2 minute read
Moving Forward with Three Pillars
by Eddie Kenny
The three pillars in Hocker-Hall Grove, originally a part of the administration building on the Winchester campus, are tradition-rich reminders of Wesleyan's proud heritage on three campuses and the College's 163-year commitment to quality education.
Advertisement
Under President Thomas Mitzel's leadership and with the input of the Kentucky Wesleyan community, three additional pillars have been developed to guide the College's next steps. As the columns in the Grove honor a proud past, the Three Pillars form a strategic plan for a strong future. Working groups for each pillar included KWC trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students. They embarked on strategic sessions to review their charge and begin focused discussions to provide a roadmap of success for the College. Led by President Mitzel and Board of Trustee Chair Sherry Feldpausch '83, the groups were asked to be aspirational with an aggressive timeline to present their priorities at the Board of Trustees' February meeting.
The next steps in the strategic process will include sharing the vision with the entire Panther family, while further prioritizing according to needs and capacity to execute each objective.
Academic Innovation and Investment
● Investment in new programming (undergraduate and graduate levels)
● Experiential education: Internships, undergraduate research and creative works, study abroad and away, service learning
● Increase enrollment: Traditional and online
Pillar II
Building for the Future
● Complete purchase of Activity Hall
● Review existing spaces for renovation and enhancement
● Explore new facilities for academics, student and residence life and athletics
Pillar III
Committing to Affordability and Excellence
● Establish special endowments:
Endowed chairs, endowment for excellence and innovation grants, scholarship and financial aid endowments
● Create centers of excellence around flagship programs and with professional advisory councils
Activity Hall
While Kentucky Wesleyan College is experiencing significant forward momentum, including continued enrollment growth in the last six years, the campus footprint has remained unchanged for much of its 70 years in Owensboro.
The relocation of Legacy Owensboro Church afforded an opportunity to enter into an ownership agreement for the church facility on the southern edge of campus in December 2019. The timing of the acquisition, a significant extension of the campus, was ideal. The facility not only provided much needed space for a growing student body, it offered necessary space for physical distancing during the pandemic.
Through a lot of sweat equity by Shawn Tomes '94 and Anna Lake '18 from Campus Ministries as well as students, faculty, staff and alumni, the facility was converted to meet the needs of our campus and feature appropriate brand identity.
Appropriately, the facility was named "Activity Hall," and it has housed large-scale campus and community gatherings, including the weekly Chapel at 12:12 p.m. services, Stories (a Campus Ministries activity), Prayer Team and various other organization meetings, Wesleyan Singer rehearsals and practices, and even the KWC wrestling program's practices, which take place in what is now the "Panther Room." In late March, the KWC Theatre Program also presented the musical, "Guys and Dolls."
With further renovations, Activity Hall will continue to evolve as a campus destination and, beyond the pandemic, as a community destination. It is a major emphasis of the Pillar Group II strategic priorities and the next exciting phase of growth for Kentucky Wesleyan College.
