President's Report: Lebanon Valley College (2014-2015)

2015·6 MB·English

by  Lebanon Valley College

$6,111,907
| PRESIDENT’S REPORT 1 |
2 LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE
An Interview with Dr. Lewis E. Thayne
PRESIDENT OF LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE
This President’s Report highlights Lebanon Valley College’s many rich
connections—with the community, donors, faculty, fellow educational
institutions, and others—that benefit our students, alumni, and the
College itself.
Q. In what ways is the concept of “Connections” woven implementation plan is not a set of fixed points that
throughout our new strategic plan, Envision 2020? will be irrelevant as soon as we reach them. It is a
practical expression of how we plan to realize progress
A. I can think of a number of ways in which a theme
toward the four overall strategic goals in EV2020. I
of “Connections” could be identified in Envision 2020
would expect us to go into the website every quarter
[EV2020]. To begin with, it is a strategic vision that
and update our progress and next set of objectives.
connects organically to the whole community—it is our
Right now, we put up the minimum amount of
shared purpose and collective challenge. Also, Envision
information on the public site that we will add to
2020 connects everything we do to the world, to a
continuously.
global context—Graduating World-Ready Students. At
an elemental level, our campus and our mission connect
Q. Since this is the President’s Report, would you
us, bring us together in a learning community. There is a
reflect on the College as a whole?
significant emphasis in Envision 2020 on inclusiveness
as the path to high performance, connecting people A. Sure. This is a time of renewal and transformation at
who are different from each other and who sometimes Lebanon Valley College.
have very serious dialogues about those differences. In August, we had one of the largest entering classes
Beyond these thoughts, there is so much more that of the past 10 years—and a higher percentage of those
can be said about the new strategic plan outside the students wanted to live on campus than ever before.
constraints of one particular theme or concept. It isn’t just new students and new student patterns.
We also welcomed 11 new faculty members, or 10% of
Q. OK, let’s transition to the broader context of the our full-time faculty, in August. Since 2012, one-fourth
strategic plan and its implementation. What should of our faculty are new to the College. The new faculty
people expect from Envision 2020? members bring new approaches to their disciplines,
new teaching and learning pedagogies, and new
A. They should expect that we will internationalize
subjects for courses and for research.
the student experience: curriculum, co-curriculum,
We talked about athletic training and exercise
and recruitment of international students. This is the
science, new majors approved last year and now
World-Ready Success Model that a large and diverse
exceeding their enrollment goals this fall. Clearly,
committee will work on. They should expect a stronger
the synergies with physical therapy and our athletic
and more explicit connection between learning and
program are compelling. Over the summer, the Music
doing, college and career. In simple terms, this is our
Department received NASM [National Association
Initiative for Graduate Success. They should expect
of Schools of Music] accreditation for their newly
that the Centers of Demonstrated Excellence will
configured major in audio & music production. With
consolidate academic strengths and build distinction.
the new configuration, our students can prepare for
They should expect that we will implement a
entry into the entertainment industry and into the
redefined, signature general education program for all
myriad of opportunities for audio & music production
undergraduates. They should expect to see a College
in the global economy.
that embraces diversity and inclusiveness as the true
It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance of
path to excellence. And they should expect that we will
the faculty’s work in approving and now implement-
revise our financial model in ways that will enable us to
ing a new general education program. The challenge
achieve sustainability.
for Lebanon Valley is to prepare graduates who will
“contribute ethical, creative solutions to unscripted
Q. If you would, please talk a little about the
problems under conditions of uncertainty.” The goals
implementation plan on the website. How should
of the new curriculum will accomplish exactly that
visitors to the site interpret the progress of the plan?
charge, but the implementation will occur over the
A. The implementation plan is a dynamic document, so next four years. This sort of long-cycle innovation and
visitors should be aware that as we move forward the implementation is where the strategic vision of EV2020
website will reflect that movement. Second, the will have its greatest impact.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 3
Rebecca Sausser ’16
(center) shares some of
the research she and more
than a dozen classmates
have worked on in “The
Sesquicentennial Project”
classes taught by Dr.
Rebecca McCoy, associate
professor of history (far
right). Their work, which
spanned two semesters
and a summer Arnold
Grant, will be displayed
throughout campus
during the College’s 150th
anniversary next year. Also
pictured are (l. to r.): Bashu
Timsina ’16, Leslie Hiller ’18,
Allonne Wilson-Brennan
’17, Dr. Lewis E. Thayne,
Sausser, Cameron Avery ’18,
Cameron Alexander ’16, and
Dr. McCoy.
