours (47 percent to goal) this year compared to 7,256.5 (47 percent to goal) last year 

Giving update

FY25 giving: Our current fiscal year is approaching the busiest time of the year for charitable giving. For total giving, we are at our highest level in the past 10 years at this point in the academic year. For the Messiah Fund, we are at our second highest level in the last eight years. And, for overall gifts and pledges, we are at our highest level in the past seven years.

 2025 fiscal year as of Oct. 22, 2024:

  • Total giving: $ 2,775,696 (46% of June 30 goal)
  • Messiah Fund/operating: $ 387,287 (39% of June 30 goal)
  • Total giving plus new pledges: $ 4,240,346 (47% of June 30 goal)

Status of current fundraising projects:

  • Warmer Welcome Campaign for Messiah Athletics: We held wonderful celebratory dedication events for Sawyer Pavilion and the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium during board meetings last week. We are so grateful to Campaign Co-Chairs David and Bonnie Millary and Brent and Mindy Smith and all of our donors for the success of Phase 1 of the Campaign. As we seek to raise the remaining dollars necessary to provide improvements to baseball and softball in Phase 2, we are also looking forward to construction next summer of Lenhert Plaza – named in honor of beloved former mail carrier and #1 Falcon Fan, Sam Lenhert ’58 – at the base of the Starry Athletics Complex. The combined cost of phases 1 and 2 is $7.3 million, and we are over $5.4 million, which is 74% of goal.
  • 40-year anniversary of Messiah’s nursing major: During Homecoming, we held a meaningful gathering of current and former nursing faculty, current and former students and administrators, and other supporters to honor 40 years of nursing at Messiah University. As part of the celebration, we officially announced a campaign to upgrade our patient simulators and to purchase a neonatal unit at the Macha Hospital in recognition of the long-standing partnership we have shared. The goal for the campaign is $500,000 with a target of $100,000 being allocated to Macha. To date, we have raised over $187,000 for this significant effort, which is 37% of the goal.
  • Outdoor track: Another effort that is a more recent focus is the need to resurface the outdoor track around Shoemaker Field. We have identified a fundraising goal of $150,000 with the remaining dollars coming from capital improvements funds. To date, we have raised $86,500, which is 58% of the goal. We expect to install the new track next summer.
  • Scholarship endowment: Raising scholarship endowment dollars remains an institutional priority. We are nearing the conclusion of the current $1.5 million endowment challenge, which ends on Dec. 31, 2024. Given the remarkable success of these endowment challenges, we expect to launch Endowment Challenge #11 in 2025!

Other facility project updates

Renovations to Naugle Hall: The first phase of a two-summer renovation plan for Naugle Hall was completed prior to the start of the academic year. Individual residential rooms were renovated to include new windows, flooring, AC/heating units and paint. Next summer the public spaces will be renovated along with an upgrade of the central mechanical systems. Student feedback has been very positive. Planning work for phase two of Naugle is completed, and the contractor has already ordered long lead items for delivery in spring of 2025.

Campus entrance signage: Plans and final pricing have been completed for this project, as part of Messiah’s master campus plan. The University plans to submit a building permit within the next few weeks. Pending that approval, work will begin as soon as our construction partner for this project, Wohlsen Construction, and their sub-contractors can initiate the project. The goal for completion is no later than June 30, 2025. Finally we will have a lovely physical entrance way to proclaim that we are Messiah University!

Good news about Messiah

Here are some of the recent achievements and good news stories of members of the Messiah community. For more details visit messiah.edu/news, Messiah’s official Facebook page and the Bridge magazine (the source sites for many of the below news items).

