INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ENTERPRISE STRATEGY / PFEIFFER JOURNEY / FAITH IN ACTION
CONNECTIONS
A periodic newsletter celebrating the spirit of community and engagement at Pfeiffer University.
DECEMBER 2013 Alumni & Friends, Relevance, value-exchange, impact. These are the words that describe Pfeiffer University in 2013. From enhancing undergraduate and graduate programming and improving facilities, to linking our campuses through technology, programs and partnerships and increasing our visibility through updated branding, Pfeiffer is on the move! Over the past several months, faculty and staff from across Pfeiffer University’s three campuses have engaged in intensive collaboration to define an aspirational and realistic strategic course for moving the institution forward. The outcome of this team effort is our new “enterprise strategy,” which will serve, essentially, as a guide for achieving new heights. This publication, CONNECTIONS, provides alumni, friends and other significant stakeholders an outline for the enterprise strategy, an introduction to its goals and a glimpse into some of the ways Pfeiffer is already demonstrating its promise. We hope that as you read the following pages, you are energized by Pfeiffer’s extraordinary commitment to delivering to our students an exceptional educational experience and creating an environment where innovation thrives. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2014.
Michael C. Miller, President
pfeiffer forward
MODELING AN EXCITING FUTURE FOR PFEIFFER Stroll across any college campus and At the same time, the marketplace has it’s clear that higher education is in the experienced a seismic shift. Today’s midst of a radical revolution. Thanks to employers seek college graduates who new technologies and not only possess a depth our society’s thirst for of knowledge but are The enterprise strategy instant information, shaped by practice and builds on the best that learning now takes place experience. Professionals Pfeiffer has to offer and anytime and anywhere. in every field are expected takes the university to Beneath the shade of a to be adaptable, skilled, another level. tree you’ll spot a student connected and globally reading a textbook online. Professors aware. To enter the workforce today—and collaborate on research with colleagues be considered competitive for the careers across the world with Skype and digitized of tomorrow—students must bring an libraries. In a residence hall, a student experiential component as part watches a chemistry lecture on a laptop. of their college education. continued on page 2
Bringing the Enterprise Strategy to Life Enterprise Strategy Goals • Deliver a distinctive undergraduate curriculum • Integrate learning and living • Expand our in-demand professional offerings • Create strategic partnerships around intellectual capital development • Link our campuses into a comprehensive university • Invest in teaching, learning and collaboration technologies • Improve our campus and facilities • Raise Pfeiffer’s visibility, brand identity and reputation • Manage market expansion and enrollment and revenue growth • Conduct a major fundraising campaign
The enterprise strategy will guide Pfeiffer as we sustain and grow our presence in the region and continue to make an impact on the workforce. Faculty, staff and trustees are eager to work with students, alumni and friends to enhance Pfeiffer’s visibility with our various constituencies, including prospective students and area employers. president michael c. miller
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pfeiffer forward
MODELING AN EXCITING FUTURE FOR PFEIFFER continued from cover
Since Pfeiffer University was founded in 1885 by education pioneer Emily Prudden, we have demonstrated a commitment to student success through personal relationships, opportunities to explore servant leadership and developing the whole student. We reach beyond academics to include in the Pfeiffer experience growth in character, spirituality and leadership. Today as we make strides toward seizing the future, Pfeiffer is ready to embrace further Emily Prudden’s original vision through a newly adopted enterprise strategy that is designed to move Pfeiffer forward on the wave of the current higher education transformation while honoring the timeless values of our institution. Simply stated, the enterprise strategy—developed over the past year by Pfeiffer’s leaders, trustees, faculty and staff working with expert counsel and community partners—is a business model. “The enterprise strategy builds on the best that Pfeiffer has to offer and takes the university to another level,” said Dr. Tracy Espy, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “It provides a clear roadmap for getting us where we need to be to grow, lead and thrive powerfully in the 21st century.”
A Structured Mentoring Approach to Improve Student Success A major component of the enterprise strategy for the undergraduate program involves implementing a comprehensive four-year mentoring model known as Pfeiffer Journey. This model is based on a developmental sequence where faculty mentors guide students from their first day on campus through choosing a major, enrolling in appropriate courses and identifying meaningful career-related experiences to enhance their education and prepare them for today’s competitive workforce. To achieve this, Pfeiffer will make new investments in teaching, learning and collaborative technologies to increase student engagement, satisfaction and retention. State-of-the-art classroom technology, tools to connect campuses digitally and electronically and experiential learning opportunities will be at the center of the student experience.
