For Immediate Release
Contact: Public Relations
Phone: 919-985-5141

October 30, 1996

Wesleyan Board Approves Bold Moves to Strengthen the College

Rocky Mount, NC -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College board of trustees approved new initiatives for the college Thursday which will continue the momentum started at the beginning of the year and continue to strengthen the position of the college,

The college has already moved forward in several areas this year: a major fundraising effort to accelerate the capital campaign for the Dunn Center is nearly completed; a positive recruiting year with increased enrollment enabled the college to balance the budget for the current fiscal year; personnel vacancies were filled with outstanding leaders; program initiatives in critical administrative areas are meeting with success; plans are being laid which will enable the college to become more aggressive in the marketplace, enhancing both the recruiting of new students and the retention of current students; and a new spirit seems to be taking root on campus.

Accomplishments:

• The college has reached the $1 million mark to eliminate total debt on the new Dunn Center for the Performing Arts. Under the leadership of Tom Betts and a committee of trustees and Vice President for Development Linda Stallone, this fundraising effort effectively completes the capital campaign the college began in 1988. A total of ten million dollars was raised during the eight-year campaign.

• The 1996 Day for Wesleyan campaign was a success, surpassing its $350,000 goal. Co-chairs Jean Almand and Kel Landis III provided outstanding leadership.

• The college restructured its financial aid structure and made a 23 percent reduction in tuition for the 1996-87 school year. Enrollment increased, with 266 new students, 40 more than projected in the budget, allowing Wesleyan to eliminate a planned deficit.

• By September, Honeywell Inc. had installed air-conditioning in the college's four residence halls. In addition, a computerized central energy management system, modern fire alarms, updated and energy-efficient lighting, and the optic fiber backbone needed to drive this new system will be added by the end of the calendar year.

• Wesleyan College entered the design phase for a new addition to Everett Gym. This would help meet the college's significant recreational needs and serve as an important gathering place for students, faculty, and staff.

• Wesleyan's two adult degree programs in Raleigh have been merged to eliminate duplication and to help the programs work better. The Rocky Mount adult degree program will be revitalized and expanded, and the college will offer two adult degree program classes on the Louisburg College campus during the spring term.

• In a separate fundraising effort, key Wesleyan alumni have committed the money to build six new, modern tennis courts.

• A task force of faculty and staff members have been meeting since mid-May to develop a framework for major curriculum revision at the college. Thus far, discussions suggest the new curriculum will offer a more structured freshman program, more integrated courses, an emphasis on liberal arts, a deep concern with helping students deal with the life of work beyond college, and an emphasis on skills and competencies.

• The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts was staffed and the first season's series of events begun. In addition to offering such outstanding cultural events as the Chestnut Brass Company and the North Carolina Dance Theatre, the Dunn Center is fulfilling its mission as being a community resource. Corporate groups are renting the facilities for meetings and retreats, and civic groups for fundraising events. The ballet, "The Nutcracker," will be presented by the Moscow State Ballet on December 17. Tickets for the evening performance sold out within 48 hours, and a second, matinee, performance has been added. The Rocky Mount Telegram is the presenter of this event in cooperation with the college.

Opportunities

The board of trustees plans to move the college forward -- especially in areas that will enhance enrollment and reduce attrition -- using the momentum created by successful fundraising, an increase in enrollment, and other successful initiatives.

The board approved plans for Wesleyan College to create to a "Campus Quality of Life Project," which enhances the student environment and moves the college into a higher level of student-oriented services.

The project includes several features, including the design for an addition to the Everett Gymnasium, which will expand recreational, wellness, and fitness programming at the college. It offers students, faculty, staff, and even local community members, through partnerships with the Wesleyan College, access to modern equipment, adequate space, and learning opportunities. The additional space will also provide the college important multipurpose space for meeting and dining -- supporting Wesleyan's use of the Dunn Center for major conferences and events that require catering services.

Other features of the Campus Quality of Life Project include the renovation of the current student activities center to become the Pearsall Fine Arts Center, the restoration of the former power plant to become a new student center, and the creation of a commons on the green space linking the Dunn Center to the main campus.

There is over $500,000 already committed to the Pearsall Building. Those resources in hand enable Wesleyan College to move ahead now to create a better use for the current student center, while offering students and community members a new, well-planned facility to meet expanding student needs for a game center, informal food court, meeting rooms, lounge space, and offices for the student government association and campus student publications. The green space in front of the Dunn center provides an opportunity for beautification of the campus and for tying the rest of the campus to the Dunn Center, the new Pearsall Fine Arts Building, and the Russell Chapel.

New and refurbished buildings cannot alone create a new campus ambiance. The programming necessary for lively activities, having facilities open when students are looking for a place to go, and offering amenities that attract students will be crucial. Creating important partnerships with local community groups will be important to obtaining financial support for the campus quality improvements.

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