Beyond the curriculum itself, we implemented at this time. I have attended a number of gatherings
learning communities into our residence hall program for college presidents and I leave each one with a
and based them on the first-year seminar topics confirmation that LVC is doing all the right things and
chosen by faculty members. Greg Krikorian [vice that we are moving with an appropriate urgency.
president of student affairs and dean of students] Let’s not forget, however, that the context for
is implementing a new Student Innovation Fund this good news remains a problematic financial
to strengthen student experience and create environment for higher education and for Lebanon
new dimensions to student contributions to their Valley College. The issue of affordability is very
experience. And we have begun recruiting for our new clearly one that will be a continuing challenge for LVC
NCAA women’s ice hockey program. It doesn’t hurt and all colleges. Data indicates that we must move
that our men are now ranked #4 as they look to move quickly to: (a) broaden our geographic market; (b)
back into NCAA Division III. develop academic programs with market appeal;
The College has embarked on development of a (c) recapture our appeal to moderately affluent
By Christine Brandt Little
Campus Master Plan along with Envision 2020. I am households; and (d) increase fundraising. 
now fundraising for the proposed $20 million health
professions building, our first academic building on the Q. In what ways can our alumni connect with their alma
north side of campus. There is also planning for new mater to increase the value of their degrees, both for
capital projects: Shankroff Tennis Center, renovation themselves and for current students who will soon
and improvements to Miller Chapel, and renovation and follow in their footsteps?
repurposing of the first floor of the Vernon and Doris
A. While we have been able to push a lot of information
Bishop Library. [All these projects will be made possible
out to our alumni and keep them informed, we need
entirely through generous gifts to the College.] 
to do a better job of having their connections come
back to us; to let them know that their experiences,
Q. In other issues of The Valley you discussed
opinions, and ideas count and that we need to hear
innovation. Do you still see that continuing at LVC?
them. I think it starts with an interactive social media
A. It is accelerating. Dr. Michael Green [vice president program, which is developing. It starts with a
of academic affairs and dean of the faculty] and the redesigned website, which is also underway. It starts
faculty will move forward with proposals for new with a programmatic emphasis that looks at alumni as
As the College prepares to launch its
academic programs in analytical finance, computer potential resources and provides a forum for listening
data science, a four-year combined accounting and to their ideas and then being able to act.
MBA degree program, and a new health professions My view of the College’s original mission, and our 150th anniversary celebration Feb. 23, 2016,
major in communication science disorders and restatement of the mission in Envision 2020, is that
speech language pathology. The scope and number connections are essential. They are of the essence. The we explored our continuous legacy of caring,
of new programs, performance indicators, plans, and collaboration among faculty and students, along with
accomplishments are cause for celebration for the students and students, has always been part of our which extends from the College’s beginnings
sheer volume of good news, hard work, and work in educational heritage and our educational signature. So
progress. There is no doubt that our collaborative have institutional connections with church, state, and to the present day.
strategic planning exercise has cultivated a leadership business. The thorough and practical education that
mindset on campus. Renewal, innovation, connection, Lebanon Valley College has provided since 1866 still
and aspiration are exactly the stances we should take works, very well.
4 LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE
By Christine Brandt Little
As the College prepares to launch its
150th anniversary celebration Feb. 23, 2016,
we explored our continuous legacy of caring,
which extends from the College’s beginnings
to the present day.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 5
t’s safe to say that every Lebanon Valley College student on campus
today is here because of the generations of Valley students who went
before them. Students who came to Annville eager to explore their
dreams, and who left equipped to achieve them: students who, as
they became graduates of LVC, felt a deep sense of gratitude to the
alumni and friends who had preceded them—alumni and friends who had
supported them by offering mentoring, providing scholarship funds, and
donating gifts that deepened the College’s academic resources. Students
who, once they had graduated from LVC, sought to repay that debt of
gratitude by continuing the College’s heart-felt tradition of alumni and
friends supporting current students.
This chain of connection,
forged in the earliest days of
the College, continues today.
For instance, 98 percent of
our students receive financial
assistance in the form of
grants and scholarships
funded by Lebanon Valley
alumni, such as Dr. John
“Jack” Bowman Allwein
’56, whose unprecedented
$5-million estate gift in 2013
has so far enabled 11 students of
exceptional promise to attend
LVC on a full scholarship.
Beyond financial assistance,
our students benefit from
the foresight and caring of
alumni such as Dr. Susan Smith
Fitzpatrick ’80 and Louis
“Chip” Fitzpatrick III ’81, who
have supported many projects,
including the Neidig-Garber
Science Center and the Vernon
and Doris Bishop Library. In 1995, among other projects. The Bishop Foundation, of which the
addition, key supporters of our Bishops’ daughter, LVC Trustee Kathy Bishop, is an officer, recently
students have been friends such committed $1.5 million for the library’s first-floor renovation in 2016.
as Vernon and Doris Bishop, These connections extend through families who have made
who made leadership gifts for LVC their academic home for generations—such as Sean Hackett
the construction of the Vernon ’93 and Jennifer Hanshaw Hackett ’93—and for multiple siblings
and Doris Bishop Library in in one generation—such as Amisha Lala ’15, D’17 and her sister
6 LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE
Vidya Lala ’17, and the brothers
Haisam Hassanein ’14, Wesam
Hassanein ’15, and Amr Hassa-
nein ’19.
These caring connections
take other forms, of course.
There are trustees such as
Jim Glasgow Jr. ’81, who seek
out our students as internship
candidates. There are faculty
who, such as Dr. Patrick
Brewer, associate professor
of mathematical sciences,
seek out students of promise.
Moreover, there are alumni
such as Josh Kesler ’98, who
make caring commitments
to revitalizing their own
communities.
