Hastings College (NE) alumnus and astronaut Clayton Anderson discussed life in Space with students, faculty, and staff via videoconference from the International Space Station. Anderson had been living on the Space Station for several months with two Russian cosmonauts. Anderson’s videoconference with Hastings can be viewed online at www.hastings.edu.

Presidential Campaign 2008

Political involvement on CIC campuses has been ramping up during the presidential primaries leading to the general election this November. Eckerd College (FL) hosted live TV coverage by Dan Rather of the Florida primary results. The telecast was filmed in front of a packed audience of students, faculty and staff members, and others from the community. Students at Franklin Pierce University (NH) conducted statewide political polling after several Democratic and Republican debates were held during 2007. Later, the results were used in news reports throughout the country. Franklin Pierce also partnered with Wartburg College (IA) to conduct “First in the Nation,” a political study program in which students travel throughout both Iowa and New Hampshire to study the critical role these states play as the first primaries in the presidential elections. Juniata College (PA) alumna Anne Laird was one of a limited number of individuals chosen from 3,000 contestants to present a filmed question (via YouTube) to presidential candidates during a CNN debate in South Carolina. Lewis University (IL) was visited by the C-SPAN 2008 Campaign Bus, which offered 30-minute tours of the bus’s state-of-the-art equipment and production capabilities to faculty and students. Westminster College (PA) held Mock Convention 2007—a quadrennial event started in 1936—in which students campaigned and voted for their favorite presidential candidates. Emory and Henry College (VA) developed Election Lab 2008, a once-a-week class that is monitoring the campaign trail until the November election. The class provides students with opportunities to meet leading academics, members of the press, and politicians.

International Scholarships

CIC institutions represented nearly half of the 43 U.S. institutions whose students were selected for 2007–2008 Fulbright awards. Twenty CIC institutions, including Mount Holyoke College (MA), Wheaton College (MA), Hamilton College (NY), Kenyon College (OH), Swarthmore College (PA), Connecticut College, Kalamazoo College (MI), Washington and Lee University (VA), Lafayette College (PA), Manchester College (IN), Spelman College (GA), Williams College (MA), Earlham College (IN), Hendrix College (AR), Nebraska Wesleyan University, Oberlin College (OH), Trinity College (CT), University of Puget Sound (WA), University of Richmond (VA), and Willamette University (OR), provided a total of 102 award winners out of 810 applicants. During the previous year, a similar number of Fulbright awards (86 awardees out of 833 applicants) were granted to bachelor’s students from CIC institutions.

The most recent round of RISE scholarships also included a notable number of individuals from CIC institutions. These scholarships—sponsored annually by DAAD, the German academic exchange service—provide American science and engineering students the opportunity to study at top German research institutions. Eleven of the 200 selected recipients came from ten CIC institutions, including Agnes Scott College (GA), Albion College (MI), College of Saint Elizabeth (NJ), Grove City College (PA), Moravian College (PA), Park University (MO), Simpson College (IA), Swarthmore College (PA), Transylvania University (KY), and Washington and Lee University (VA). The next round of RISE scholarship winners will be selected later in 2008. More information is available at http://daad.de/rise/en.indext.html.

Environmental Leadership

Benedictine University (IL) has joined Clean Air Counts, a northeastern Illinois initiative to reduce ozone-causing emissions. By joining the initiative, Benedictine has pledged to implement major pollutant and energy reduction strategies, such as the use of energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and office equipment; use of nonpolluting paints, cleaning products, and building materials; natural landscaping; and transportation alternatives. Thus far, Clean Air Counts has reduced pollution in the Chicago area by 2.57 million pounds per day.

Ripon College (WI) and Centre College (KY) have introduced bicycles as an alternative transportation source for the campus community—Ripon’s program provides 200 bikes (plus bike gear) to incoming first-year students that choose not to bring a car to campus (the bikes and gear can be kept by the students, a $400 value), and Centre’s program offers unlocked, freely available bikes to anyone on campus including faculty and staff. Calvin College (MI) engineering students built a demonstration wind turbine on campus that is being used as an alternative fuel source (the wind turbine can be viewed live at http://wind.calvin.edu). Mount Vernon Nazarene University (OH) is using waste vegetable oil from the campus cafeteria to power various kinds of maintenance equipment and a campus bus.

Lourdes College (OH) cohosted EARTH EXPO, an event featuring exhibits by local organizations, civic leaders, and businesses that are taking steps to help the environment. University of Richmond (VA) held a three-day e-waste recycling project to properly dispose (using green standards) of obsolete computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, cell phones, and TVs that otherwise would have gone into state landfills. Eckerd College (FL) has launched an environmental sustainability website (www.eckerd.edu/green) to document and raise awareness for a variety of environmental programs occurring on its campus. Oberlin College (OH), Berea College (KY), and Warren Wilson College (NC) were included on Sierra Magazine’s list of the top ten educational institutions that have taken action against global warming. Warren Wilson is also developing a new environmental curriculum, “Advancing Environmental Literacy,” aimed at forming a comprehensive understanding not only of the ecological, but also of the political, social, and cultural impacts of environmental issues. The initiative is made possible by a $193,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Announcing New Programs

Many CIC institutions have expanded their academic offerings with new degree programs. Maryville University (MO) has added its first doctoral degrees, a doctor of education in leadership and a doctor of physical therapy; Clearwater Christian College (FL) will offer a new MEd in educational leadership; Endicott College (MA) will begin a master of science in information technology; Pace University (NY) has announced a doctor of nursing degree; and Southern Vermont College has added new bachelor’s degrees in business administration/nonprofit management, professional studies, and history and politics. In addition, Rivier College (NH) has added two new degrees, a doctorate of education (the first EdD in the state) and a bachelor of science in finance. Misericordia University (PA) has also added a master of business administration and a doctor of physical therapy. Houghton College (NY) has announced a new master’s program in theological studies, and St. Bonaventure University (NY) has established a new bachelor of science degree in bioinformatics (the field of science in which biology, mathematics, and computer science merge into a single discipline).

