ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13
Ripon College’s future gaining momentum I love being the president of Ripon
The most
College. I also know that I am
important
incredibly fortunate to have the
commitment
opportunity to work with phenomenal
we make as an
trustees, faculty, staff and alumni.
institution is to
Thousands of people care deeply
our students. In
about Ripon College and believe in its
everything we
future. So many people give so much
do, the primary
of their time, resources and expertise;
question we
I am in awe of the generational
must always
responsibility of those who continue
ask ourselves
to give back so that the College can
is: “How does
flourish today.
this benefit
Zach P. Messitte President
our students?” The 2012-2013 As I begin my second year as
Annual Report answers this question
president, I am reminded again about
clearly. The success of the Imagine
what I love the most about my job:
Tomorrow campaign, the awarding
our students. This fall, I am teaching
of new faculty grants, the increased
Introduction to International Relations
engagement from alumni, the
from 8 to 9:55 a.m. every Monday and
success of our scholar-athletes, the
Wednesday. Many college presidents
buzz on campus from the visits of
self-proclaim that they are “too busy
prominent speakers and our pride in
to teach.” I am in the classroom by
the graduate school achievements
choice; it is sacred space, and it
of the Class of 2013 all point to where
makes me a better leader. While I
we place our priorities. We are – at the
hope that my lectures and discussions
most fundamental level – devoted to
illuminate my students’ views of the
helping our students achieve their full
world, what often happens is exactly
potential. I am very proud of what we
the opposite: Ripon College students
accomplished at Ripon College in the
energize me to try to see the world
past year, but I am even more excited
through their eyes.
for our future.
Imagine Tomorrow Campaign Progress Imagine Tomorrow, Ripon College’s
A gift from the estate of Frank Brewster
five-year, $50 million comprehensive
’65 provided for the purchase of a
campaign, continues to maintain
Steinway concert grand piano, and
momentum and now stands at $40
initial leadership funds are being raised
million — $5 million more than the
to plan and upgrade our athletic,
update announced in February when
recreation and fitness facilities.
the public phase of the campaign was launched. Because of the continued generosity of alumni, staff and friends, we remain on pace to achieve our goal by 2015.
New faculty chairs ■
Dr. Robert Amsden, professor of theatre, Doreen L. ’73 and David I. Chemerow Chair in Theatre
■ David W. Scott, assistant professor
Contributions are being directed
of religion, Pieper Chair of Servant
toward substantially increasing
Leadership
the endowment, which stands at its highest point ever. The College already is planning new programs, scholarships, faculty and student research support, and off-campus study opportunities that go above and beyond what can be covered by tuition dollars.
Enhanced facilities Our historic buildings, designed for the academic needs of past generations, need to be continually updated to accommodate the changing lifestyles of our students and constantly emerging new learning technologies. Recent enhancements include:
Ripon College belongs to all generations, and enthusiastic alumni support is a strong testament to how the College impacts the lives of its students. Major gifts to date include nearly $4 million from the C.B. (’31) and Elizabeth J. Wegner estate — the
■ West Hall Museum renovations ■ New roofs for Tri-Dorms and West Hall ■ Bottle-filling stations added to each of the residence halls ■ Campus signage ■ New seats in Benstead Theatre
largest individual gift in Ripon history.
For more information about Imagine Tomorrow, visit ripon.edu/imagine-tomorrow.
Imagine Tomorrow All Gifts to Date by Source
Corporations 1%
Foundations 5%
Parents 1%
Friends 11%
Alumni 82%
Robert Amsden, center, rehearses “The Rover” with Kevin Whiteneir ’15, foreground, in October 2012. From an endowed gift as part of the Imagine Tomorrow comprehensive campaign, Amsden has been named the first Doreen L. ’73 and David I. Chemerow Chair in Theatre.
Gifts and Grants to Ripon College Gifts to the Annual Fund are an
Funding proposals
integral part of Imagine Tomorrow.
