The Independent Thinker
Private Colleges Serving the Public... One student at a Time
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Beck A. Taylor Takes Helm as 19th President of Samford |
After serving as dean and professor of economics for Samford University’s Brock School of Business from 2005 to 2010, Beck A. Taylor never imagined he’d have an opportunity to return to the university.
But when former president Andrew Westmoreland announced his retirement March 10, Taylor saw an opportunity to return to the university he loved.
During a special meeting of the Samford University board of trustees in March, the 51-year-old Taylor was recommended to the board by a 23-member presidential search committee following a six-month national search involving more than 80 nominations and applicants. Taylor is the university’s 19th president.
Taylor grew up across the South and Southwest and received an undergraduate degree at Baylor University. He said he had a wonderful experience as a college student and wanted to become a college professor because he loved his university so much.
“I had such a formative experience there,” he said. “I met my spouse as an undergraduate. I grew and learned more about myself and the world. I love university life, and so I got into higher education.”
He earned his master’s degree and doctorate in economics from Purdue University so he could teach college economics, and over time, he began to take on more leadership roles. Eventually he became president at Whitworth University, a title he held 11 years until he transitioned to the presidency at Samford.
“I think 11 years in a president’s role at a comparable institution prepares me well for leadership at Samford,” he said. “Samford is a different institution, it’s in a different area, and it’s in a different stage of its own journey as an institution. But I think a lot of the skills, experience and — I hope — wisdom that I accumulated at Whitworth University, I’ll be able to bring with me to serve this community.” Read full biography here.
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Judson College Board of Trustees Vote to Close 183-year-old Institution |
In a “heartbreaking” decision, the Judson College Board of Trustees voted to close the 183-year-old institution. The news is a somewhat unexpected end to the five-month emotional roller coaster for the Judson community following the hopeful report from the Board on April 2. But after several multi-million-dollar fundraising efforts since December 2020 and the exploration of potential mergers and other options, new developments during the first few days of May forced school officials to prepare the board for the reality of Judson’s financial situation.
In April the Board approved the College’s 2021-2022 budget, which was based on the confidence the Board and College administrators had in the potential support of new significant donors to help close the College’s operating deficit.
Despite the College’s aggressive efforts in March to pursue promising leads with new potential donors, those significant funds never materialized.
The College’s enrollment continued to dwindle during the uncertain period since the December 15, December 31, March 3, and April 2 announcements–from 145 to roughly 80 returning students (41 seniors graduated April 30). In addition to the uncertainty surrounding Judson’s future, the cancellation of three preview days and the challenges of virtual recruitment shared by all institutions of higher education further hurt Judson’s fall 2021 enrollment–just 12 new student confirmations for Fall 2021.
The continued financial strains caused by all of these factors, said Judson President W. Mark Tew, came to a head when one of Judson’s creditors called the note on a loan, which was due (and not renewed) two days before the May 6 scheduled Board meeting.
The Board voted today to suspend academic operations of the College and move through orderly closing through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Board will create a five-member committee from its Executive Committee to work with administration and bankruptcy counsel as it moves through its transition to closure.
Addressing the board, Tew said that “we know this was the right decision, but there is not a person here whose heart isn’t broken over this. I share the heartbreak of this decision that is felt by generations of Judson students, faculty, and friends.”
Judson College was a founding member of the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in 1956. Our members stand ready to help their students, faculty, and staff in any way possible.
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Alabama Legislative Session Productive for Independent Colleges |
The Alabama legislature passed indemnification legislation in the first two weeks of this year's session and it was signed into law by the Governor immediately. Any public or private pre-K or K-12 school or public or private two-year or four-year institution of higher education is included in the civil immunity.
The House passed the budget for the 2022 fiscal year, which starts October 1. It appropriates $7.7 billion from the Education Trust Fund (ETF), which would be $452 million more than this year, about a 6% increase. Public education in Alabama would receive its largest ever amount of state dollars in the annual budget when this is finally approved. The ETF included an increase of $271,000 in our Alabama Student Grant Program (ASGP) and an increase of $1.4M in the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP) – this brings both programs to around $7.27M – a record high for each program and a lot of years of gradual work! The ASAP is a need based program which we support each year that is available to both public and private higher education students who qualify for Pell Grants. The ASGP is our student assistance program for Alabama residents in secular education at independent, nonprofit Alabama institutions.
