Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: Summer 1996

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

Warm summer greetings to all of you. A large high-pressure system moved into Spokane two months ago and has been resting here ever since. Only twice has precipitation been able to pierce its way through these clear blue skies. As usual during the summer months, we need rain. Last week I was in Chicago during a 24-hour period in which they received more rain than Spokane has seen in 1996. Summer residents and visitors to the college have become quite skilled in Whitworth's dodge-the-sprinkler agility dash. Two days ago, I was catching my breath and feeling rather smug after darting over to the campus entrance. As I turned to review my victorious sprint, I was deluged from behind by a Whitworth Presbyterian Church sprinkler. In a baptismal sense, the experience was far more Baptist than Presbyterian. Oh, well - the net effect of our watering is lush green grass, brilliantly hued flowers, more aerobically fit employees, and at least one person who came home from work cleaner than when he left.

Academic Affairs

Higher education in America is in the incipient stages of a monumental change, and its history of moving at glacial speed will not satisfy an increasingly value-conscious public. This newsletter is neither the right forum nor a suitable format to paint a broad-stroke picture of what is coming, but, by borrowing from a recent memo I sent to our board of trustees, I would like to report what I see as imminent implications for Whitworth: "In taking the long view at the academic area of the college, I see a fundamental transition we will need to make. We have positioned ourselves as a teaching college where research is a valued activity in support of teaching. (This position differs from the research universities in which teaching is often secondary to research in the value scheme of the professors.) Over the next several years, we will need to see ourselves as more of a "learning" institution in which teaching will be seen as a means to our highest end, i.e. student learning. This shift in no way minimizes teaching; it simply means that being an effective teacher may mean pointing students to other resources that help them learn more effectively than our direct teaching. It means the role of a professor will broaden and become more outcome-oriented. The question, 'What best helps my students learn?' will reign as a better question than 'What best helps me teach?' Many times the answer will be the same, but when it isn't, the answer to the first question needs to be the one that wins."

We have a new academic affairs leadership team in place for 1996-97. Serving as the interim vice president for academic affairs will be Tammy Reid, who has worked very effectively as associate dean for the past eight years. Interim associate deans covering the duties of academic affairs include Gary Whisenand, registrar; Kathy Storm, vice president for student life; Laura Bloxham, professor of English; and Dale Soden, associate professor of history and director of continuing studies. This talented group of people will not only provide operational leadership for the college, but will also help me assess the kind of structure and skills needed in academic affairs for us to strengthen our ability to prepare our students' hearts and minds for service in the 21st century.

The University of Chicago's gain will become Whitworth's loss when the new academic year begins. After 12 years of building one of the finest choral programs in the West, Randi Von Ellefson, professor of music, has been appointed director of choral activities and conductor of the Rockefeller Chapel Choir at the U. of C. We expect Randi to become Chicago's choral version of Sir George Solti in no time at all. Leading the Whitworth choir this year will be Debbie Hansen, who did a great job in the same role during Randi's last sabbatical. We believe this position will attract superb applicants as we begin a search in the fall.

We have almost finalized our roster of "temporary" full-time faculty appointments for the new year. These positions are created largely by leaves of absence or sabbatical leave departures, and by resignations submitted too late to allow a search for permanent replacements. The total number of new full-time spots we need to fill in the fall includes the vacancies left by tenured professor Randi Von Ellefson and by five non-tenured faculty members to whom we bid farewell: Gerry Duffy, education; Auleen Lutes, education; Scott Adkins, music; Glena Schubarth, psychology; and Paula Kreider, education.

We have received great news from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust that we are being funded with a $225,000 grant to support undergraduate research in the natural sciences. Seven of our science faculty will conduct research projects that engage the talent and interests of our science majors. Murdock continues to be the single greatest external source of support for the development of science and technology at Whitworth.

The retirement dinner for Dave Hicks, biology professor, will take place this weekend. Among other things, we will be giving Dave a book of memory pages. If you would like to contribute to this keepsake, just call the Alumni Office (466-3799 or 1-800-532-4668), and they'll send you a form. Even though you can't make the August 3 deadline, we can easily add your pages to what will be presented at the dinner. Dave has enriched so many lives during his 29 years at Whitworth that we want to do everything possible to express our appreciation to him.

We hosted a very interesting new-faculty workshop for the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities in June. Recently appointed faculty members from across the country gathered to discuss the purpose and mission of church-related higher education, as well as strategies for integrating faith and learning. Many of the participants hold doctorates from secular research universities and were helped greatly as Arthur Holmes, Stan Gaede, and Harold Heie led seminars on viewing our disciplines through a lens of Christian faith and thought. Attending from Whitworth were Noel Wescombe, assistant professor of psychology, Diana Trotter, assistant professor of theatre, and Julia Stronks, assistant professor of history and political studies.

In other faculty news, our professors are using these summer months for a variety of professional projects and academic conferences. A sample of those attending conferences includes Ron Pyle, associate professor of communication studies (Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities conference on communication in and beyond the Christian college classroom, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.); John Falvey, associate professor of international management (third annual conference on multinational financial issues, Washington, D.C.); Melinda Larson, assistant athletic trainer (National Athletic Trainers Association annual clinic in Orlando, Florida); Walter "Spike" Grosvenor, professor of art (Stained Glass Association of America conference in Nashville, Tenn.); and Lee Anne Chaney, associate professor of biology, and Gordon Watanabe, assistant professor of education (Washington Center cultural pluralism workshop in North Bend, Wash.).