Thirty-seven proposals to foundations,
Unrestricted support affords the
corporations and grants-funding
College crucial flexibility to apply funds
government agencies more than
to areas of greatest need and allows
doubled those of FY’12. As of June
donors an immediate impact on the
30, 2013, 19 were funded with a
College’s financial well-being.
combined value of $413,596, including
During FY’13, donors gifted $2,172,688 in unrestricted funds, up $218,399 from FY’12. Restricted giving grew more than $2 million. The combined total of $8,330,436 is our highest in a decade. Student philanthropy was up 14 percent, with 84 percent of the Class of
$100,000 from the National Science Foundation for Professor of Biology Robert Wallace and colleagues to study rotifers; $100,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for presidential initiatives; and $120,008 from the Suzanne and Richard Pieper Family Foundation for servant
2013 contributing to the senior class gift.
leadership and related activities.
Major and Planned Gifts
A separate five-year, $1.1 million
In FY’13, 704 personal visits were made with donors and prospective donors. Our 1851 Club gained 86 members for a total of 462. Members support the College at or above $1,000 in a given year or $50,000 or more in lifetime support. Young alumni (10 years out or fewer) who give $100 or more
grant from the U.S. Department of Education TRIO division continues the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, a unique collaboration between Ripon College, Lawrence University and St. Norbert College. First-generation, low-income and racially underrepresented
annually, also are members,
students are prepared for graduate
Thirty-two new households notified us
doctorate degrees. To date, 50
of estate plans which include Ripon
students have been placed in
College and became new Partners in
graduate schools, with 24 going
the Legacy.
directly into doctorate programs.
school and the attainment of
To view the online Honor Roll of Donors, visit ripon.edu/donors13.
Restricted Fund in millions
Non-Bequest Bequest Total Restricted Gifts
FY’13 $1.92m FY’13 $4.24m
FY’12 $1.3m
FY’12: $2.75m FY’12 $4.06m
Annual Fund
FY’13 $6.16m
Non-Bequest
in millions
Bequest Total Unrestricted Gifts
FY’13 $2.06m
FY’12 $1.88m
FY’13: $0.11m FY’12 $0.08m
FY’12 $1.95m
Terrah Jones ’11, a McNair Scholar while at Ripon College, is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in archaeology at the University of California at Los Angeles. Here, she excavates soil at Cerro del Gentil, an archaeological mound site on the southern coast of Peru, during the summer of 2012.
FY’13 $2.17m
Revenue and Expenses The strong progress of Imagine
Nine weddings were accommodated
Tomorrow coupled with our investment
on campus, which generated $11,200
strategies boosted Ripon College’s
in revenues for the College.
financial picture during FY’13. Financial statements for the year ended June
The majority of expenses during FY’13
30, 2013, reflect an increase to net
were related to student support, costs
assets of $7,316,140.
associated with academic instruction
Conference Services accommodated
and upgrades to facilities.
12 income-producing conference groups during FY’13 that brought in
The College provided more than
gross revenues of about $185,900, an
$13,198,000 in financial assistance to
increase of nearly $15,000 over FY’12.
98 percent of its students.
Endowment The endowment value as of June 30, 2013, was $71,227,447, our highest level ever. This reflects an increase during the year of $8,976,269. The increase on our investments represented a 13.8-percent return.
Market Value of the Endowment $80 million $60 million $40 million $20 million $0
’04
’05
’06
’07
’08*
’09*
’10
’11
’12
’13
*The stock market crash and subsequent recession of 2008–2009 affected these numbers.
Revenues Other Income 4.0%
Student Tuition & Fees 37.3%
Investments 24.2%
Contributions Auxiliary 15.6% Enterprises 18.9%
Expenditures Academic Support 3.3% Student Services 15.9%
Public Services 1.9%
Instruction 40.7%
Auxiliary Enterprises 17.7% Institutional Support 20.5%
First-years Erin Canon and Ben Vorpahl both have received substantial aid awards to attend Ripon College. Canon received a Founders’ Scholarship, and Vorpahl received a Gleason Presidential Scholarship, established by the late Owen Gleason ’73 and his wife, Roxanne. The students stand in the West Hall Museum, which currently is undergoing an update.
