Nov. 8, 2017

Dear Colleagues:

The past few weeks have been incredibly positive ones for our campus community. We welcomed the board of trustees for their annual fall meeting on Oct. 18-20, as we celebrated the dedication of the Ralph S. Larsen Finance Lab and the Falcon Fitness Center. Immediately following, our Homecoming celebration brought nearly 4,000 alumni and visitors to campus. The excitement and energy of the day was matched only by the beautiful fall weather! Thank you for the many hours of planning and hard work that went into making these celebrations so memorable. At this point in the fall semester, I’d like to share with you some relevant updates on enrollment, giving, academic program development and other campus happenings.

Summary of October board of trustees meeting

Messiah’s board of trustees held their annual fall meeting on campus Oct. 18-20. During its first general session, the College’s Office of Disability Services, led by Amy Slody, presented an educational session about their work. In addition, the board discussed the potential scope and timing of Messiah’s next capital campaign; and engaged in focus groups (led by campus task force members) to discuss the question of university status for Messiah College. The trustees concluded their business session with reports and action items from the board’s various committees. With the dedication of the new finance lab and fitness center, concluding with the dinner celebration of the successful conclusion of the Campaign for Wellness, it was a very encouraging and optimistic time for our trustees!

Key actions from the board meeting included:

 From the Assurance Committee:

  • The board approved the College’s FY17 audited financial statements and the 403 (b) benefits audit from 2016.

 From the Committee on Education:

  • The board reviewed and approved term tenure status of faculty members as presented based on the recommendation of the Term-Tenure and Promotion Committee, the provost and the president. The provost’s office will communicate these decisions to the campus community via the Intercom.

 From the Committee on Finance:

  • The board approved the following designations for the FY17 operating cash flow surplus of $753,000, as recommended by College governance:
    • $300,000 to fund the replacement of the Anderson Field turf;
    • $453,000 to fund the current retirement incentive option (related to current prioritization initiatives)
    • The board approved a resolution for tax-exempt bond financing for much-needed renovations to Witmer residence hall.
    • The board approved the tuition, fees, and room and board rates for FY19, as previously approved by campus governance.

Enrollment snapshot

Undergraduate enrollment: It has been an action-packed fall for the admissions team. Our October Open Houses attracted “standing room only” crowds with 545 students and their families attending two events. We were excited to debut a new opening session complete with videos and a student/educator panel expounding on our institutional identity line: “Sharpening Intellect. Deepening Christian Faith. Inspiring Action.” November will bring additional prospective students and their families to campus for three Spotlight Days (visit days by academic school) and a College Honors Program event. We appreciate the excellent collaboration of so many individuals and teams that contribute to these successful recruitment events.

Our free application deadline is Nov.15, so we will have a better handle on our position for fall in a couple of weeks. However, early admissions activity is quite strong! The chart below shows where we are to date in applications, acceptances and deposits compared to a prior four-year average:

Oct. 31, 2017
First-year Students Fall 2018 % to goal Goal Previous four-year average to date
Inquiries 35,627 119% 30,000 25,361
Applications 994 38% 2,600 975
Acceptances 510 26% 2,000 498
Active Deposits 69 10% 675 40
Transfer Applications 36 13% 288 31
Acceptances 15 8% 191 10
Active Deposits 2 2% 90 1

 Graduate enrollment: Graduate enrollment is currently at 629, compared to 584 students a year ago (+45). Additionally, we have reached 69 percent of the credit hours budgeted for the current fiscal year, and are on target to meet the overall graduate enrollment goal for FY18. Compared to last year at this time, we have:

  • Six more new students (191 this year versus 185 last year);
  • 45 more unduplicated students (629 this year versus 584 last year);
  • 1,269 more credit hours (6,837 this year versus 5,568 last year).

Doctor of Physical Therapy: In July, the College began publicly marketing and accepting applications for its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree—a post-baccalaureate 110-credit, 3-year program curriculum that will launch its first annual cohort of students in August 2018. Currently, the College has received 48 applications towards its enrollment goal of 36 students, and we will be hosting an open house for prospective DPT students at Winding Hill on Dec. 6.

Approach to challenging conversations

Messiah College is a Christ-centered educational institution dedicated to fostering a positive learning environment. This has recently been reflected in the way that our educator colleagues have been working with student leaders to promote respectful dialogue by sponsoring campus discussions and forums that focus on a wide variety of topics: including immigration, DACA, health care, the history of racism, the “Take a Knee” movement, etc. I have deeply appreciated the thoughtfulness and the civility of educators and students who have demonstrated that even when we share common Christian commitments and values, our perspectives on social, political and cultural issues may sometimes differ. I want to take this opportunity to remind our community that we affirm the rights of individuals to participate in respectful, peaceful, non-violent public expressions. In addition, we also have established protocols for organized public expression on campus that reflect this commitment. I encourage all employees to be helpful mentors in the midst of ongoing challenging conversations during this time of national division and discord. My hope and prayer is that the Messiah College community will truly model a “third way,” rooted in our mission of preparing students for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.