Enrollment

It looks as if we are going to undershoot our enrollment target by 20 to 30 students this fall. We experienced a very high number of cancellations from freshmen students who had identified Whitworth as their first choice. We have survey data from 144 of these students, and as of this writing the overwhelming cause of cancellation is financial. On the bright side, our applications were at an all-time high; so in solving this problem our challenge is to keep building our quality, pursue ways to lower our costs or increase our non-tuition revenues, and pass the net gains on to our students. As daunting as this task appears, it has been my experience that improving a weak conversion ratio is a better problem than trying to create interest. I'm confident that next year we will hit our target. More students than ever want to come to Whitworth; our job is to help them get here.

The quality indicators for this year's freshman class look excellent. I'll report all of the final figures in the September Mind and Heart.

Whitworth has proved to be the springboard for another talented professional. Ken Moyer, director of admissions, has accepted a cabinet-level position at Hanover College in Indiana. Hanover is an excellent college, and this position enables Ken to add new responsibilities to his portfolio. Fred Pfursich, dean of enrollment services, will assume Ken's duties and we will add an admissions counselor to the team. The rest of the staff is intact and revved up for a big year.

Finances

Thanks to strong interest income, solid tuition revenue, disciplined budget managers and your generosity, we have just completed our 21st consecutive year of balanced budgets. Although the audit is not yet complete, we look to be in good shape, and we thank God for our faithful supporters.

One of the few disappointments in last year's financial performance was in Annual Fund giving. After being in good shape for most of the year, we tailed off in May and June, causing us to fall short of our goal. One of the major changes we made was in not doing a special year-end Annual Fund mailing other than the May Mind and Heart. I believe this strategy was my bright idea. Next time I'll keep my ideas to myself.

The biggest financial challenge facing us in the 1996-97 year is raising $2 million for the completion of the Campus Center's Phase II funding. We have $3 million in place, but we would enjoy several financial advantages by starting construction next summer. Two years ago we issued tax-exempt bonds in order to refinance our long- term debt at a lower interest rate. A portion of the issue was earmarked for dining facilities, with a three-year spending window. In order to avoid the hassle and expense that kicks in after three years, we need to start turning dirt by next summer. Frankly, I rather like the deadline pressure, but it will turn into heat if we haven't made good progress six months from now. As you might expect, you'll be hearing more from us.

This past January I mentioned the possibility of a new residence hall that would pay for itself through the additional housing revenue it would generate. We have concluded that the chaos 75 more residents would create in Leavitt Dining Hall argues for the completion of Phase II before we add any more beds on campus. We are now looking at a 1998 construction start date for the residence hall project.

Student Life

Pre-registrations for September are very strong as we prepare for our students' arrival. The student leadership team is promising an Orientation Week filled with information and hilarity. This year's theme is "Sowing the Seeds of the Heart and Mind," so we can definitely expect an agrarian overtone. Based on Dayna Coleman's casting patterns for Orientation Week skits of years gone by, my thespian skills could require me to portray anything from the secretary of agriculture to a milk cow. 

Athletics

Whitworth's summer sports camps provided healthy recreation and skills-training for hundreds of kids. Youngsters aged 7-18 learned from the best as our own Helen Higgs, Warren Friedrichs, Rod Taylor, John Tully, Bill Wagstaff and Gordy Toyama put them through their paces. Most camp participants will continue to be involved in organized sports through their schools and through such organizations as Spokane Youth Sports and the AAU. (And we also hope, and expect, to see some of these campers showing up on future Buc teams.)

Remember to save the date for Pirate Night III - coming in September to a fieldhouse near you. This year's festivities - at which Whitworth's own Sam Adams, legendary Bucs' player and coach, will be our keynote speaker - will take place on Thursday, Sept. 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Marriott will serve a great dinner, our auctioneer will offer terrific items for sale, and Dr. Adams will provide the evening's inspirational message. We hope to see you in the Whitworth Fieldhouse as we celebrate and support our fine athletics program. Incidentally, next weekend our daughter Brenna, son Ben and I cash in on the Mary Lynn and Bill Coleman fly-fishing trip we bought at last year's Pirate Night. The trout in Sun Valley, Idaho, had better be discriminating about their forthcoming diets.

Miscellaneous

The 21st annual Whitworth Institute of Ministry was a resounding success. More than 200 people attended, and many participated in excellent workshops led by John Mulder, president of Louisville Seminary; Marianne Meye Thompson, professor at Fuller Seminary; Donald McCullough, president of San Francisco Seminary; and Daniel Sharp, minister of music at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California. Our congratulations and thanks go out to Dean Terry McGonigal, Adm. Director Elsa Distelhorst, Adm. Assistant Julie Thompson, and all the other members of the Institute's advisory group and staff. All five of us Robinsons were very involved and extremely enriched.

My final message to you is one of great joy. Mathematics Professor Howard Gage is back from his trip to Sweden and I bet he could balance a quarter on his nose. A different gait carries Howard past our window on his way to school and church. He moves in a steady march and reports that even his fine motor skills have improved. God has answered our prayers, touched our hearts, and graced Howard with improved health. Howard, Judy, Brian and Julie have asked that I pass along to you their deep appreciation for your prayer and support.

Dates to Remember

• September 19 Pirate Night III
• October 18 Jazz Ensemble Concert with Gene Harris
• October 18-20 Homecoming Weekend
• Oct. 31 - Nov. 3 Fall Theatre Production, Cotton Patch Gospel

Closing Thoughts 

Thanks again for your help in making 1995-96 such a good year. Whitworth is in a strong position. Demand for our mission of conviction and curiosity will grow rather than diminish. Our faculty is very talented and more nimble than most in combating inertia. We have good momentum and good people. I have just spent two weeks studying the most recent trends in higher education, and I feel better than ever about our future. If we remain faithful to God, Whitworth will enjoy great success in nurturing its sons and daughters. And how our terrorized world needs the peace of Christ that blossoms in the hearts and minds of those who come to study at Whitworth College.