“This approach will allow undergraduates to reach their highest level of academic potential,” said Dr. Espy. “By the time they finish their degrees here, Pfeiffer graduates will be able to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others and present themselves professionally to the world.” Three Campuses, One Institution With the enterprise strategy, faculty and staff at Pfeiffer University’s three campuses will collaborate more closely to continue an integrative process that began in 1998. Changes since then to the academic structure, which involved combining seven academic divisions into four, have set the stage to provide undergraduate and graduate students from all programs a variety of diverse learning experiences in Misenheimer, Charlotte and Raleigh. “The whole is always greater than the sum
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY—CONNECTIONS
of its parts,” said Dr. Espy. “By creating new ways for students to engage in learning at any of our campus locations, whether that means broadening opportunities for field research or participating in cultural events, Pfeiffer is able to better utilize all its resources to enhance their experience.”
Today’s technologies—and an investment in them as well as comprehensive and ongoing faculty training—make feasible the unification of Pfeiffer’s campuses. Among the assets required are the tools to offer a greater number of hybrid classes with both on-campus and online components; equipping all classrooms and other learning spaces with WiFi capability; and making sure faculty members on all three campuses continue to have the capacity to capture their lectures in digital form so students can review them 24/7 from any location. Building Professional Opportunities Every year, Pfeiffer students volunteer thousands of community service hours and complete internships at local and regional businesses and organizations. Students also sign up for internships on Capitol Hill, living in DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C., while they earn credit through placements at the Smithsonian, with Senators and Congressmen, and for C-SPAN and other exciting locations. The enterprise strategy calls for formalizing these professional experiences so that all majors include an internship or practicum as a requirement for graduation. To accomplish this, Pfeiffer is committed to building relationships with the region’s top businesses, health care organizations, government offices and nonprofit agencies to expand students’ options
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for essential career-related experiences—and expanding career services programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. As We Grow, We Grow in Faith In moving forward with the enterprise strategy, Pfeiffer not only remains committed to our heritage as a United Methodist-related university but pledges to deepen our ties by expanding church relations efforts locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Through programs such as Plan, Prepare Protect, a series of expert seminars for church personnel about identifying and mitigating risk in congregations; the Clergy Health Institute, a pilot program to enhance clergy health; a new church ambassador program designed to heighten Pfeiffer’s visibility in congregations; hosting the annual mission school of the United Methodist Women, Western North Carolina Conference and a variety of others, we aim to become the preeminent United Methodist-sponsored university in the Southeast. Through these and other similar outreach efforts, ministers, congregations and prospective students will know Pfeiffer better, become familiar with the expertise of our faculty and staff, and fully realize the value of a Pfeiffer education.
The Bottom Line: Character and Community Matter Most Ask any freshman why the choice is Pfeiffer, and you’ll likely hear something like this: “I want to be part of a community where I can do things that matter.” While recognizing the need to move forward into the 21st century with new technologies, expanded experiential learning opportunities, a more unified campus system and a curriculum that is as relevant as it is exciting, Pfeiffer continues to be committed to building community ties and the character of our students. “What students gain from a Pfeiffer experience has always been about much more than a degree or career,” said Dr. Espy. “While we recognize that they might change careers several times and must be equipped for those moves, we’re most interested in helping them build character that will serve them over their lifetimes.” As the university moves forward to meet the goals of the enterprise strategy, Pfeiffer is committed as ever to providing a living, learning laboratory where students have the chance to grow personally as well as professionally. In addition to expanding leadership opportunities through clubs, service learning and athletics, undergraduates now may choose to reside in living-learning communities designed for such groups as honor students or health professions majors. “College is about learning who you are as you live with others in an intellectual community where knowledge is delivered and you’re expected to analyze and challenge it,” said Dr. Espy. “The power and beauty of a college education is that it transforms you through your interactions with other people.”
