President’s Report 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 | LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 | ENROLLMENT The highest enrollment in University history
6 | HU ARIZONA RECEIVES ACCREDITATION MAXIMUM 8 | MISSIONS TRIP HIGHLIGHTS 1O | MBA PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO PRODUCT LAUNCH 12 | MISS INDIANA
HU graduate Cydney Bridges will compete for Miss America in 2024
14 | ALL-AMERICANS
Student-athletes collected 30 awards in one academic year
16 | FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS 18 | BRITT NICOLE COMES TO HU Students organized a worship service as a class project
20 | GENEROSITY REPORT 24 | FINANCIAL UPDATES
2 | President’s Report 2023
Letter from the President As I begin my 11th year as president of Huntington University, I am excited about the theme for the 2023 President’s Report — “A Bright Forester Future.” The stories and information contained within this report radiate the spirit of growth, progress, and spiritual renewal that defines Huntington University. From the inception and implementation of new academic programs to vibrant experiences and missions opportunities, it is a testament to a 126-year pursuit of faith-integrated academic programs and co-curricular activities. In this President’s Report, we celebrate our students’ remarkable successes. Their accomplishments reflect their hard work and the incredible support of our faculty, staff, and community. Our strategic plan, Forever Foresters, is the vision of our institution, the natural extension of our dedication to nurturing an environment where our students can thrive, explore, and ultimately become exceptional contributors to our world. It serves as our roadmap for a future filled with promise and purpose, where our commitment to Christ, scholarship, and service is guided by the enduring words found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” With this plan, we undertake a journey that reimagines the possibilities, propels us to new heights, and redefines the boundaries of what we can achieve.
“A Bright Forester Future” is not just a theme but an aspirant vision. It reminds us that every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference. As an example, I wrote this letter with the assistance of generative AI, one of the exciting tools available to us as we train Foresters to embrace the future of where their call to vocation may take them. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey and joining us in collectively shaping the future of Huntington University. May we always be remembered as Forever Foresters!
Sincerely,
Dr. Sherilyn R. Emberton Huntington.edu | 3
Enrollment Enrollment Surpasses 1,500 Huntington University is celebrating another record enrollment for fall 2023. Official numbers mark the highest enrollment in University history with 1,504 students, up from 1,428 in 2022. “The fact that more than 1,500 students are participating in our undergraduate, online and graduate programs is a significant milestone for Huntington University,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton. “We are encouraged to see the growth that is happening in historic areas and through some of our most recent initiatives and new programs.” Welcoming 994 undergraduate students on HU’s home campus in Huntington, Indiana, and 242 undergraduate students at the HU Arizona location in Peoria, Arizona, the University continues to be encouraged by the student populations at both locations, in the Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in new programs, including two new partnerships: an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program in partnership with Indiana Tech and Parkview Health and an animal health and veterinary nursing dual-degree program in partnership with Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Other academic programs with strong or record enrollment include agriculture, animation, business, film, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, and the Master of Business Administration graduate degree. “Through these strategic partnerships and innovative delivery models, we are offering programs that meet workforce needs,” said Emberton. “These majors, in collaboration with our public and private sector partners, provide new opportunities for our students and the communities we serve. We are excited to see the work for Christ that students will accomplish with these opportunities.” 4 | President’s Report 2023
Students across the University hail from 65 of the 92 counties in Indiana, 41 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), and 38 countries. They represent all four corners of the United States, from Washington to Florida and California to Maine. Minority students make up 23% of the 2023-2024 student body, which is an increase for the University. Indiana continues to be the biggest pool for students, with Arizona, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois also being significant contributors to the record growth. With the continued renovation of the University’s health and wellness complex and new athletic programming, over 341 student-athletes will participate on 18 athletic teams in the 2023-2024 academic year. 994
978 154
242 53
21 29
1504
218
1428
243
Total Enrollment Fall 2023
Total Enrollment Fall 2022
923
910
931
244
244
258
52
1363
157
Total Enrollment Fall 2021
90
1402 Total Enrollment Fall 2020
145
933
96
129
1355 Total Enrollment Fall 2018
1393 Total Enrollment Fall 2019
913
898
242
254 72
75
79
87
Huntington University
299
1321 Total Enrollment Fall 2017
85 18
Huntington University Arizona Online
Graduate
1300 Total Enrollment Fall 2016
ABSN
First-Time Freshmen 196
218
224
206
224
223
238
235
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
250 200 150 100 50 0
Undergraduate Students hail from 40
35
41
U.S. States
30
25
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Huntington.edu | 5
HU Arizona Receives Accreditation Maximum As of January 2023, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has Granted a Status of Accreditation for a period of seven years to Huntington University’s Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy (OTD program) in Arizona. Seven years is the maximum number of years a new program can be accredited by ACOTE. ACOTE’s endorsement is vital because without accreditation students cannot take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Examination. The NBCOT exam is the gateway for graduates to obtain licensure within their desired state. HU received ACOTE accreditation for its OTD program in Fort Wayne in 2016. “Achieving accreditation by the ACOTE is an important milestone in the founding of a graduate program in occupational therapy. We feel very thankful and blessed to have been granted full accreditation. This is the culmination of a long process of work involving me and the faculty,” said Evelyn Andersson, PhD, OTR/L, program director for OTD Arizona. HU Arizona’s OTD program accepted its first cohort of students in January 2021. Since then, the program has boasted a 100% retention rate.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class of 2023 first-time NCLEX pass rate…
100% huntington.edu/Nursing
Guatemala
Mexico
2023 Missions Trip Highlights Guatemala – OTD Indiana By Dr. Nate Short, Trip Leader
were carried into the clinic were able to leave by selfmobilizing in a custom wheelchair.