Campaign Success

Cabrini College (PA) celebrated completion of the “10,000 Hearts Campaign,” the college’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. The college raised nearly $20 million, surpassing its goal of $16.5 million. Johnson C. Smith University (NC) completed its “Pathways to Success” campaign, which raised $81.5 million to be used for new endowments for student scholarships, faculty chairs, and programs. Lindsey Wilson College (KY) has extended its “Changing Lives” campaign after surpassing its original $12 million goal by raising nearly $37 million. The college’s new goal is to reach $53 million by 2010.

Creating Partnerships

Chapman University (CA) has partnered with a local public television station to produce new digital television content at the university’s Marion Knott Studios, a $41 million film and broadcast studio with cinematography, journalism, and television facilities located on the university campus. Chapman students will work in front of and behind the camera to help produce segments that will air on the television station’s new 24-hour Orange County (OC) channel.

Lourdes College (OH) and Chowan University (NC) have partnered with local community colleges to offer expanded educational opportunities. Lourdes has partnered with Owens Community College to create “Pathways to Completion,” a degree completion program that allows Owens students to enroll in business and education majors that transfer into a four-year degree program at Lourdes. Chowan University has partnered with Halifax Community College (HCC) to offer an Adult Degree Completion Program, which allows graduates with an associate in arts or science degree from HCC to obtain junior status at Chowan and complete a bachelor’s degree in only two years.

Announcing Gifts and Grants

Three CIC institutions have announced record-breaking gifts—the largest in their respective histories. Bennington College (VT) received a $20 million gift from alumna Susan Paris Borden and her husband Robert, in part to honor the institution’s 75th anniversary. The College of Idaho received $50 million from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to help launch a ten-year $175 million fundraising campaign. The gift is the largest ever given to an Idaho college or university. And Eureka College (IL) received a $2.5 million gift from the estate of Ruth Mason McGowan to endow five to six full-tuition fellowships in the college’s Ronald Reagan Leadership Program.

Other CIC institutions have received sizable gifts. Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict (MN) received combined pledges of $10.3 million ($5 million from Dan and Katharine Whalen for SJU and $5.3 million from Tom Petters for CSB) to establish two centers of academic excellence and distinction. Spelman College (GA) received $10 million from Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. to help boost minority participation in the financial services industry. William Penn University (IA) received $12 million from Musco Sports Lighting to construct a new student recreation center, several classrooms and laboratories, an industrial technology center, and a digital communication headquarters. University of Richmond (VA) received two grants totaling $8 million from the Robins Foundation to construct an expanded on-campus stadium and academic building. McDaniel College (MD) received a $5 million challenge gift from alumnus Leroy M. Merritt—the largest outright gift from a living alumnus in the college’s history—to fund student residence halls and athletic facilities.

Dominican University of California opened its $21 million Science Center. The 35,000-square-foot facility houses more than 30 classrooms and labs, four special instrument rooms, and two computer technology rooms.

New Facilities

Milligan University (TN) completed the new Elizabeth Leitner Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts. The 30,410-square-foot building houses a 294-seat theatre auditorium, two classrooms, photography darkrooms, and general classroom space for the college’s humanities program. College of Saint Benedict (MN) completed the Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, a $12 million campus landmark that is part of the college’s capital campaign, “Our Place in This World.” The dining center features large windows with an expansive view of the campus, with seating for 400 people and seven separate food stations offering a global menu. Mount St. Mary’s College (CA) unveiled the new Seaver Science Center, which recently underwent $6 million in renovations and expansions. Wofford College (SC) debuted the Chapman Cultural Center, a $47 million venue for arts education and entertainment, estimated to provide economic revenue for Chapman of $4.14 million annually and support 143 jobs. And Berry College (GA) opened the Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center, a 131,000-square-foot facility to be used for intercollegiate and intramural sports programs. A key highlight is the 2,000-seat arena that can be used for concerts, convocations, major speakers, and other events.

Online Innovation

St. Edward’s University (TX) students will be attending class in a new location—an online virtual world. The online virtual world, called Second Life (www.secondlife.com), is one of the fastest-growing online communities with more than nine million members worldwide. Residents within Second Life can create virtual characters and buildings, then interact with others, visit virtual locations, and even hold meetings. St. Edward’s professor Stephanie Poole Martinez and her organizational communication students created a virtual island classroom in which (using their virtual characters) they gather regularly to discuss the pros and cons of new technologies. “I heard about Second Life on the Today show,” says Martinez, “and I thought it would be an engaging way to discuss new technologies with my students.”

Roanoke College (VA) is bringing its campus online to students through College Snapshots, a new feature on the college’s website that displays constantly updating photos of major campus events, lectures, sports, student life, faculty, and alumni. The College Snapshots webpage has become one of the top-15 pages on the college website and draws at least 1,000 pageviews a week.

Changing Status

Judson University (IL) recently changed its status from college to university, and Albertson College has returned to its original name, The College of Idaho.