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living - learning communities
Taking Residence Life to a New Level Freshmen Haleigh Silvers, education, and Darien Malone, business and psychology, are residents of Pfeiffer’s QUEST living-learning community, a model of residential campus living that often results in higher student satisfaction, persistence rates, GPAs and professional school entrance exams and deeper connection to the university than those of students who choose more traditional living arrangements. QUEST, designed to augment the first-year Pfeiffer Journey experience through shared
similar interests, having access to special programs and academic support, and interacting with faculty outside the classroom are just a few of the benefits of Pfeiffer’s livinglearning environments.
living in Cline Hall, connects residence life to academics and opportunities offered by Francis Center for Servant Leadership, Center for Outdoor Leadership and the Village Church. Living with students with
QUEST was offered for the first time in fall 2013 along with PATHways, a living-learning community for first-year students majoring in pre-health professions, nursing and exercise science. Additional living-learning options are being considered for introduction in fall 2014 and beyond.
pfeiffer journey
COACHING STUDENTS THROUGH A FOUR-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Phase 2 extends the program to sophomores By Deborah Burris, assistant professor of communications & director, Pfeiffer Journey/Freshman Experience
With a commitment to offering a level of intensive student coaching rarely found in a university setting, Pfeiffer University faculty advisors are learning through ongoing training to help students navigate the significant transitions they confront over the course of a four-year experience. With an institutional priority to educate the whole student, our aim is to provide students, through a “high-tech, high-touch” approach, the tools they’ll need for successful lives and careers. Three years ago, we introduced Pfeiffer Journey, a groundbreaking first-year experience for incoming students that connects them to Pfeiffer in ways designed to increase the likelihood of academic success and sustained enrollment. After evaluating the results of our efforts, it is clear that fundamental to the success of the program is the ability of faculty and staff advisors to effectively guide and mentor students. This fall, lessons learned from the program’s early focus on freshmen were applied to expand Pfeiffer Journey to address the unique needs of our sophomores. According to emerging research, second-year students enter what might be considered the most challenging points in a college career both in terms of academic and personal concerns. Exposed to new possibilities during their first year, sophomores often change their
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minds about the majors they selected as freshmen as they contemplate future careers. For many students, the second year is a time of enormous growth around ultimate values and discovering life purpose. We are responding to students’ needs during this formative period in two ways. First through an off-campus experience called Sophomore Retreat where faculty leaders guide students toward renewed commitment to personal goals and academic aspirations. Second, we’ve developed a customized mentoring system that matches sophomores to seniors, deepening our commitment to offering a mentoring culture at every level. Pfeiffer Journey, a program that connects freshmen and sophomores to Pfeiffer in ways that increase the likelihood of academic success, includes intensive coaching from faculty and community service.
Pfeiffer clearly understands that each phase of the academic experience introduces new challenges to students. As Pfeiffer Journey evolves through subsequent phases to meet those challenges, we will offer extraordinary coaching unparalleled in higher education.
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY—CONNECTIONS
faith in action
USING ONE’S GIFTS FOR GOD’S PURPOSE
A
fter a career working for and leading major accounting firms, including 25 years as a partner—and directing the healthcare division of—Dixon, Hughes, Goodman LLP, the country’s 15th largest public accounting and consulting firm and the South’s largest, Larry Hughes is semi-retired. But he’s found new ways to spend his time.
Using the knowledge acquired serving clients as he helped them improve their business operations, Mr. Hughes now lends his expertise in the office of the chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organization based in Boone, N.C. A United Methodist, he’s also enrolled in Pfeiffer’s Master of Arts in Practical Theology program to learn as much as he can about the faith that drives him. “It’s important to me that my passion be fueled not just by emotion but by intellect,” he said. “While I don’t aspire to become clergy, a better understanding of my faith and its applications will help me fulfill God’s intention for my service.”
whether through ordination, Christian education, church administration, missions and evangelism or pastoral care and counseling. “The MAPT program provides students with the tools to integrate their faith into the everyday places of their lives,” said Rev. Kathleen Kilbourne, director, MAPT program. “Larry exemplifies true servant leadership through his desire to be equipped to use his God-given talents as effectively as possible as a lay person. His compassionate and humble spirit invites others to work alongside him.”
While I don’t aspire to become clergy, a better understanding of my faith and its applications will help me fulfill God’s intention for my service.