The purpose of this Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy trip was to provide the gift of mobility and share Jesus with people with disabilities in partnership with Bethel International Ministries. We served around 100 people in Xela, Guatemala, providing professional assessment of mobility needs, customized equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches), and education and training. Each recipient had the chance to connect with a local pastor for prayer/spiritual counseling and a presentation of the Gospel and an opportunity to be a part of a local church that is equipped to serve people with disabilities.
Additionally, we are doing outcomes research to further analyze the impact on functional abilities, community mobility, and quality of life for recipients after receiving services. We published the results of a similar study from El Salvador recently. The initial data suggests a significant impact from receiving services that is maintained long after the short-term teams depart. More importantly, participants have the opportunity to know Jesus and connect with a local body of believers.
Licensed therapists mentored the OTD students, and as the students gained confidence, they were able to take more of a lead role on the seating teams, gaining invaluable clinical experience. The team witnessed the immediate impact on mobility — many children who
The entire men’s basketball team, 13 players plus coaching staff, served a community south of Tijuana, Mexico, during a five-day trip in May. Our main purpose was to build a home for a family in need and pray with and serve the local community.
8 | President’s Report 2023
Mexico – Men’s Basketball By Kory Alford, Head Coach
Thailand
As a head coach, I am always praying that the young men on my team find ways to step out of their comfort zone and become self-confident in who God made them to be. I cannot reproduce in the gym or locker room what transpired while we were in Mexico. I was able to see these student-athletes work together to build a house for a family in need and see them immerse themselves in a community where they prayed over people in the streets and shared their testimonies. This was an incredibly emotional trip, and we even had two of our players get baptized on the final day of the trip. I am so thankful that we were able to be a part of this, and I know that the impact on our team culture will continue.
Thailand – Women’s Basketball By Joanne Green, Assistant Coach This past June, the Forester women’s basketball program spent 12 days on a missions trip in Thailand. HU alumna
Shaana Robrock led the trip, which included three coaches, five graduating seniors, three returning players, and six incoming freshmen. Preparing for the experience, the group was purposed to equip, empower, and embolden. Our WHY for going was not just to serve but to learn and grow. While in Thailand, we partnered with several local anti-trafficking organizations. In addition to learning how each organization was meeting the needs of its community, we also spent time interacting with kids, whether that be by playing games, putting on basketball clinics, or doing crafts. The interactions and experiences were powerful. Eyes were opened, hearts were softened. Each person would say that a little piece of her heart will always be in Thailand. As instructed in Micah 6:8, this team walked away as lifelong advocates to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
Huntington.edu | 9
MBA Project Contributes to Product Launch In October 2019, Huntington University MBA students traveled to Peru as part of their Master’s-Level International Learning Experience (MILE), a 10-day trip focused on immersing students in international business settings. On the itinerary for this particular MILE trip were meetings with AJE Group, a large multinational beverage company well-known in Central and South America.
Three of the 11 students on the trip worked on a feasibility study that considered the possibility of launching AMAYU, a line of natural juices made with fruits from the Amazon, in the United States market. Four years later, three AMAYU juice flavors are available for sale in the United States. AJE emailed Zehr to let him know that the HU research had been a part of the decision to launch.
