Dr. Wayne Powell talks to students about the LRU name change [video]
Fri Apr 11 2008
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Why a University?Mon Mar 31 2008 At their March meeting the Board of Trustees endorsed a resolution to begin the processes to change the name of our institution to Lenoir-Rhyne University. Although this is a major step for the future of the institution, it is not the biggest news of the day. The real news is found in considering the question “Why?”
The process that unfolded with the work of the Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne helped us articulate the fundamental qualities that have always made Lenoir-Rhyne unique in the hearts of so many. It also uncovered a multitude of programming opportunities that will help address the critical educational needs of this region as well as the nation. The logical next step was to talk about the structure that could leverage the special nature of Lenoir-Rhyne to provide efficient and effective means of offering a Lenoir-Rhyne education to more people.
The fundamental qualities that have always made Lenoir-Rhyne such a distinguished institution are ones we have always known, even if we have not previously delineated them as such. At the forefront is the close relationship our students have with faculty and staff. There is also the connection we maintain with the church not only from an organizational standpoint but also in the way we approach spiritual exploration as part of the learning process. The curriculum we offer is based in the study of the liberal arts, which give students an understanding of our culture and better prepares them to solve the problems of tomorrow. Finally, Lenoir-Rhyne and the Hickory Metro area have an uncommon partnership of support. These fundamental characteristics of Lenoir-Rhyne are ones that we will hold up and leverage as we move forward.
As the Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne explored options for program expansion, it found that there is significant demand for us to provide the special Lenoir-Rhyne brand of education to more people in a broader variety of areas. These include health sciences, business, education, and areas in the traditional liberal arts and sciences. The program needs are at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and Lenoir-Rhyne, through careful planning, can become a provider of more of these opportunities to more people. Even more importantly, we believe this new programming can enhance the fundamental characteristics of Lenoir-Rhyne.
Once we came to the realization that we could expand our mission through more programming and still provide the same special education to our students, we began to explore other institutions that have undergone transformations. We found many great success stories, but interestingly enough none of those institutions started from the position of strength that Lenoir-Rhyne enjoys today. However, each of these institutions uses a structure where several colleges are tied together through a common core of liberal arts courses, and this is what we propose to implement.
In today’s world, vibrant institutions that offer broad programming at both the undergraduate and graduate level are most commonly known as “universities”. And this is why we choose to move towards the name change, as the accurate brand of the kind of educational institution we are becoming. The Lenoir-Rhyne University we envision will continue to focus on the same fundamental principles that have always distinguished us. It will do so for more students in an expanded array of programs.
The last few years have been great for all of us at Lenoir-Rhyne, but the real excitement is yet to come. I thank you all for the tremendous support you have provided to this initiative. No Comments
College to change name to Lenoir-Rhyne UniversitySat Mar 15 2008
The Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne, created in November to study possible expansion of the 117-year-old college, has presented a resolution asking the Board of Trustees to expand the mission of the institution to serve a broader constituency. To better represent the future programming initiatives of Lenoir-Rhyne the Commission has recommended that the name of the institution be changed to Lenoir-Rhyne University. The trustees, meeting jointly with the college’s Board of Visitors and Alumni Association Board, received the resolution on March 15. The Board voted to endorse the resolution and to engage a process for implementation. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees will review processes and procedures that are involved in conversion to University status and will present a recommendation for implementation by the middle of the summer of 2008. The trustees will then take action on the recommendation at their next meeting Aug. 30. The commission consisted of college faculty and staff, students and alumni as well as community leaders. The group has conducted more than 30 focus groups of various college stakeholders. It has asked these groups which strengths the college should seek to retain in the future. The commission also investigated which educational programs the college may consider adding to better serve the region. The commission reported that it identified the following four strengths of Lenoir-Rhyne: 1. Special attention given to students. 2. Religious affiliation/church relationship 3. Liberal arts foundation 4. Community partnerships and relationships The commission also determined the following: 1. There are numerous options for expanding services and programs that will enhance the foundation of the institution. 2. Lenoir-Rhyne is in an unprecedented position of strength to expand its mission based on its solid financial standing, its enrollment growth, its support from the community, and its excellent academic reputation. 3. A structural change is appropriate for the management and implementation of program expansion.
The Board of Trustees thanked the commission members for their service to Lenoir-Rhyne. The commission was co-chaired by Dr. Wayne Powell, college president, and Jerome Bolick, vice chair of the Board of Trustees. Other commission members included the following trustees: the Rev. David Keck (also an alumnus), the Rev. Monta Maki, Boyd George, Hank McCrorie (also an alumnus) and George Moretz. Also serving were the following faculty members: Dr. Larry Hall, executive vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Linda Reece, professor of nursing and head of the Division of Nursing; Dr. Andy Steel, assistant professor of chemistry; Dr. John Cheek, professor of music and associate dean; Charlotte Williams, assistant professor of human and community service and associate dean; and Dr. Amy Wood, alumna, assistant professor of counseling and associate dean. In addition, the following alumni and students served on the commission: Margaret Jackson, Business Council member and Annual Fund co-chair; Leonard Geddes, assistant dean of student affairs; Emily Horne, undergraduate student; and Ken Dunn, graduate student. Established in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne College is a private, coeducational college located in Hickory, N.C. It is affiliated with the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is open to students from all religious backgrounds. Undergraduate degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of music education in more than 60 majors and concentrations. Graduate degrees are offered in education, business administration, counselor education and occupational therapy. The college’s Web site is www.lrc.edu. No Comments
Commission Update 2/22/08Fri Mar 7 2008 The Commission held a meeting on February 22, 2008 for the complete report click on this file below. This is a word file Commission Update 2/22/08 No Comments
Commission Meeting Summary, 2/8/08Fri Feb 22 2008 The Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne met on Friday, February 8, 2008. The following were in attendance: Commission Members: Margaret Jackson, Linda Reece, Scott Shrode, Larry Hall, Jerome Bolick, Wayne Powell, Boyd George, Leonard Geddes, Hank McCrorie, Ken Dunn, Emily Horne, Rachel Nichols, Amy Wood, Charlotte Williams, John Cheek and Andy Steele. Tele-conference: Monta Maki. Guests: Margaret Allen, Neal Orgain, Stephanie Martin and Peter Kendall. The agenda for the meeting was to discuss:
Leap Year for LR EventsThu Feb 14 2008 Please click or cut and paste the following link to the sign-up for the different Leap Year for LR Events. http://www.lrc.edu/alumni/commissionevents.htm We look forward to seeing you at an event soon. No Comments
Commission Meeting UpdateMon Feb 11 2008 The following is a summary of the meeting of the Commission discussion.