Pfeiffer’s MAPT program offers academically rigorous theological reflection in a learning environment that encourages collaboration for those seeking to serve God and their communities in a variety of ways,
larry hughes
Lifelong Connections Enrich Pfeiffer & Friends Relationships with Pfeiffer University often last a lifetime. Professor Emeritus J. Griffin “Griff” Campbell, who taught English at Pfeiffer from 1956-85, is a prime example. Now in his 90s, he credits the university’s family-oriented atmosphere and surrounding community as the factors that energized his 30-year stay in Misenheimer. Dr. Campbell maintains a deep connection with Pfeiffer to this day—as the parent of Pfeiffer alumni and through his desire and that of his wife, Betty, to help advance the institution through charter membership in the Emily Prudden Heritage Society, the new planned giving society named for Pfeiffer’s forward-thinking founder. “I want to see Pfeiffer grow and become more well-known throughout the region,” said Dr. Campbell. “It’s my sincere hope that
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future students continue to receive quality training based in the liberal arts.” In addition, Dr. Campbell recently served as the inaugural speaker for the Emily Prudden Heritage Society Life Enrichment Lecture series. At this event hosted by alumnae Anne Daniel ’67, Margaret Whitt ’68 and friend of Pfeiffer Rose Jay, he recited a poem by Robert Frost and offered a reflection to alumni and friends in attendance. “For more than 50 years, Dr. and Mrs. Campbell have made a positive and meaningful impact on many lives at Pfeiffer,” said John C. Lefler ’66, Pfeiffer’s philanthropic advisor, who remembers fondly his association with Dr. Campbell while a Pfeiffer undergraduate. “Their influence is certain to continue through their generous planned gift.”
It’s my sincere hope that future students continue to receive quality training based in the liberal arts. dr. j. griffin campbell
Anne Daniel ’67, Rose Jay, Betty Campbell, Dr. J. Griffin Campbell, Margaret Whitt ’68 and Al Rose ‘63
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Deepening United Methodist Connections through Programming with Regional, National & Global Reach The best advice Rev. Joy Melton ’77 offers church personnel about managing various types of risk in their congregations is “pay now or pay later.” Rev. Melton, Atlanta-based attorney, United Methodist minister and author of the well-known Safe Sanctuaries book series, knows from more than two decades of working Rev. Joy Melton ’77, partner, directly with local churches and Hindson and Melton Attorneys at Law at the denominational level that congregations that invest time and resources in developing and implementing policies, procedures and training designed to protect their ministries and congregants can prevent or “get in front of” negative behavior before or as it occurs. “United Methodist churches, like many others, have had to pay millions over the past several years in compensation for financial fraud and other types of misconduct, often leaving them financially and spiritually bankrupt,” said Rev. Melton. “Knowing how to plan and protect gives churches the tools to identify and manage the factors that can create chaos, harm people and damage reputations.”
Working with Rev. Melton, risk management experts from the Security Executive Council and select faculty members, Pfeiffer’s Office of Church Relations has developed Plan, Prepare, Protect, a series of training seminars based on Safe Sanctuaries for clergy and lay church leaders that provides them with a blueprint for putting into action workable plans for protecting finances, digital information, property and people. “Plan, Prepare, Protect is just one expression of Pfeiffer’s commitment to connecting to denominational, district and local church leaders through support and programming with regional, national and global impact,” said Rev. Sherri L. Barnes, associate director for university and church relations. “It demonstrates Pfeiffer’s desire and ability to support and help grow the United Methodist tradition.”
PLAN, PREPARE, PROTECT–2014 SEMINARS January 16, April 10 and September 11 Pfeiffer’s Charlotte campus For more information and to register, please visit www.pfeiffer.edu/riskmanagement or contact Rev. Sherri Barnes, sherri.barnes@pfeiffer.edu.
