State of the University
By DR. JOSH JACOBS
President Shares Positive, Optimistic ‘State of the University’
President Drake shared the State of the University address at “Evening with the President” events in Kansas City and Saint Louis.
P
resident Roger Drake proudly presented the State of the University address at the February Central Methodist University Board of Trustees meeting. While discussion included the increasingly complex national higher education landscape, and competitive pressure levied by public and private institutions within Missouri, the majority of the conversation was a celebration of growth and strength. Despite challenges to private liberal-arts education, President Drake focused on key performance indicators across Central’s operations that highlighted the value we add to our students, alumni, and region. • Serves over 8,000 unique students in Fayette, across Missouri, online and beyond • Academic preparedness of Central students is increasing • Consistent investment in student services has yielded positive retention trends • Tuition discount rate is lower than peers and aspirants (a good thing)
• Faculty compensation is competitive • Annual Federal Financial Responsibility score is the highest possible • Early predictors of fall 2018 enrollment are encouraging The numbers are only important because they make it possible for us to change the lives of students that enroll here. The true success of Central is in the student stories President Drake shared. Stories of students that didn’t know how they would pay for college, but earned scholarships at Central that made their dreams come true; and students who had not realized their own potential, but due to personal interactions with faculty, they emerged from their shells. While President Drake, the Board, and senior leadership of the University are proud of our progress and success, we are not satisfied. We will continue to push and grow in order to extend the reach of our mission to more and more students. Central Methodist continues pursuing our mission of preparing students to “make a difference in the world.”
Spring 2018 | The Talon The Magazine of Central Methodist University 35