Before the trip, the Director of the MBA Program, Dr. Brock Zehr, had connected with AJE via the tour company to set up projects that MBA students could present when they were in Peru. AJE provided them with the preliminary specifications for three projects focused on marketing, salesforce training, and imports and exports.
On the day of the presentation, both Zehr and the MBA students saw that AJE was impressed with their research.
10 | President’s Report 2023
“I remember how engaged and excited the leader was during our presentation,” said Gracia Reed, who worked on the AMAYU project. “When I was moving things along,
he asked me to go back to the slide I had presented because he was so intrigued by the information and had a lot of questions.” “The executive team were blown away by the scope of the information that we had,” said Zehr. “It was drilled down to the beverage industry but even juices, natural juices, and natural fruits. It wasn’t generic. It was really pinpointed for the product. They were impressed by that.” HU’s impact is ongoing. Zehr has received confirmation that a product one of the other groups presented a feasibility study on, an energy drink called Volt, will also be released in the United States.
The true value of the experience for all 11 MBA students was the opportunity to immerse themselves in projects that would cross cultures and apply what they had learned in other classes in a very practical way. “I learned companies around the world have similar dynamics even in cultural differences,” said Reed. “Executives have busy schedules, workers want to look good in front of the executives, people are passionate about their product and company.” This opportunity to learn is the intention behind the MILE trip for any MBA student. The 2019 Peru trip, however, has had a uniquely sweet, delightful ending.
Huntington.edu | 11
Miss Indiana – Cydney Bridges The 2020 President’s Report included a feature story on Cydney Bridges, a then-sophomore Huntington University student who was the reigning Miss Fort Wayne. In fact, because the pandemic had led to the cancellation of the pageant that year, Bridges was at that time preparing to serve a second year as Miss Fort Wayne in 2021.
relationships, which will make her a fantastic nurse. Her positive attitude, drive to follow her dreams to work at Riley Children’s Hospital, and compassion will leave a lasting impression on those she serves. We are blessed to have the opportunity to witness the impact she will have on the profession of nursing and are so excited to watch her represent Indiana.”
Today, Bridges has a new title: Miss Indiana 2023. She received the title in June, mere weeks after graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Huntington University. Her victory not only celebrates her individual accomplishments but also highlights her commitment to making a positive impact on her community and the world.
“The HU Department of Nursing was the place where I felt most supported on campus,” said Bridges. “Each and every one of my professors helped me realize that I could achieve anything I set my mind to with hard work and determination.”
“Cydney’s hard work and determination paid off, as she was always a top performer in the classroom, but her greatest strength is her joyful spirit and ability to connect with people and interact with them on a personal level,” said Jodi Eckert, director of nursing and one of Bridges’ professors. “She values people and 12 | President’s Report 2023
Beyond her academic pursuits and pageant accomplishments (she entered her first pageant when she was nine), Bridges’ heart beats for service and helping others. Her desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others reflects her passion for nursing and her genuine care for people. Bridges began working at Riley Children’s Hospital in July, and she will compete for Miss America in January.
Executive Coaching and Leadership Certificate • ICF Certified • Attend at Home “The Huntington University coaching program has enabled me to enact a coaching program at MTI called MTI Coaching. Through this program, we can grow team members internally, developing their skills and careers in confidential sessions. We now recognize coaching as a free, added benefit for our employees, and offer individual and team coaching experiences.” Sara Yarian
Vice President of Culture, Learning & Development Metal Technologies
Copeland
Kollen
Xacarath 14 | President’s Report 2023
Felger
Tedder
Wiley
Yoder
Ginder
Goodline
All-Americans While Forester athletics has experienced success throughout the Huntington University’s history, the last five years have been particularly noteworthy. Since 2018, HU athletes have racked up 136 NAIA All-American honors, which averages out to just over 27 NAIA AllAmerican badges per year. Over the last five years, 12 different programs produced All-Americans, with women’s indoor track and field garnering the most national limelight. Other sports represented include women’s outdoor track and field, men’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s cross country, men’s cross country, baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, and women’s bowling.
As last year’s Crossroads League Player of the Year, senior Zach Goodline was deemed a First Team All-American in basketball. Kollen Graham was tabbed the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year last spring and for his efforts was an Honorable Mention AllAmerican pick in baseball. Second baseman Langston Ginder was also voted one of the nation’s best as a member of the All-American Second Team. In total, 15 athletes were named NAIA All-Americans in their respective sport in 2022-2023, with all but three of those athletes part of the cross country and/or track and field programs. Collectively, the Foresters piled up 30 All-American awards in just one academic year.