IF THE SHOE FITS
Entrepreneurial alumni combine success & service
R
ick ’78 and Linda Hearne Tunner ’81 know that work is a pleasure when you love what you do. The New London, N.C., natives, who met
at Pfeiffer as commuter students, own and operate Professional On-Site Sales, applying a business model that allows them to achieve success while giving back to communities across North Carolina. After a 25-year career in textile manufacturing, Rick attempted retirement. Before long, however, he started Professional On-Site Sales. Together, he and Linda work with volunteer departments at medical centers
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throughout the state to set up sales of brand name shoes and accessories for employees, patients, visitors and community members. Hospitals receive 20 percent of proceeds from sales at their sites, often exceeding annual fundraising goals. “Our job is not to sell shoes; it’s to raise money for the hospitals, volunteer departments and auxiliaries,” said Rick. “It’s gratifying to hear that after our sales the hospitals often are able to invest in ‘wish list’
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY—CONNECTIONS
UNDERGRADUATE LESSONS APPLY TO GRADUATE STUDY—AND LIFE Online MBA program supports a unique student-athlete experience
N
ow that Tyler Summers ‘13—with two internships and a degree in accounting from Pfeiffer under his belt—has completed the first semester of the online MBA program, he appreciates the focus the undergraduate faculty place on communication skills.
“Learning to communicate in a professional way is a key factor for entering the job market with confidence,” he said. “I truly believe that this kind of attention is not available at a large university.” According to Dr. Patrick Malloy, assistant professor of accounting, business majors often lack the communication skills to interact effectively in a professional setting. With communication skills a priority among hiring managers, Pfeiffer is making sure students participate in coursework and activities that help them refine this critical quality. “We collaborate with people in the field as well as integrate business communications into the curriculum,” said Dr. Malloy. “Through membership in professional organizations, students are able to practice conversing with seasoned experts. This way they are prepared for networking and interviewing.”
items that hadn’t been budgeted, such as scholarships, equipment for patient units or home monitoring systems.” This approach has helped Rick and Linda, who now live in Hampstead, N.C., carve a place for their company in a competitive environment. They were warned that due to established vendor sale schedules they’d be lucky the first year to land a handful of sale locations. Determined to find a “win-win” solution for hospitals and their business, Rick and Linda secured 19 events the first year and will complete more than 40 in 2013. “Rick and Linda Tunner embody the values that Pfeiffer University encourages students from every academic program to make
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The option to pursue a Pfeiffer MBA online allows Tyler Summers ’13, right, to make strides toward a successful career while he completes a final year of eligibility to play Falcons baseball.
Tyler, who plans to become a certified public accountant, transitioned directly to graduate school rather than taking the more traditional path of working first. He knows the combination of internships, communications training and a Pfeiffer MBA will give him a leg up when he begins a job search. The online option allows him to take advantage of a final year of eligibility to play Falcons baseball, available due to time off for elbow surgery during his sophomore year. With online enrollment, he can continue his student-athlete experience and live near the Misenheimer campus to access Pfeiffer’s athletic facilities rather than commute to Charlotte for seated graduate-level classes. “Playing baseball while pursuing an MBA is possible only with great time management skills,” said Tyler. “To be at peak performance on the field, which is critical to being a good teammate, I have to make sure my assignments are up to date. These are all lessons I will be able to apply to the business world.”
part of their everyday lives,” said Thad Henry, special assistant to the president for leadership and advancement. “Their experience makes clear that incorporating a sense of mission and purpose into one’s personal and professional life is realistic, attainable and rewarding.” Now, Pfeiffer University and Professional On-Site Sales are exploring ways to offer meaningful career development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate business students. Through internships and other prospective “learning laboratory” options, students will be able to study the Tunners’s unique strategy for combining business and service.
“Our Pfeiffer experience taught us that success can be defined a number of ways,” said Rick. “Our business model allows us to deliver a high-quality product to our customers, make contributions across our home state and craft a meaningful living for ourselves. If we can do it, others can too.”
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2013 DONOR REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE As a private institution, Pfeiffer University continues to rely on the generous support of those who choose to give of their time and resources. During the last fiscal year, we raised more than $4.4 million from the more than 2,200 people who found a reason to support Pfeiffer. We are ever grateful for family and friends who perpetually sustain Pfeiffer’s educational mission. To view the 2013 Annual Report, please visit community.pfeiffer.edu/2013annualreport.
SAVE THE DATE ALUMNI NIGHT Saturday, February 1 at 5:30 p.m. Merner Gym Falcons vs. Lees–McRae Free admission for all alumni
HOMECOMING 2014 Saturday, October 4 For more information about these and other Pfeiffer events, visit www.pfeiffer.edu.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Office of Advancement P.O. Box 960 Misenheimer, NC 28109 www.pfeiffer.edu
MISENHEIMER, NC 28109 PERMIT NO. 2