  • Vice President for Diversity Affairs Todd Allen will be honored by the Interdenominational Ministers Conference of Greater Harrisburg (IMC) with their MLK Education Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant educational achievements in the lives of students and the greater community. “Your work ensuring that our history is taught and experienced by all during your hosted civil rights bus tours has profoundly impacted all who attend, creating a long-term, life-changing experience,” said the IMC. Dr. Allen will receive his award at the IMC’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in January 2025, to “honor community leaders, civil rights activists, and those who embody the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and past civil rights leaders.” 
  • For the third year in a row, Messiah’s 2024 BSN graduates in the department of Nursing have an NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate of 100 percent and are ranked first in the USA for NCLEX-RN pass rates.
  • Messiah University and Shippensburg University are teaming up to offer two pathways into athletic training careers. Students can now complete a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Shippensburg and transition smoothly into Messiah’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program through either an accelerated bachelor’s + 2 MSAT or a traditional 4 + 2 enrollment agreement. Read more.
  • Dwayne Safer, associate professor of finance, was recently cited in U.S. News & World Report. In the article, ‘Fed Rate Cut: Winners and Losers,” Dr. Safer discusses how a rate reduction can ease the burden of credit card debt for consumers while potentially challenging banks with reduced interest income on loans.  Read the full article. 
  • Johns Hopkins University Press recently released a new book by Ted Davis, professor emeritus of the history of science. The book, “Protestant Modernist Pamphlets: Science and Religion in the Scopes Era,” features ten rare pamphlets on science and religion, published during the pivotal years surrounding the famous Scopes trial on teaching evolution.
  • Congratulations to James Colonna, associate professor of music/director of bands, whose first symphony, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” will premiere at Yale University on Nov. 15, performed by the Yale University Concert Band. Dr. Colonna teaches wind ensemble, graduate wind literature and history, and graduate conducting. We look forward to hearing his composition come to life!
  • The Office of Pre-Health Professions Advising is excited to announce a 100% acceptance rate for Messiah’s 2024 medical school applicants! Congratulations to our future doctors: Abigail Casey (biochemistry, ’24); William Jerden (biology, ’24); We Jin (Michael) Lin (biology/biopsychology, ’24); Evelyn Miller (biology, ’23); Ira Miller (chemistry/music, ’21); and Joseph Vidzicki (biochemistry, ’24).

Messiah Athletics highlights

Below are highlights of recent success and accomplishments of Messiah student athletes and the Division of Athletics. For more details, and to view schedules to come out to cheer on the Falcons at future athletic events, visit www.gomessiah.com. 

  • Women’s Soccer is currently #5 in the country with a 12-1-3 record. The Falcons are looking to host another MAC Commonwealth Semifinal and Championship game this year.
  • Men’s Soccer started slow but has found their groove winning six-straight game. The Falcons are undefeated in conference play and look to host a MAC Commonwealth Semifinal game and then the MAC Championship.
  • Field Hockey is currently #16 in the country. The Falcons are 11-4 on the season and have won 10 straight games. With a win on Wednesday, the Falcons will host the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal game and look to host the Championship game as well.
  • Men’s and Women’s Cross Country gears up for the MAC Championships this Saturday, Nov. 2, here at Messiah. Both teams have had successful meets so far this season and look to have a strong race on Saturday to finish high in the MAC.
  • Women’s Volleyball has a 17-7 record with a 5-0 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons travel to Eastern on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for battle to see who will have home court advantage in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs.
  • Men’s and Women’s Tennis competed in their Fall season. Women’s Tennis’ fall season was highlighted by a 5-2 win over Kutztown University.
  • Men’s and Women’s Swim opened the season on Oct. 12. The men’s team is currently 2-2 with wins over Hood College and King’s College. The Women’s team swept the opening conference triple-dual against Widener, Hood and King’s College.

In closing

 In closing, I invite you to pray for the Phipps family as we continue to transition to our next (post-retirement) phase of life, which will be centered in Lancaster, Pa. Kelly and I look forward to meaningful volunteering and service to the church. Our daughter, Brooke, is now an assistant professor of communication, film and media studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. We anticipate visiting her more frequently after we retire!

At a retreat with members of President’s Cabinet earlier this fall, I offered a prayer that has meant a great deal to me during my 40 years of service to Christian higher education. I offer this prayer on your behalf with gratitude for all the ways you lead and serve the Messiah community.

The Romero Prayer

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

 Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

 No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

 We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

 We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

 We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

 We are prophets of a future not our own.

With sincere gratitude and love for the privilege of planting seeds together in the lives of our students,

 Kim S. Phipps, president