Last year as a freshman, Addy Wiley garnered the most national attention as a nine-time All-American. The Huntington native finished as the runner-up at the 2022 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, was a fivetime national champion at NAIA Indoor Nationals in the 600, 800, mile, 3000, and distance medley relay, and then picked up two more national titles at NAIA Outdoor Nationals in the 800 and 1500. Huntington.edu | 15
2023-2024 Faculty
Dr. Nate Short
Faculty Highlights Research Supports Short-Term Missions Work Dr. Nate Short, an associate professor in the Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy, along with students Erin Kline, Jonah Eckert, Natalie Grady, and Holley Weber, collaborated on an extensive research project published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. The study, completed in partnership with international disability ministry Joni and Friends, examined outcomes for individuals with disabilities who received seating and mobility services through an international servicelearning (ISL) model. Leveraging a prior study done in Peru, Short analyzed the impact of customized seating systems along with supportive education and training. The findings of the study support ISL as a model for service delivery specific to seating and mobility. Over a five-year period, recipients of services demonstrated significant improvement for in-home and out-of-home functioning, including community mobility and participation, which 16 | President’s Report 2023
often involved participation in a local church. The results may also be applicable to similar short-term missions work, as there is often a broad criticism that these endeavors lack sustainability (without examining the nuances or comparing models of implementation).
Faculty Published in Scholarly Journal Dr. Becky Benjamin, department chair and associate professor of psychology, was published in the APA journal Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. Benjamin’s research, titled “High-Tech Versus Low-Tech: Comparing Approaches to Increase College Student Reading Compliance and Engagement,” focuses on how students learn. Benjamin began with the understanding that when students read assigned course texts, they learn more because they’re interacting more with course content. Past research shows, however, that without holding students accountable, students rarely complete the
Dr. Becky Benjamin
readings. Benjamin’s research tested two approaches to holding students accountable and the impacts these approaches had on 1) how much students complied with reading expectations and 2) how engaged they felt with the readings. She compared a high-tech and a traditional approach and found both worked equally well. “Students anonymously reported very high levels of reading for the course and high levels of engagement with the texts,” said Benjamin.
Coach Is Lead Author for Sport Ministry Textbook Dr. David Lewis, associate professor and head women’s soccer coach, is the lead author for a new textbook titled Sports Ministry. The textbook is one of the first on the subject of sports ministry and it is intended, according to the book description, to provide college and university instructors with a dedicated text for “educating students on the how-to process of developing viable sports ministry programs that share
Dr. David Lewis
the Word and positively influence the world in which we live.” Sports Ministry defines and provides a historical overview of sports ministry. With emphasis on evangelism and discipleship in athletics, this text is meant to be a definitive resource for building an effective sports ministry program, even including chapters devoted to topics such as finances, facilities, and legal considerations. Lewis is well versed in the subject of sports ministry. He is in his fifth season as the Forester women’s soccer coach. He has over 30 years of coaching experience and is an ordained minister, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion/philosophy from The King’s College as well as Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Huntington.edu | 17
Britt Nicole Comes to HU On April 1, 2023, Christian music artist Britt Nicole led a worship service in the heart of Huntington University’s home campus. The event was scheduled for one hour, but in the end it lasted two hours longer. That entire time, HU students stood in the upper HUB, gathered around the stage singing, shouting, lifting their hands, and praying for one another. Students remarked to the event organizers in the following weeks that the event was one of their favorites of the academic year — possibly even of their HU experience. The event organizers, themselves HU students, were all part of the Junior Impact Project, a course under the guidance of Assistant Professor of DMA/Television Production Adam Widener. Each year, Widener challenges students in the course (all juniors) to produce a multicamera broadcast event from start to finish. The specifics are up to the students, but the event must be focused on making a community impact. In spring 2023, the class decided to minister to the HU community through a special worship service. “When initially brainstorming the idea, we discussed that college can bring a variety of challenges to every student,” 18 | President’s Report 2023
said Ericka Whitman, who served as the marketing and promotions manager for “In The Beginning: Our Purpose,” as the event was called. “We wanted to create an environment where young adults could come worship God and be encouraged to find the purpose that God gave them. On the broadcast side, we wanted to film it as an intimate worship concert, meaning we wanted to show close audience interaction with the artist.” Three of the student organizers had met Britt Nicole in fall 2022 while filming a short documentary on her life, and that connection became even more meaningful when it came time to arrange the worship event. Megan Hostetler, the event’s producer, reached out to Britt Nicole to gauge her interest. The artist’s response was enthusiastic, and she agreed to participate. “It was really special to begin with this small idea then, throughout the semester, build this event piece by piece until we have a finished product of which we are very proud,” said Whitman. “I learned so much throughout the process; not only about marketing and social media branding, but about event coordination, teamwork, and perseverance.”