Prioritization

The Educational Area Program Task Force and the Administrative Support Area Task Force have completed their work and recommendations will be reviewed by the Prioritization Steering Committee, followed by President’s Cabinet. We are on track to meet the financial target and decisions will be announced in January 2018. I am deeply grateful to the many campus colleagues who have given significant time and input to this important initiative (see my original prioritization communique for a list of task force and committee members).

Inauguration of Dr. Joseph Jones

I was honored to be invited to speak at the inauguration of former Messiah College dean, Dr. Joseph “Joe” Jones, who was inaugurated on Oct. 27, as Fresno Pacific University’s 13th president. Joe served as Messiah’s inaugural Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences from 2001-2007. Both Joe and Yvette send their warm greetings to the Messiah College community.

Giving update

Fundraising for FY18 continues to progress well; we are blessed by the generosity of our supporters. As noted in my previous update, this year we are tracking both gifts “in the door” (as we always have), plus pledges donors are making to new projects and documented pledges they are making in their estate plans. As of Oct. 30, we have achieved the following toward our FY18 goals:

 Cash Gifts “In the Door”     Messiah Fund / Operating               Cash Gifts and New Pledges
Nov. 1, 2017 Nov. 1, 2017 Nov. 1, 2017
$2,630,916 $ 45,683 $ 7,015,916
44% of June 30, 2018 goal of $6 million 31% of June 30, 2018 goal of $1.5 million 64% of June 30, 2018 goal of $11 million

Facility dedication events: We had the privilege of dedicating three new donor-funded facilities over the past few weeks. On Oct. 11 we dedicated the Charles Frey Commuter Lounge, made possible by gifts from the late Charles Frey as well as the Scott and Gaye Heintzelman Family. This much needed space provides our growing number of commuter students with a secure place to gather, study and refresh between classes. On Oct. 19 we were able to dedicate two new facilities. First, we dedicated the Ralph S. Larsen Finance Lab, which provides students majoring in our new finance major access to the same data and capabilities that financial professionals on Wall Street use on a daily basis. It was particularly meaningful to have Dorothy Larsen and her son, alumnus Garret (’00), on hand for the dedication. Largely because of the generosity of the Larsen family, as well as gifts from other major benefactors, the Ralph S. Larsen Finance Lab has become a reality for our students. Later that same day, we gathered to dedicate the state-of-the-art Falcon Fitness Center and associated indoor athletics facilities, including Sawyer Products Gymnasium and Jordan Court, all made possible by the successfully completed Campaign for Wellness. During the dinner event, Campaign Co-Chairs Rick Jordan and D. Kelly Phipps were thanked for their excellent leadership of the multi-year fundraising process. We are grateful to all donors who participated in the Campaign, including the 144 alumni, parents, and friends who helped support the Alumni Scoreboard hanging above Jordan Court. Messiah College has a strong legacy of donor support and we are thankful for its continuation—a legacy that made possible three major facilities dedications within eight days!

Field hockey resurface: We are nearing completion of fundraising for the resurfacing of Anderson Field to benefit our defending NCAA DIII National Champion Field Hockey team. We have set a fundraising goal of $150,000 for this project with additional funds coming from other revenue streams. Because of a recent generous matching gift of $25,000 to help us successfully reach the fundraising goal, we only have $20,000 remaining. With the dollars raised already, we can move forward with the project. The final $20,000 is to help cover the costs of a new fence that will be installed once the field is complete.

Update on the Oakwood Hills development project

On Oct. 18, the Upper Allen Township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allow Rider Musser Development to proceed with the first phase of the planned residential development. The first hearing was held on Feb. 11, 2015, so we are glad to have finally reached this important point in the life of the project. The timeline calls for construction to begin sometime in spring 2018. The first phase of the Oakwood Hills development will involve a traffic roundabout at the junction of the College entrance and Lisburn Road, a new landscaping face and entrance to Orchard Hill (presidential residence), a road linking Lisburn Road to Mill Road, three apartment buildings, and a community center for the residents of the development.  Please check the RiderMusser.com website to stay updated about the progress of Oakwood Hills.

Good news about Messiah College

Here is a sample of some recent highlights about the success of Messiah College’s programs and people. For more details visit messiah.edu/news, Messiah’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/MessiahCollege and the Bridge magazine www.messiah.edu/the_Bridge (the source sites for many of the below news items).