Read on for stories of how
LVC’s enduring Global Network
makes a real and positive
difference in the lives and
educations of our students.
GENERATIONAL
CONNECTIONS
Sometimes a family has so
many connections to LVC that
the past, present, and future Morgan Hackett ’19, arrived as up for a class at LVC to keep
are woven into a unique and a freshman this fall. himself occupied. “I did that
lasting legacy. The Hanshaw Sean’s connection to LVC fully expecting to transfer—but
and Hackett families are just actually began in childhood, I didn’t,” Sean notes.
one example. when his parents bought a And it’s a good thing he didn’t,
Sean Hackett ’93 majored in house on College Avenue. “We because Sean met his future wife
music education at LVC. Today, used to roller skate on the on the College’s football field.
he is a choral music teacher at quad and ride our bikes all over “Jen was in color guard, and I
Conrad Weiser High School in campus,” Sean says. He admits played trumpet,” he says.
Robesonia. Sean’s relationship that at first he did not intend to Jen studied English communi-
with the College has evolved attend the college next door. “I cations with a chemistry minor.
over the years, from neighbor wanted nothing of the sort—in Today, she is a freelance writer
to student to alumnus. Today, fact, I joined the Marines to and editor. While Sean grew
he serves as a partner through get a good distance between up right next to campus, Jen
providing supervision to LVC myself and Lebanon County,” has a rich “family tree” of
student teachers. Sean’s link he says. Nevertheless, when he Valley connections, including
to the College recently took was disqualified from military her mother, Nancy Bowman
on a new dimension as he and service because of asthma, Hanshaw ’50; her father,
his wife, Jennifer Hanshaw his voice teacher, Philip G. Harry Herr Hanshaw ’50; her
Hackett ’93, became Valley Morgan, professor emeritus uncle, Dr. Howard Anthony
parents when their daughter, of music, suggested he sign “Tony” Neidig ’43, H’04,
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 7
late distinguished professor different from when my parents MHS classmates take other
emeritus of chemistry; her were here, I still have to show liberal arts courses, all of which
maternal aunt (and Dr. Neidig’s them around.” helps them get a better feel for
late wife), Gene Bowman These days, Sean brings the college life.
Neidig ’44; two sisters, Nan youngest Hackett, Catherine, Brewer hopes this is just the
Hanshaw ’88 and Deborah age 3, to campus to attend beginning, and that the two
Hanshaw Steiner ’77; her Kindermusik classes and visit schools will expand course
sister Debby’s husband, Dr. her older sister. Jen enjoys offerings available at the
Jerald Steiner ’77; her cousin being more involved with College for MHS students.
(and Dr. Neidig’s daughter), LVC again. “I like being back “When you come to our
Kathy Neidig Calabrese ’73; on campus,” she says. “I had campus, you can be a part
and Kathy’s husband, Tony such a wonderful experience of the community,” he says.
Calabrese ’73. there—I made friends that I’m “You’re taught by full-time
Given the Hacketts’ rich still friends with today. Those faculty members who in
relationship with Lebanon friends last a lifetime. It’s a some cases collect and grade
Valley, perhaps it was inevitable cliché, but it’s true.” assignments from each student
that when it came time for their every day—you won’t find
oldest daughter, Morgan, to look SCHOLASTIC that anywhere else. It builds
at colleges, LVC would be one CONNECTIONS the students’ confidence and
of the first schools to come to enables them to explore what
Forging a connection
mind. Morgan has played violin they’re interested in.”
with the nearby Milton S.
since childhood and planned Brewer, who served on the
Hershey School (MHS) made
to major in music or music College’s Strategic Planning
education, so LVC’s strong a lot of sense to Dr. Patrick
Morgan Music Department placed the Brewer, associate professor
Hackett ’19 school in high contention. of mathematical sciences,
even before LVC’s Envision
“I’ve always been very
2020 strategic plan identified
attached to LVC because
inclusive excellence as a key
of the connections with my
strategic priority. And over the
family and because I had such
years, the College has worked
a great experience there, so
to enrich that connection.
I really wanted Morgan to go
Milton Hershey’s vice president
there—but at the same time
we wanted her to choose the of administration, Elliott
school that was right for her,” Robinson, has served on the
College’s Board of Trustees
Jen says. “She chose LVC
since 2008, and MHS students
because the orchestra director,
have taken college classes for
Dr. Johannes Dietrich [Newton
credit at LVC for some time. In
and Adelaide Burgner Endowed
fact, the College offers a criminal
Professor of Instrumental
justice class this semester and
Music], is so good.”
a law-related class next spring
Today, Morgan Hackett ’19 is
at MHS.
a freshman at LVC majoring in
This year, six MHS seniors, all
music education with a minor
of whom have completed the
in physics. “My [paternal]
highest math class offered at
grandparents live on campus
their school—calculus—have
basically, so I grew up learning
come to campus each week to
how to ride my bike around
pursue more advanced math
the academic quad,” Morgan
classes with LVC mathematical
says. “It’s somewhat weird to
sciences faculty. They also take
transition to this being my
English 111, and two of their
college. But the campus is so
8 LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE