William Carey University Great Things Campaign

GREAT THINGSCampaign

Through fire and storms, William Carey University survived.

Through a global pandemic, William Carey University survived.

Just like the mission pioneer for whom the institution is named, William Carey University is a survivor.

WhoWE ARE

LIKE WILLIAM CAREY THE MAN, WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY HAS ENDURED, EVEN THROUGH FIRES, TORNADOES, AND HURRICANES OVER THE YEARS THAT BROUGHT MASSIVE DESTRUCTION TO OUR CAMPUS. THIS YEAR MARKS OUR 131ST ANNIVERSARY, MAKING US THE OLDEST HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI.

OVER THAT SPAN, WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY HAS REMAINED COMMITTED BOTH TO CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO THE MISSISSIPPI BAPTIST CONVENTION. WE HAVE STAYED TRUE TO OUR ROOTS AND HAVE NOT DRIFTED FROM OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WITHIN A CARING CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, WHICH CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE IN A DIVERSE GLOBAL SOCIETY.

GREAT THINGSCampaign

William Carey University has in recent years made significant strides in its health care-related programs. We’ve added an osteopathic medical school and are the largest medical school in Mississippi. Moreover, in this year’s rankings, U.S. News & World Report named WCU among the top 100 medical schools in the nation. Our pharmacy and physical

therapy programs continue to expand and excel. Additionally, our education programs – including an alternative route to the classroom – have produced more teachers for Mississippi than any other university in the state. Whether it’s health care or education, WCU has established itself as a leader in providing quality graduates who are equipped to serve with excellence.

Our recent growth demonstrates that William Carey is nimble and

innovative, recognizing the needs in the marketplace and pivoting quickly to address them. But while the university has advanced, we haven’t lost the family atmosphere that has endeared us to so many students and alumni. We are blessed with professors who genuinely want to see students succeed and help them progress toward their goals. We have seasoned administrators, with our vice presidents averaging 23 years of experience at the institution.

Carey BY THE NUMBERS

Carey BY THE NUMBERS

13:1 STUDENT: FACULTY RATIO

87 % RETENTION RATES FOR FIRST-TIME STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELOR’S DEGREES

42 % OVERALL GRADUATION RATE

8 SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

37 UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS

30 CONCENTRATIONS

45 STATES REPRESENTED

52 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

23 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

30,000+

ALUMNI IN

57 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE

170 ACRES OF CAMPUS

THIS COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN WILL EQUIP WCU FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION AND WILL DO GREAT THINGS

With the inauguration of Ben Burnett as president in 2022, William Carey is beginning a new chapter in its long and storied history. Dr. Burnett has already pursued a plan to improve alumni engagement, holding rallies for WCU alumni across the South. While the leadership may be different, WCU’s beliefs, work, and mission remain tethered to Scripture and to the vision that has guided her from the beginning.

To fuel a God-sized vision to expand its reach and to strengthen the university’s financial foundation, the Board, under the leadership of Dr. Burnett, is launching a comprehensive fundraising campaign that will equip WCU for continued growth and expansion and that will do great things for our institution, our community, and our world.

Why THIS CAMPAIGN IS NEEDED

THE MISSION AND WORK OF WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER, IN A SWIFTLY CHANGING CULTURE THAT RACES DOWN THE POST-CHRISTIAN ROAD. BECAUSE WHILE THE WORLD AROUND US MAY BE CHANGING, THE TRUTHS WE BELIEVE ARE IMMUTABLE –THAT GOD EXISTS, THAT THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THAT ALL HUMANS ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD BY SIN, THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE PERFECT GOD-MAN WHOSE LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION ARE OUR ONLY HOPE FOR SALVATION, THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ACTIVE IN THE WORLD POINTING PEOPLE TO CHRIST, AND THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND GOD’S PRIMARY CONDUIT TO ACT IN HUMAN AFFAIRS.

These truths are glorious. These truths are unchanging. These truths are the reason William Carey was founded, and they continue to be the truths that

“To the ends of the earth”

– “Acts 1:8

inform and motivate our mission and our values: stewardship, social responsibility, academic excellence, faith in God, charity and grace, the search for truth, and the modeling of Christian character.

William Carey University could stay where it is and be productive and effective with the resources that God has already provided. Complacency, however, carries significant risk. We could easily lose the momentum that we’ve been building.

We believe a major fundraising effort is necessary to capitalize on the energy and excitement that comes with a presidential transition, and to build on the success of the institution in recent years. William Carey University has always been faithful, but now it is emerging as a major influence in South Mississippi like never before. The boost that comes with a fundraising campaign will position the university for growth and expansion for years to come.

Four PILLARS For GREAT THINGS

ACADEMIC AFFORDABILITY

UNIVERSITY LIFE

PROGRAM EXCELLENCE

CAREY FUND

FACULTY ENDOWMENT

In addition to the unrestricted endowment, we would like to endow faculty positions in order to recruit highly qualified professors who will invest heavily in our students. An endowed chair is a faculty position that is privately funded with a gift that generates enough interest to supply a salary for the professor in perpetuity, thus taking pressure off the operating budget.

SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

When William Carey’s scholarship endowment grows, every bit of that support helps students by providing a Christian education to those who otherwise might not be able to afford one, particularly middle-income families who do not qualify for federal grants. The scholarship endowment supports academic, athletic, ministry, and talent scholarships that help recruit and retain students who are skilled in their fields and aligned with William Carey’s mission.

ENDOWMENT

ACADEMIC Affordability

A university’s endowment is a collection of assets that is invested to produce an annual return in perpetuity. Though William Carey’s endowment has grown considerably over the past decade, it still stands at just $37 million, which is substantially less than competitive institutions of similar age and size. In today’s economic environment and culture, we must make significant gains in growing our endowment and launching new scholarships that can be deployed immediately. Our endowment goals through this campaign are threefold:

UNRESTRICTED ENDOWMENT

Delivering an outstanding yet affordable education at a private, Christian university is a costly endeavor, but William Carey University is committed to this mission. Boosting the unrestricted endowment will allow us to keep our tuition competitively low and continue to provide free textbooks for our undergraduate students. A significant increase in our unrestricted endowment will be a vital help for us as we seek to build on our success and take our institution to the next level.

GREAT THINGS Campaign

LIFEUniversity

THROUGH THE LORD’S PROVIDENCE, THE MAIN WILLIAM CAREY CAMPUS IN HATTIESBURG IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION, FOLLOWING A 2017 TORNADO THAT CAUSED MASSIVE DESTRUCTION. LIKEWISE, OUR BILOXI CAMPUS IS IN GOOD SHAPE AFTER WE REBUILT IT IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005. BUT STILL, WITH THE RECENT GROWTH OF THE UNIVERSITY,

WE DO HAVE SOME PRESSING PHYSICAL NEEDS THAT, IF ADDRESSED, WOULD MAKE WILLIAM CAREY EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND GENERATE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT ON CAMPUS.

CONSTRUCT HOUSING, DINING, AND STUDENT LIFE SPACE IN BILOXI

Our Tradition campus in Biloxi desperately needs space for student

life. The campus houses our pharmacy school and other programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. While the campus itself is brand new, it doesn’t offer any dining or housing options. The coastal area of Mississippi is a highly populated region that is a large recruiting base for William Carey. Offering student life, housing, and dining space on the Biloxi campus would allow us to attract more students from that population center – while also better serving our current students – and give them a place where they can more conveniently pursue their studies.

OFFERING

STUDENT LIFE, HOUSING, AND DINING SPACE ON THE BILOXI CAMPUS WILL ALLOW US TO ATTRACT MORE STUDENTS

RENOVATE THE CAMPUS DINING HALL IN HATTIESBURG

The dining hall in Hattiesburg is one of the older buildings on campus, and it’s one of the few buildings that we did not lose in the 2017 tornado or renovate immediately afterward. The out-of-date facility needs a complete renovation that will match the rest of the recent campus upgrades, provide more space, and give our students a more aesthetically pleasing dining experience. The dining hall will accommodate 800 students, faculty, and staff after it is finished.

PROGRAM Excellence

EXPAND OUR TENNIS FACILITY

Our men’s tennis team won the conference championship this year, and both our men’s and women’s teams are regularly ranked in the top 10 nationally. This project will provide a new facility for tennis locker rooms that we currently do not have, as well as a viewing area.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELD HOUSE

Our baseball team closed their 2023 season by placing in the top 4 of the 2023 NAIA World Series and our softball team finished their 2023 season with eight total All-Conference players. The Bobby Halford Fieldhouse will provide a first-time facility that will feature locker rooms and an equipment room.

