Trustees meeting highlights progress in fundraising, retention, campus construction

RELEASED: January 30, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College continues to make remarkable progress in fundraising, student retention and advancement of campus construction projects, according to reports delivered to the Board of Trustees at its annual winter meeting last weekend at Louisville's Seelbach Hotel.

Major news announced at the meeting was that Board of Trustees chair David Grissom was stepping down after serving in the position the last 22 years and as a trustee for 32 years. The position of Board chair passes from Grissom to Centre trustee Robert T. Brockman. Grissom was elected as a life trustee in October 2007 and will continue to serve on the Board in that capacity.

Grissom completed his tenure as the College wrapped up its record-breaking Campaign for A More Perfect Centre. The five-year fundraising campaign ended on Dec. 31, 2007 with impressive results: $169,374,192 has been raised, more than $49 million over the goal of $120 million. This is the largest fundraising campaign total ever achieved by a private college in Kentucky.

Following are other highlights from the Board meeting.

STUDENT RENTENTION
Stephanie Fabritius, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the College, reported that retention at Centre continues to grow stronger. The college's four-year graduation rate is now in the mid 80-percent range, and in the last four academic years, freshman retention figures have averaged about 90 percent. This improved retention has led to an increase in overall enrollment.

FUNDRAISING
Richard Trollinger, vice president for college relations, reported that the first half of the annual giving year has produced very strong results, as the College is ahead in nearly every segment of its fundraising efforts.

"Although there's more work to be done, we believe Centre is well positioned this year to reclaim the number-one national ranking in percentage of alumni making annual gifts," Trollinger said.

In addition, the following endowed scholarships were approved by the Board: The Samuel Beriah Jones Scholarship; The G. Russell Shearer Memorial Scholarship; The William and Alice Grossman Scholarship; The Centre Parent Association Scholarship: and The Treadway-Russell Scholarship.

CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
It was reported that construction and renovations continue on campus facilities included in the Trustee Challenge fundraising effort undertaken by the College and by the Board last spring. This project includes an expansion and renovation of the College's science and math facilities, its student center and dining facilities, and a refurbishment of Centre's Norton Center for the Arts. Construction also continues on Pearl Hall, the College's newest residence facility, and on a temporary dining hall that will serve as the campus's main eating facility until the completion of the new student center.

PLANNING
The Board approved the document recommended by Centre President John Roush on behalf of the College Council as the College's new strategic plan. This far-reaching plan represents more than two years of intense work by faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and other friends of the College. Among the plans key goals and initiatives are "Global Citizenship" and "Engaged and Experiential Learning."

In addition, George W. Privett, Jr. was inducted and attended his first meeting as a Centre trustee. Privett, of Lexington, is a physician and owner of Lexington Diagnostic Center. Privett and his wife Nawanna, an educator who heads a Kentucky Education Department initiative, are actively involved in several Lexington organizations, including the Carnegie Center for Literacy, the Lexington Opera Society and the Lexington Arts campaign.


The next scheduled meeting of the Centre Board of Trustees will be on the College's campus April 11 and 12.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.