Enrollment/Outcomes Ripon College received 1,319
National Park Trust, Rep. Tod Ohnstad,
applications for first-time, first-year
Wisconsin State Legislature, Golden
admission for the fall of 2013; 992
Sands Conservation Group LLC and
were offered admission, and 238
NCSA Athletic Recruiting.
enrolled. Ten transfer students also enrolled. The Class of 2017 includes 31 legacies, whose brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents or great-grandparents attended the College. We continue to make a nationally recognized, liberal arts education affordable to all qualified candidates regardless of their financial background. Outcomes Graduates 219 students earned degrees in 2013. Of those, 54 had double-majors; 17 earned Phi Beta Kappa honors; 12 graduated summa cum laude, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher; 24 magna cum laude (3.70); and 39 cum laude (3.40). Jobs and Graduate School Ninety-six percent of 2012 graduates were employed, student-teaching or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Graduate schools students are attending include Northwestern Health Sciences University, UW-Madison, University of Wales Institute Carniff, Marquette University Law School, North Carolina State University, Mayo School of Health Sciences and GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary. The acceptance rate for 2013 Ripon College students applying to medical school was 100 percent, including: Rachell Pachniak, Jimmy Rindt and Sarah Carballo. The one student who applied to veterinary school, Kyle Ruedinger, also was accepted. Social media Social media are increasingly important connection tools. Response to our accounts is growing: Ripon College Facebook: 3,687 Likes, up 23 percent Ripon College Twitter: 1,169 Followers, up 55.9 percent Red Hawks Facebook: 1,369 Likes,
Class of 2013 employers include the
up 22 percent
U.S. Army, Chicago White Sox, Missouri
Red Hawks Twitter: 371 Followers
Department of Natural Resources,
Enrollment Statistics 2004-13 1500 1319
1250 1081
1000 959
976
979
974
262
264
262
283
’05
’06
’07
’08
1160 1064
1115
1046
750 500 250 0
202 ’04
Enrolled
289
249
’09
’10
227
205
238
’11
’12
’13
Applied
Incoming Class Statistics 2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
ACT Mean
24
24
24
25
24
24
Top 10% Graduating Class (%)
26
28
30
23
26
23
50
61
61
54
50
53
10.6
14.9
12.1
14.1
16.1
18.1
Top 25% Graduating Class (%) Diversity (%)
Student Life Ripon College embraces diversity —
and potential career paths; an
both in the people who live, learn
innovative Career Discovery Tour to
and work here and in experiences
Chicago; and individually tailored
that enrich life in the classroom and
publications to prepare each senior
beyond. The College has a proud
for careers, graduate study or service
history of providing students autonomy
opportunities.
over an activity fee to support a vibrant co-curricular life, including
Student Organizations/Activities
guest speakers, artists, musicians and
Ripon students led and participated
entertainers. The campus provides
in more than 50 student clubs and
valuable programs and services
organizations in FY’13, including five
to meet a broad range of student
new organizations. New programming
interests, needs and concerns,
included an Easter egg hunt and
increasing both engagement and
Hazing Prevention. In addition to
retention.
a biannual Cultural Connection e-newsletter, new multicultural
Tutoring contracts
events also were added. With
Ripon’s “success-oriented” tutoring
Ripon After Dark (RAD), students
model teaches students that tutoring
gained experience in programming,
is simply another form of practice.
leadership development and
Just as in music, debate, theatre or
responsible social interaction.
athletics, success in the classroom requires practice and coaching. More
Off-campus opportunities
than 30 percent of enrolled students
Twenty-five foreign and 11 U.S.-based
held tutoring contracts during each of
semester-long programs, as well as
the past three academic years.
five three-week “Maymester” trips were offered. Students also had
Career Development
the opportunity to participate in
Programming included Major
alternative service trips during fall,
Fest, where 101 students explored
winter and spring breaks.
academic programs at Ripon
First-Year Retention Rates
Counseling and Health Services Health Center Visits: 1,717 Counseling Services Visits: 376 Trainings/Workshops/Activities: 14,
First-to-second year student return rate for all entering first-time, full-time degree-seeking students 2012 2011 2010 60%
65%
70%
Ripon College Public 4-Year Colleges (average)
75%
80%
85%
90%
All 4-Year Colleges (average) Private 4-Year Colleges (average) Source: ACT
including: • “Suicide & Self-Injury Preparedness/Peer Counseling/Responding vs. Reacting” • “Stress Management, Referrals & Healthy Boundaries” • “Think Before You Drink,” alcohol awareness
New Opportunities for Students Book Club Monthly Diversity Dinners Young Americans for Liberty International Night of Fashion Equestrian teams Laser Tag in the Library Art Opening Jamboree Enthusiasts Hispanic Heritage Month International Month Home Away From Home Finding Nemo in the Pool LGBT Month Shaunna Baumhardt ’15, a business and economics major, was among the 46 students who participated in semester-long offcampus study programs during FY’13. She studied in St. Andrews, Scotland, during the spring semester of 2013.