Representative Poole, Chairman, House Education Ways and Means Committee, said four-year universities would get a total increase of about $90 million, a boost of at least 6% for each university’s appropriation. Income taxes and sales taxes are the biggest sources of money for the Education Trust Fund. Representative Poole said the resilience of the Alabama economy and conservative budgeting in recent years helped put the state in position for a record education budget despite the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It really is a monumental credit and success story for Alabama, that has not fared well in economic downturns in the past,” Poole said.
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Faulkner University Welcomes First Physician Assistant Cohort |
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If you ventured onto Faulkner’s campus recently, you may have noticed a group of students dressed from head to toe in Faulkner blue scrubs. They are a part of Faulkner University’s new physician assistant program (PA), the second program in the university’s college of health sciences.Thirty-five PA students enrolled in the inaugural program to create a cohort, or a class with a unified purpose of healthcare. The term cohort is commonly used in health science education because of the unique learning environment it creates. Students go through each course together from the beginning of the program until the end, establishing a non-competitive bond among peers and faculty that will grow into professional relationships upon graduation.
The students joined the university’s speech-language pathology students in October. The next PA cohort will begin in August 2021 with 50 students, and four additional faculty members. There are already 200 verified applicants and interviews began in December.
The PA program, which will allow students to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PAS), was granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).
“We are blessed to have a very resilient student body and faculty as we explore uncharted territory for Faulkner,” said Dr. Paul Jordan, director of the physician assistant program. “Our students are doing very well with the rigorous and condensed academic load.”
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Did You Know? Students Find Value in Independent Colleges During Pandemic |
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Student Debt: Average Total Student Loan Debt per Bachelor's Degree Recipient Shows Decrease |
The eighth annual edition of Council of Independent Colleges’s “Student Debt: Know the Facts” was distributed widely to member institutions in February 2021. Because the public remains concerned about college affordability, student debt, and so-called “free college” initiatives, this fact sheet is intended to help campus leaders provide persuasive, data-informed explanations to their leadership team, trustees, prospective students and their families, alumni, and journalists. For example, a common misconception is that graduates of private colleges accumulate massive levels of debt, many owing more than $100,000 when they graduate. In fact, the average student loan debt for 2019 graduates of private nonprofit colleges and universities was $19,500, just $4,600 higher than for a graduate of a public four- year institution (see first figure below).
CIC has found that too few students and their families understand the great educational value that independent colleges and universities provide, especially for underrepresented students, at a lower cost than is often imagined. Properly understood and managed, student debt represents an investment with remarkable lifelong returns. Accurate information, such as is provided in “Student Debt: Know the Facts,” is needed to inform public understanding of the true value of investing in an independent college education.
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United States Sports Academy’s Sports Management Degree Programs Earn Landmark ACBSP Accreditation |
The United States Sports Academy hit another historic landmark in its nearly half-century of delivering high quality sports education programs as it became the first sports university to earn accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Founded in 1972, the Academy – known around the world as America’s Sports University – offers ACBSP accredited sports management degrees in its Bachelor of Sports Science, Master of Sports Science, and Doctor of Education degree programs. The ACBSP organization accredits business education programs around the world at more than 1,000 campuses.
“The Academy is proud of this achievement marking the quality of the institution’s highly regarded sports management programs,” Academy President and CEO Dr. T.J. Rosandich said. “Since its founding in 1972, the Academy has been a leader in providing quality sport education programs for the development of the profession and to have our sports management degrees so accredited by the ACBSP is in keeping with this tradition.”
The institution received formal notification of its accreditation status from ACBSP in April 2021, marking the culmination of a two-year accreditation process.
“It is a great honor and privilege for the Academy to join the 1,200 ACBSP accredited business programs in more than 60 countries,” Academy Provost Dr. Tomi Wahlstrom said. “Sport is a multi billion dollar industry with many management opportunities. Our quality academic programs are the best way to prepare for careers in this exciting field. We are looking forward to being active participants in the ACBSP community and serving as sports management leaders.”
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Gen Ztressed: Student Mental Health in the New Now
The new normal. It's a phrase we've all heard a lot. But is normal even possible anymore? Now more than ever, students need support after a traumatic year filled with academic change and social isolation. While changes lie ahead, even good changes create uncertainty.
Join Timely MD Thursday, May 20, at 1 p.m. CST, to learn how college and university leaders can lead the change on their campuses to support students who are wondering what comes next. You'll hear from experts on how to create an environment that promotes mental well-being to help students navigate the new now.
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