Huntington.edu | 19
THE IMPACT OF
GENEROSITY FROM JUNE 1, 2022 – MAY 31, 2023
LIFETIME MEMBERS
60 84 113
MERILLAT SOCIETY MEMBERS Gifts of $250,000 or more (lifetime giving)
1897 SOCIETY MEMBERS Gifts of $100,000-$249,999 (lifetime giving)
20 | President’s Report 2023
MILTON WRIGHT SOCIETY MEMBERS
Gifts of $50,000-$99,999 (lifetime giving)
156 140 176
HEARTWOOD SOCIETY MEMBERS
Gifts of $25,000-$49,999 (lifetime giving)
EVERGREEN SOCIETY MEMBERS Established an endowed scholarship
FORESTER LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS Indicated a planned gift to HU
FA I T H F U L N E S S
• FUNDRAISING Baker Society Members (Individuals who gave for 30 years or more)
FORESTER FUND
153
Pacesetter Society members
ENDOWMENTS
218
TOTAL NUMBER OF ENDOWMENTS
$29,235,549 Total market value
$1,988,720 Total awarded
WHERE GIFTS GO Students 77% Facilities 16% Other 6% Where Needed Most 1%
FORESTER FUND DONORS Totaling $635,276
2,3 6 1
INDIVIDUAL GIFTS
OF $1-$100
TOTALING
$128,377
WHERE GIFTS COME FROM Foundations 38.4% Alumni 20.6 % Other 14.3% Friends 11.3 % Businesses 7.7% Churches 5.3% Estates 2.4 %
Huntington.edu | 21
Wayfaring Stranger played for a sold-out crowd at the Eagles Theatre in Wabash, Indiana, in July, and the reviews were incredible. For everyone who helped make Huntington University’s first feature-length film a reality, it has been a delight to see the film’s impact on an audience. Wayfaring Stranger is making its rounds through other venues, including Wabash’s 13-24 Drive In and at HU’s Homecoming. Production is currently underway for the next feature film from HU, Patterns.
22 | President’s Report 2023
FINANCIAL UPDATE REVENUE
2022-2023
2021-2022
Tuition & Fees
30,357,677
30,241,002
Auxiliary Enterprises
6,059,822
5,702,607
Private Gifts & Grants
3,789,458
5,740,852
Government Grants, including those for Student Aid
4,017,794
7,937,501
Investment Income
827,710
909,436
Other Revenue
827,355
432,709
2022-2023
2021-2022
Instruction
11,842,878
11,842,688
Academic Support
2,282,606
2,175,743
Student Services
5,851,991
6,500,721
Institutional Support
6,475,171
6,174,638
Physical Plant & Depreciation
6,773,393
6,829,437
Auxiliary Enterprises
3,631,521
3,577,035
Student Aid
13,395,957
12,463,655
EXPENSES
24 | President’s Report 2023
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE: (AS OF 6/30) ENDOWMENT PER UNDERGRADUATE FTE MKT. VALUE
UG FTE
MV/FTE
2016
25,374,579
875
29,000
2017
27,118,556
852
31,829
2018
28,491,710
845
33,718
2019
29,782,222
840
35,455
2020
29,337,778
824
35,604
2021
35,652,024
843
42,292
2022
30,191,990
827
36,508
2023
30,164,063
853
35,362
LONG-TERM DEBT BALANCE DEBT SERVICE
REVENUE
% OF REV.
DEBT
% OF REV.
2016
708,703
36,790,683
1.9%
8,821,197
24.0%
2017
775,757
35,783,709
2.2%
11,132,172
31.1%
2018
1,094,104
34,283,297
3.2%
10,696,569
31.2%
2019
1,110,156
35,730,781
3.1%
10,025,108
28.1%
2020
1,112,068
36,756,910
3.0%
9,343,903
25.4%
2021
1,128,864
42,443,941
2.7%
11,519,133
27.1%
2022
1,310,431
40,920,621
3.2%
10,694,151
26.1%
2023
1,374,876
38,790,405
3.5%
15,656,356
40.4% Huntington.edu | 25
26 | President’s Report 2023