Frost Boss Cupcake Decorating Wheel of Fun
Faculty Achievements Our faculty provide educational and
an international conference in
personal mentoring experiences
Argentina; and a Ripon College grant
that alumni remember for years and
to set up a public archaeology field
consider a key reason for their success
school.
after graduation. The student/faculty ratio is 12:1. The most recent National
Jody Roy, professor of communication and Victor and Carrie
College Student Survey shows 95
Palmer Endowed Chair
percent of students were satisfied or
for Leadership Values,
very satisfied with attention from faculty.
and Shawn Karsten ’09
Lamont Colucci, associate professor of
addressed the 2012
politics and government
meeting of the Wisconsin
and coordinator of the
Correctional Association after their
National Security Studies
two-year collaborative writing project
program, spent much
with inmates at Fox Lake Correctional
of 2012 in Austria as a
Institution. Roy’s book, “Autobiography
Fulbright Scholar. In the
of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank
fall, his two-volume set, “The National
Meeink Story,” has been optioned as a
Security Doctrines of the American
major motion picture.
Presidency: How They Shape Our Present and Future,” was published. He is a regular foreign policy columnist on
FACULTY AWARDS ■
2013 James R. Underkofler
the U.S. News & World Report website.
Excellence in Undergraduate
Emily Stovel, associate professor of anthropology, received
Teaching Award ■
$2,500 from the Meemic Foundation for the
documentaries, looms
George “Skip” Wittler, biology, May Bumby Severy ’08 Award
■
Future of Education to purchase anthropological
J. Timothy Petersik, psychology,
Joe Hatcher Jr., psychology, Senior Class Award
■
Samara Hamze, adjunct instructor of environmental studies, and
and supplies related to South American
Michele Wittler, registrar and
textile traditions; $20,000 from the
associate dean of faculty, Faculty/
Wenner-Gren Foundation to organize
Staff Mentor Award
Robert Wallace, professor of biology, and colleagues received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study rotifers. Wallace’s component is $25,000 per year for a total of $100,000. He also published an online paper (“Rotifera,” http://www.els.net/) with Hilary Smith ’07 (pictured here with Wallace), now a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Notre Dame.
Recognizing Our Distinctive Faculty Brian Bockelman, 2012 Vanderwood Prize (Honorable Mention) Brian Smith, “Person of the Year,” Ripon Commonwealth Press Lamont Colucci, Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs, American Foreign Policy Council David Graham, named Professor of Cultural Studies and nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his poem “When I am Elected President” Martin Farrell, Alumni Scholarship, Council for International Educational Exchange International Faculty Development Seminar: “Cuba in a Changing Global Community” Russ Blake, named Distinguished Professor of American History, Principles and Traditions Eddie Lowry, Distinguished Foreign Language Educator Award, Wisconsin Association of Foreign Languages Mary Unger, National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute grant ($3,300), “Making Modernism,” held at the Newberry Library
Engagement engage alumni, parents and friends of the College. Approximately 750 guests attended inauguration weekend, which coincided with Homecoming. The Investing in Ripon reception, honoring donors and scholarship unique events providing opportunities for engagement were held in FY’13 with more than 3,150 individuals in attendance. The Ripon College alumni network
recipients, hosted 175 alumni and guests, while the ceremony and picnic on Saturday brought in almost 600 alumni, faculty, staff, students, institutional representatives and guests.
is 10,000 strong. Our alumni
ALUMNI WEEKEND
remain connected. They read
Held June 27 through 30, 2013,
Ripon Magazine and the monthly
Alumni Weekend reached its highest
e-newsletter. They visit campus and
attendance on record with more than
share milestones. They volunteer at
650 attendees from 37 states from
events, provide internships and help
California to Maine, and class years
recruit graduates. They contribute to
from 1950 to 2016. This marked a nice
and share in our collective success.