Summary of feedback on “What’s special about LR” The Commission reviewed the previous input on the special nature of Lenoir-Rhyne and discussed additional input from recent focus groups. The information received took on several themes and these were categorized into four many areas. No Comments
President appears on WHKY with Hal RowSun Feb 10 2008 Dr. Wayne Powell appeared on the “First Talk” with Hal Row on January 28, 2008 to discussion the future of Lenoir-Rhyne. Click to hear the audio. http://www.lrc.edu/podcasts/index.htm No Comments
Moretz Sports Complex work beginsSun Feb 10 2008
As part of its expansion plans, Lenoir-Rhyne College has been busy in recent months with work on the Moretz Sports Complex. This major upgrade of sports facilities was initiated with a gift on $5.1 million by John and Marilyn Moretz, two alumni of the college. This donation, announced Feb. 6, 2007, is the largest gift to the college in its history. In addition to funds for athletics, the gift also created the Stephen Harris Moretz Scholarship Fund for nursing students. The college immediately began planning the athletic facility upgrades, which will provide improved facilities for baseball, softball and soccer, as well as the college’s first track and field complex. The work will be undertaken in phases, according to Neill McGeachy, the college’s athletic director and director of the Piedmont Educational Foundation/Bears Club, the fund-raising organization for the college’s athletic programs. Dr. Wayne B. Powell, college president, said: “The Moretz Sports Complex will provide state-of-the-art fields for our competitive athletes and wellness facilities for all students. They are a significant part of Lenoir-Rhyne’s expansion to better serve this community.” Grading has begun for the new soccer complex, as well as the track and field complex. McGeachy explained that the soccer field was originally used for intramural sports and later converted in intercollegiate soccer. It is now being improved by professional grading and laser leveling, which will eliminate low and high spots. A new underground, French-drain system will be installed as well as an irrigation system. Then the field will be resodded. The work is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, when the men’s and women’s soccer teams return to campus for practice. A state-of-the-art track and field venue will also be constructed. The track, which will circle the soccer field, will be world-class, according to McGeachy. It will consist of eight lanes and will be finished with an Olympic-style synthetic surface. Nearby will be facilities for other field events such as shot put, long jump and pole vault. A retaining wall will be built in the rear and a decorative façade added to the front. The track and field facility should also be ready by Aug. 1. Additional amenities — including public restrooms, permanent bleachers for the soccer field, a storage building and a ticket office — will be constructed in a later phase of the planned work. The Moretz Sport Complex will provide the college with its first-ever track and field facilities for the recently reinstated teams. Many years ago, a track and field team competed without on-campus facilities. McGeachy, a 1965 graduate of the college, recalled that when he ran track at L-R, the team practiced on a dusty, vacant lot near the football stadium. Jim “Pappy” Hamilton, the coach at that time, drew chalk lanes for the runners. However, the team never competed on campus due to lack of adequate facilities. As part of the sports facility improvements, the college has already installed the first-ever lights for the softball and baseball fields. The Moretz gift also paid for a new, enhanced scoreboard for the softball field. To make room for the new soccer field and track and field complex, the college moved the Theta Chi fraternity house on Sunday, Jan. 13. Formerly located at the corner of Eighth Avenue N.E. and Sixth Street N.E., it was moved down Eighth Avenue N.E., to a vacant lot recently purchased by the college. The nearby Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house was demolished. That fraternity will later move into a new “themed housing village,” being planned further down Eighth Avenue N.E. The current project is being designed by Woolpert LLP of Charlotte. David E. Looper Co. of Hickory will serve as the general contractor for the first phase. The John and Marilyn Moretz Sports Center, which will eventually include locker rooms, rest rooms, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices, will be built in a later phase of the planned construction. Additional projects, including upgrades to the college’s Shuford Gymnasium, are still in the planning stages. The improvements to the college’s athletic facilities are an exciting part of Lenoir-Rhyne’s expansion, according to McGeachy. He pointed out that when the Shuford Gymnasium opened its doors 51 years ago, the college only had three varsity sports, all for men: football, basketball and baseball. The college now has 17 varsity sports for both men and women, with more being planned. For additional information about the college’s planned athletic improvements, contact McGeachy at 828-328-7128 or mcgeachy@lrc.edu., or go to the college’s athletic Web site, www.lrbears.com. No Comments
Commission to plan for college’s futureSun Jan 20 2008 The Lenoir-Rhyne College Board of Trustees has established the Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne, a group that will recommend structural changes that will allow the institution to expand its mission to better serve changing needs of this region. The group, which was created by the trustees in November, held its first meeting in December. The Commission for Lenoir-Rhyne, co-chaired by college president Dr. Wayne Powell and board vice-chair Jerome Bolick, consists of faculty, students, trustees, alumni and community leaders. The commission is expected to have a preliminary recommendation as early as the March 15 meeting of the Board of Trustees. No Comments
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