  • Danielle Chun ’17 won the undergraduate research award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), out of more than 230 submissions nationwide. Her research with Michael Dolislager, assistant professor of economic development, focused on the decision process of institutions in their choice to recover and donate edible food from the dining hall. This research initiative coincided with Messiah starting their own edible food recovery program where already, this year, over 500 have been saved from the land fill and feed residents at Bethesda Mission.
  • Stephen Kuniak, assistant professor of counseling in the Graduate Program in Counseling, was featured earlier this year in the cover story of Counseling Today (The American Counseling Association publication). The article, “Cultured’ Counseling,” focused on video games, comic books, super heroes, sci fi, etc. and the field of counseling. (https://ct.counseling.org/2017/06/cultured-counseling)
  • Abigail Schmuck BSN, RN, CCRN ’14, a current graduate student in Messiah’s MSN program, was one of seven out of 120 applicants to receive the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania Scholarship, a philanthropic organization whose purpose is to create, cultivate and support environments where professional nursing achievements are valued.
  • Eric Rawson, professor of exercise science and chair of the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, was invited to deliver a presentation, serve on an expert panel, and be a member of a writing group with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Medical and Scientific Commission in Lausanne Switzerland earlier this year. This international panel of leading medical and scientific experts gathered to discuss the effects of dietary supplements on the performance and health of athletes, as well as anti-doping issues.  An IOC-endorsed consensus statement will be published by the writing group in the coming months.
  • Alison Noble, associate professor of chemistry, was selected by her alma mater, Westmont College, to be among 80 alumni honored at that institution’s 80th Homecoming Gala whose lives exemplify Westmont’s mission “to cultivate thoughtful scholars, grateful servants, and faithful leaders for global engagement with the academy, church, and world.”
  • Todd Allen, special assistant to the president and provost for diversity affairs and professor of communication, presented a paper, “Civil Rights Tourism as an Act of Remembrance,” at the Memphis Teach-In: The Church and Civil Rights Conference in Memphis, TN, on Sept. 29-30. The conference, sponsored by the Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies, is part of a year-long series of events in remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Congratulations to George Pickens, professor of theology and mission, and Drew G. I., Hart, assistant professor of theology, who were recently honored by Brethren Community Ministries as Peacemakers of the Year.

Athletics highlights

Below are some highlights since my last update from Messiah Athletics. Visit www.GoMessiah.com the source for the stories below and for the Falcons’ latest scores, announcements and the full slate of team-specific news.

  • Here is a national rankings update for Messiah Athletics as of Nov. 7:
    • Messiah field hockey – No. 1 (NFHCA)
    • Messiah men’s soccer – No. 3 (United Coaches)
    • Messiah women’s soccer – No. 7 (United Coaches)
    • Messiah wrestling – No. 4 (NWCA)
    • Messiah women’s basketball – RV (WBCA) (Note: RV = receiving votes)
  • Five Messiah teams are preparing for respective NCAA competitions this weekend:
    • Men’s and women’s cross country will be running in the Mideast Regional Championships hosted by Dickinson (at Big Spring H.S.)
    • Field hockey will be hosting an NCAA Second Round game on Saturday, with a chance to also host a Third Round game on Sunday.
    • Women’s soccer will be hosting an NCAA First Round game on Saturday, with a chance to host a Second Round game on Sunday.
    • Men’s soccer will be traveling to Buffalo, N.Y. to play in an NCAA First Round game on Saturday.
  • On Nov. 9, Messiah senior field hockey player Carissa Gehman will be featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd.
  • Messiah field hockey won their 11th-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship on Nov. 4 with a 2-1 win over Alvernia. The win moved the Falcons to 19-0 on the season.
  • Messiah men’s cross country won the MAC Championship on Oct. 28 by scoring just 46 points in the 8K race. Kyler Shea finished third in the race and won the Rookie of the Year award, and five Falcons finished All-MAC in the team’s first title since 2008. Dale Fogelsanger was also named Coach of the Year.
  • The MAC Commonwealth released the all-conference teams for men’s soccer on Oct. 31, and Kirby Robbins (Offensive Player of the Year), Dakota Rosenberg (Defensive Player of the Year), and Brad McCarty (Coach of the Year) all earned special honors. Ten players were recognized with honors, including six First Team awards.
  • The MAC Commonwealth released all-conference teams for field hockey on Nov. 1, and Carissa Gehman (Offensive Player of the Year), Shayna Landis (Defensive Player of the Year), and Brooke Good (Coach of the Year) all earned special honors. Five players were recognized with honors, including four First Team awards.
  • The MAC Commonwealth released all-conference teams for women’s volleyball on Nov. 2, and Mary Underman was named Player of the Year. Four players were recognized with honors.
  • The MAC Commonwealth released all-conference teams for women’s soccer on Nov. 3, and DJ Cole (Defensive Player of the Year) and Lydia Ewing (Rookie of the Year) each earned special honors. Nine players were recognized with honors, including five First Team awards.
  • Messiah Athletics publically released the new Falcon suit— named “Flex”—over Homecoming weekend. The suit was funded by the 2017 senior class gift.

In closing

At Homecoming, I was privileged to re-connect with Messiah alumni who are living, serving and engaging in meaningful vocation across the U.S. and internationally. Be encouraged to know that your daily contribution to Messiah’s mission helps to educate graduates who are making a far-reaching impact in church and society.

Warm regards,

Kim S. Phipps, President