May 2008
Dear Parents:
A Welsh proverb says, “Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.” I don’t know if I fully agree with that sentiment, but I am quickly learning the love for a grandchild is unlike any other. On February 12, my older daughter Katie gave birth to our first grandchild, Noah.
The birth of a child generates a great deal of thought about the future, as you can’t help but wonder what’s in store for him or her. Noah’s arrival has prompted some of the same reflections for me. Specifically, I think of the values and qualities I want my grandson’s university to represent.
I believe the great universities of Noah’s generation will operate with four guiding principles in mind:
- The academic mission will not only be top priority but the institution will continue to provide a classical liberal arts and sciences education while developing new programs to meet the needs driven by societal change.
- Provide excellent student service and link the service component and the academic component even more strongly.
- Obtain the necessary resources--especially from the private sector-- to fund the initiatives of the institution.
- Prepare each student to succeed in a global economy. Today’s discussions about globalization and a shrinking world will become an everyday reality well before my grandson is ready for college. Isolationism is no longer an option.
With these guiding principles in mind, I am proud to report progress on all four fronts for Troy University. Allow me to share a few highlights.
Alabama faces a critical shortage of nurses at all levels of nursing care. One of our most exciting achievements during this academic year was the decision by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) to authorize Troy University to offer its first doctoral degree, the Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Our university has the potential for greater service to the people of southeast Alabama and the Black Belt. The ability to offer a doctoral-level nursing program will expand our capacity to serve. We expect to enroll students in the DNP during fall 2009.
Alabama also faces a critical shortage of qualified interpreters for the deaf. Troy University will respond to this need during the year ahead when we enroll students in Alabama’s first bachelor’s degree program to prepare certified interpreters for the deaf. We will begin offering the major in interpreting in fall of 2008.
Additional academic developments include the new emphases in international economic development and hospitality and tourism management. Other examples include our homeland security concentration in our criminal justice program and a degree program in music industry. The music industry program will provide a new opportunity for talented musicians who are not interested in teaching.
The Army ROTC program, in which students earn a 16-hour minor in military science, is also experiencing impressive growth. To accommodate this growth we have moved the Army ROTC program into its new home on campus. Enrollment has grown by 80% in two years, with almost 60 students currently participating. For students who want to serve their country ROTC is a great way to go.
Winston Churchill said: “We shape our buildings then our buildings shape us.” Excellent facilities make the difference. That’s why I am pleased our new College of Education building will open January 2009. This new five-story building will encompass 91,000 square feet and will include 12 classrooms, 5 laboratories, 3 conference rooms and a theatre-style auditorium that will seat 140 students. Future teachers will have the best facility in Alabama in which to study!
Research tells us that failure to engage students during their first year on campus, either as freshmen or community college transfers, results in significant numbers of students who fail to complete their degrees. Our freshman-to-sophomore retention rate for last year was 77 %. The national average is 74 %. Our goal is to retain at least 80 % of our freshmen. To achieve this goal we have established a First Year Studies Program and have appointed Dean Eleanor Lee to provide leadership. Dean Lee and her staff are reporting impressive progress. This includes more students seeking tutorial help in the writing center, students using computer labs and those enrolled in our University Orientation course.
Excellent student service is key to retention and I have good news to report! We are in the second phase of the renovation of the Trojan Center, our student center. This includes adding a convenience store and retail shops to make on-campus living even more convenient. Last year, we completed the first phase of the renovation, which included an expanded food court and our Barnes and Noble Collegiate Bookstore, both of which have been well received by our students.
In the wake of national incidents of campus violence over the past year, Troy University has stepped up campus safety efforts. We have implemented an e2campus system that will alert students, faculty and staff via cell phone and text messaging. Thankfully, we have only had to use it to report incidents of inclement weather. Other safety precautions include additional “blue light” emergency phones and security cameras on campus. Troy University is one of the safest campuses in the nation and we plan to keep that record intact.
Another amenity available to our students is the first official class ring program in University history. We have chosen Balfour as our partner in this endeavor. The new rings are tastefully designed and a great way for our graduates to show their Trojan pride. At the appropriate time I encourage you to treat your graduate to this reminder of a special time in his/her life!
Of course, progress comes with a price tag. That’s why we are in the first stages of an exciting new initiative called “Building Beyond Boundaries.” We have identified about 30 different initiatives, including new facilities, additional scholarship programs, special professorships and new academic programs that TROY will only be able to provide through private funding support. You will hear much more about “Building Beyond Boundaries” in the months ahead.
Our fund-raising efforts received a huge boost on March 26, when we received a $1 million donation from Mr. Milton McGregor, a member of our Board of Trustees. Mr. McGregor’s generous gift is an important first step as we determine the feasibility of building a multipurpose arena for TROY.
Scholarships are important to our students! If you purchase an automobile tag in Alabama you can support our Trojan Pride Scholarship Fund by purchasing a Troy University license plate. The license plate cost $50, is tax-deductible and $48 goes to scholarships! If you buy the tag for your student’s vehicle, we also waive the $35 campus parking fee! Approximately 3,500 Troy University license plates were purchased in 2007, a 30 percent increase over the previous year. It’s a great way to show school spirit, receive a tax deduction and contribute to the scholarship program at the same time.
While we’re on the subject of scholarships, allow me to call your attention to an Internal Revenue Service regulation that may benefit you. The Hope Scholarship Credit is a tax credit that a taxpayer may claim for himself and each eligible dependent during the first two years of postsecondary education. The taxpayer gets credit for 100 percent of the first $1,100 paid for qualified tuition and fees and 50 percent of the second $1,100. The maximum credit allowed is $1,650 for each member of the family. To learn more about the Hope Scholarship Credit, go to http://www.irs.gov/.
Our international efforts continue to flourish. Internationalization is a key component in our overall plan to prepare our students to compete in the global economy. This spring we awarded the first bachelors degrees ever awarded by an American university on Vietnamese soil! In Troy, our students continue to express interest in study-abroad programs. This spring we held our first Study-Abroad Fair to apprise our students of the many options available to them. Please encourage your student to explore the life-changing opportunities available through the Study Abroad program.
Perhaps the most exciting international news at Troy University is the opening of our Confucius Institute, scheduled for this June. TROY is proud to be the home of Alabama’s only Confucius Institute, designed to promote the understanding of Chinese language, history and culture to the students we teach and the communities we serve. I am excited by the possibilities it presents for our students and our state!
Spring sports are in full swing at TROY. The baseball team has enjoyed signature wins over in-state rivals Auburn University and the University of Alabama, as well as such nationally known programs as Wake Forest and Penn State. Our baseball Trojans are seeking a third straight trip to the NCAA post-season tournament. Our softball team is enjoying success as well, with the schedule highlighted by a win over Auburn and two wins over Florida State. Spring football practice is now complete, as the Trojans look to build on last fall’s successful eight-win season. The schedule is set, including road games against LSU and Ohio State, the two teams that met in last year’s BCS championship game.
I believe tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. We care about the Troy University of 2008 and we work hard every day to make the experience for your student the best it can be. But we are also looking ahead to the future when our grandchildren can benefit from this hard work and preparation. Thank you for entrusting your students to us. It is an honor to guide them and serve them.
Sincerely,
Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D.
Chancellor