increase since last year (612) and an
We seek to build long-term, meaningful relationships between the College and our alumni and to enrich the lives of graduates.
increase of more than 150 attendees since changing the event structure in 2008. More than $17,000 was raised for the athletic department by 132 golfers in the 5th Annual Red Hawks
Inauguration, Investing in Ripon
Golf Scramble. The Class of 1963
and Homecoming
had the highest on-campus reunion
The inauguration of our new president,
attendance at 43 percent; and the
Zach P. Messitte, in September
Class of 1978 had the highest reunion
provided a special opportunity to
class gift participation at 59.9 percent.
The Class of 1973 had the largest reunion class gift at Alumni Weekend — a whopping $444,754.
Alumni Connections A new feature in Ripon Magazine invites alumni to share memories about such topics as Ripon winters, offcampus hangouts, favorite professors and meeting their spouse. Memories are shared in print and on ripon.edu. Career Discovery Tour The inaugural Career Discovery Tour, which is funded by the alumni board and is a collaborative effort between the offices of alumni & parent relations off-campus
and career development, was held
alumni events around the country in FY’13,
during spring break with 12 upper-class
including special gatherings to introduce
students selected to attend. The tour
President Zach P. Messitte, had a total of 1,884
visited five alumni hosts in Chicago
alumni, parents and friends in attendance, an
and provided networking for more
increase of 250 attendees over FY’12.
than 50 alumni, parents and friends.
Breakout Achievements ATHLETICS
head baseball coach, was named MWC North Coach of the Year. First Baseman Adam Grambow ’13 was named MWC North Player of the Year. ■ Adam Sellner earned All-American honors in the hammer throw at the 2013 Outdoor National Championships. ■ Thirty-five percent of students were
Jenna Breaker ’15 became a national champion in the 2013 indoor high jump.
members of a varsity athletic team. SPEAKERs
■ Julie Johnson, then head women’s basketball coach, became just the fourth coach in Midwest Conference (MWC) history to win 300 career games. She has since stepped down as coach to become full-time athletic director. ■ Taylor Koth ’13 was the College’s third consecutive basketball AllAmerican, MWC Player of the Year and one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy. ■ The Red Hawks baseball team won its 20th MWC Championship and made their 11th appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament, both the best of any school in the MWC. Eric Cruise, in his first season as
Nate Silver, New York Times writer/statistician, at Commencement Ripon College continued to bring internationally acclaimed speakers to campus in FY’13. They included: ■ George Tenet, former director of Central Intelligence, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ■ Hannah Rosenthal, president/CEO of Milwaukee Jewish Federation and daughter of a Holocaust survivor
■ Republican strategist Karl Rove ■ Award-winning authors Robin Hemley and Edward Falco ■ Howard Draft ’77, marketing pioneer ■ Peter Bock ’62, international
■ Deano Pape, director of forensics and assistant professor of communication, was named a tournament official at nationals for the first time in his career, working in the tabulation room.
expert on artificial intelligence and cognitive science COMPETITIONS ■ Amanda Finn ’14 won the Region 3 competition of the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in January. She was one of only eight national finalists
Michael Enright ’14 was awarded a two-year
to advance to the national finals in
United States Environmental Protection
Washington, D.C., in April.
Agency (EPA) Greater Research Opportunities
■ Bill Heinze ’13 won the Kevin Heineman Award at the American Forensic Association District IV National Qualifier in March. ■ The Ripon College National Ethics
Fellowship, receiving up to $19,700 per year of academic support and $9,500 for internship support. In the summer of 2013, he studied the environmental fate of human-engineered nanoparticles at the Western Ecological Division of the EPA in Corvallis, Ore. His mentor is Joe
Bowl Team made it to the National
Scanlon, assistant professor of chemistry
Quarterfinals at the 17th Annual
at Ripon College. In FY’13, 88 students had
Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl in San
internships for which they received academic
Antonio, Texas. The team advanced
credit. Numerous other students had internships
to be among the top eight in the
for experience.
country.
300 West Seward Street Ripon, Wisconsin 54971 ripon.edu
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