HIGHER EDUCATION

N.C. Wesleyan College student Jessica Brabble, center, leads a tour during an open house event on Nov. 17, 2018, at the college. (File Photo)

Dr. Evans D. Duff

34 HIGHER education

By Crystal Hill

As North Carolina Wesleyan College enters its 64th year, it is positioning itself for success in the new decade.

Many changes have taken place at the college throughout the past year, which will help the institution achieve this success. Among these changes are the appointment of a new president, the construction of a new Indoor Sports & Education Facility, the addition of several new academic programs and the creation of a new Strategic Plan with a revamped vision and core values.

In early June, Dr. Evan D. Duff was named the eighth president of N.C. Wesleyan College. Duff had recently been appointed as acting president by the Board of Trustees on June 10, 2019, and later accepted a two-year contract as interim president. The Board of Trustees, in their May 29 assembly, appointed Duff as president and extended his contract for an additional two years. This extension positions Duff as president of the college through May 31, 2023.

Duff earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mount Olive College, a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He has held multiple leadership roles at the college since 2011 and served as provost prior to being appointed as acting president.

During his time at Wesleyan, Duff has held positions as senior vice president of academic affairs, vice president of adult & professional studies, adjunct professor and provost. In these roles, he was

responsible for leading efforts to approve new majors, co-writing the college’s first graduate application to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and creating seven new off-site instructional locations. He was also responsible for facilitating the development of partnerships with 20 two-year and four-year colleges, which led to articulation agreements or memorandums of understanding between those colleges and N.C. Wesleyan.

The college also announced in August 2019 that it had received a commitment from an anonymous donor for the building of an Indoor Sports & Education Facility that would completely cover the cost of construction, along with a grant from the Nash County Tourism Development Authority.

The vision is to provide the college with the opportunity to enhance the scope of its educational and sports offerings, along with increasing partnerships and involvement in the local community through educational and sports programs for adults and youth.

Construction of the facility started in February on the northeast side of campus. The state-of-the-art, approximately 48,000-square-foot, air-supported structure was designed by Oakley Collier Architects and is being constructed by Smithson Inc. The facility will be a permanent structure, introducing sports not currently readily available in this area, namely squash and indoor tennis.

The facility has potential for future growth academically and athletically, specifically within the college’s Exercise Science and Health Promotion programs. The leadership of the college, along with the faculty and staff associated in these areas, desire to collaborate with the local community to improve and enhance the well-being of its citizens. The sports and future educational pillars of this facility — athletics, scholarship and research — have vast potential to develop training, mentorship and tutoring programs for area youth. The facility will also offer training and education for students and local citizens concerning prevention and management of diseases and injuries, as well as will facilitate proper and enjoyable physical conditioning measures.

In addition, N.C. Wesleyan has created several new academic programs over the past year: a Master of Business Administration (MBA), an RN to BSN Program, a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration.

These new programs add to the exceptional array of academic offerings already at Wesleyan, giving students the ability to choose from over 45 undergraduate degree options, 32 minors and two graduate degree programs.

The MBA program is the second graduatelevel program launched by Wesleyan in less

Students Ivan Cockman, left, and Jawuanna McAllister talk as they make boats from recyclable products with Joseph Lloyd during a recycling fair at N.C. Wesleyan College. (File Photo) A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Feb. 10 for the new Indoor Sports & Education Facility at N.C. Wesleyan College. Contributed Photo

Many changes have taken place at the college throughout the past year, which will help the institution achieve this success.

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than two years. The first graduate program, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, was offered in spring 2018. The MBA program, launched in January 2020, is 100 percent online and consists of 33 credit hours to accommodate those seeking work or who are already working.

The one-year program consists of five eight-week sessions, two classes per session and ends with a final capstone class. Like other academic programs offered by the college, including its Adult Studies programs, the degree offers rolling admission, meaning those attending can start the program throughout the year at the beginning of any new eightweek session. This program is the only MBA offered locally in the Twin Counties.

The 100 percent online RN to BSN program is anticipated to begin classes in fall 2020 and is designed to help registered nurses achieve the education necessary to broaden their skill set and advance their careers in nursing.

Beginning in the fall of 2019, N.C. Wesleyan began offering a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management on its main campus in Rocky Mount and online. The degree is one of only two baccalaureatelevel programs offered in the state, with N.C. Wesleyan being the only private college in the state providing the declared major.

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration degree will prepare graduates to work in the business operations side of medical facilities. Students will learn the financial, human resources, legal and ethical aspects, as well as quality control within a health care setting.

The Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration degree will prepare graduates to work at all levels within sports, facilities and recreation management. Graduates will be prepared to work as a coach, facilities manager, athletic director, sports coordinator or be prepared for graduate school. The new certificate programs will help those looking to add specific skills in leadership, business and healthcare administration.

Over the past year, North Carolina Wesleyan College has been in the process of developing a new Strategic Plan. The plan, recently approved by the college’s Board of Trustees, will drive the institution’s priorities, focus efforts and set goals for the next five years. The college wanted to develop a planning process through which it could have meaningful input from all constituencies and members of the community.

In December 2019, Wesleyan held a Community Day and Christmas lunch where all faculty and staff were invited to participate in a college-wide planning workshop hosted by Credo, an independent higher education consultant. This allowed employees to come together and provide their thoughts and input about N.C. Wesleyan’s future. From this feedback, the college established its new

VISION AND CORE VALUES:

VISION STATEMENT:

“At North Carolina Wesleyan College, we provide students with opportunities to make meaningful connections and learn through innovative teaching approaches. The distinctive Wesleyan experience equips our graduates to make a positive impact on the world.”

CORE VALUES:

Knowledge & Understanding

Integrity & Accountability

Patience & Respect

Kindness & Empathy

These new features at the college will help propel N.C. Wesleyan to the next level in the new decade as the college continues to build upon its academic offerings, infrastructure and community relations.

Jarred Westbrook unloads his grandfather's truck to move into his dorm room in Collins Hall on Aug. 19, 2016, at N.C. Wesleyan College. Photo by Allison Lee Isley N.C. Wesleyan College hosts the annual Rock the Mount event each August. Contributed Photo

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