RENOVATE THE PERFORMANCE AUDITORIUM AND PRACTICE ROOMS

William Carey’s music program is one of our cornerstones. We have almost 250 music education students and more than 20 performance groups, including an orchestra, worship choir, multiple bands, and various choral ensembles. The auditorium in Thomas Hall is outdated and was never fully updated when we repaired the building following the 2017 tornado. This project would enhance the performance hall by providing new seating, acoustic tiles, and a new projector system, among other improvements, in addition to a renovation of practice rooms – giving us a facility that matches the quality of our music programs and students.

TENNIS

BUILD ADDITION TO LAWRENCE HALL FOR ART DEPARTMENT

We have an outstanding art program with no home, as our art department is currently housed in a couple of old houses adjacent to campus and rundown classrooms in Lawrence Hall. This project would allow for an addition to the back of Lawrence Hall so our art department can have a permanent home. Though our art department is not large, it’s growing, and we have strong faculty members and gifted students. The potential for additional growth is promising if we invest in a facility that will attract prospective students.

WE HAVE STRONG FACULTY MEMBERS AND GIFTED STUDENTS

LAWRENCE HALL

CAREY FUND

While funding of endowed scholarships is certainly a pressing need, a strong endowment also needs a healthy supply of unrestricted gifts. Unrestricted donations can be used at the discretion of university administrators, providing the institution with greater flexibility to use funds where they are needed the most. Unrestricted gifts provide ongoing resources to support the mission and work of William Carey University.

How TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL

THIS CAMPAIGN DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT, PRAYERS, AND GENEROSITY OF THE ENTIRE WILLIAM CAREY COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED TO STEP FORWARD WITH LEADERSHIP GIFTS, NOT ONLY FROM CURRENT INCOME, BUT ALSO FROM STORED ASSETS. WHILE WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THE

US THAT

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS TO MAKE COMMITMENTS ALONG THESE LINES:

Projected Gifts Required

$26.5M CAMPAIGN ASSUMES A 3-YEAR PLEDGE PERIOD $26,500,000 GOAL

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

– Psalm 127:1

THE TIME ISNow

NOW IS THE TIME FOR FRIENDS OF WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY TO INVEST IN ITS FUTURE. NOW IS THE TIME FOR THESE PROJECTS TO GO FORWARD, AS WE BUILD ON A SURGE OF MOMENTUM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE ADDITION OF WILLIAM CAREY’S MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Our school of education has also seen impressive growth. Dr. Burnett has begun casting a vision for the future of William Carey. Energy and enthusiasm are high, and William Carey is certainly performing well, but the needs are urgent. We could easily lose the momentum that we’ve worked so hard to establish – or we could continue building and take William Carey to another level of service, excellence, and influence.

We live in challenging times, when Christian universities like William Carey are threatened like never before. A number of faith-based institutions may not survive for another decade, because they are not strong enough to weather the coming economic and social challenges. Other Christian universities may survive but will choose to abandon their mission in an attempt to appease critics and prolong their existence. We reject both of those options. We pledge to remain faithful to our mission and not to drift away from our Christian and denominational roots. And we expect, through careful planning, through the support of friends like you, and through trust in God that we will continue to survive and to thrive, whatever comes our way. This campaign is a step in that direction.

GreatExpectingThings, ATTEMPTING GREAT THINGS

IN WHAT IS QUITE POSSIBLY HIS MOST FAMOUS QUOTE, WILLIAM CAREY ONCE SAID, “EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD; ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD.”

This campaign is our attempt to do exactly that. We know that $26.5 million is a lofty goal. But let us never say that we failed to dream big about what God can do through William Carey University. Let us never say that we doubted the urgency or the importance of our mission. From now until Christ’s return, the work of WCU will be vital and necessary in preparing leaders for the future to answer their diverse calling, and in proclaiming the glory of the Lord to the world around us. We want to do great things for God. And we trust and expect that God will raise up people like you to do great things of their own by partnering with us in our mission. Will you join us? Your investment in William Carey University creates our future. Let’s attempt great things, together, and watch in expectation to see what great things God will do in response through our prayers, our diligence, and our faithfulness.

DR. BEN BURNETT President