ANNUAL REPORT | 2012-2013
OUR MISSION The mission of Ursinus College is to enable students to become independent, responsible, and thoughtful individuals through a program of liberal education. That education prepares them to live creatively and usefully, and to provide leadership for their society in an interdependent world.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, Antoine de Saint-Exupery ´ once wrote, “He who bears in his heart a cathedral to be built is already victorious. He who seeks to become a sexton of a finished cathedral is already defeated.” Like cathedrals, colleges should be enduring works in progress. The college resides not only in its buildings and programs, but in the hearts and visions of those who seek to make it better. The making of a college is never complete. We are always assessing what we do to better meet the needs of our students, present and future. When you return to campus for Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, or other events, you might see renovated buildings, meet new faculty, watch athletic events played on new fields, and learn about new programs such as the Center for Science and the Common Good, U-Innovate!, or the Liberal Arts Plus initiative. You might join in discussions of future programs, centers, renovations, or ways our students can learn better. Yet, at the same time our mission here has remained steadfast: since 1869, Ursinus has provided an excellent liberal arts education to deserving students, committed to instilling in them the values that will lead them not only to make a living but to make lives of purpose. We have a firm sense of the value of an Ursinus College experience. This fall we welcomed the Class of 2017, of which 29 percent are first generation; 22 percent are students of color; and 17 percent are Pell Grant recipients. We are maintaining our commitment to admitting talented students who can benefit from our highly personalized and academically rigorous program, mindful of multicultural and socioeconomic diversity. Scholarships that help talented students from all backgrounds gain access to an Ursinus education would not be possible without generous donors like you who understand and support our mission. Your philanthropy enables us to invest in strong faculty/student relationships—relationships that serve students beyond graduation. Your generosity helps to create a dynamic campus life for our students, for we believe they grow not only through academics but through arts and cultural activities, athletics, civic engagement, and leadership opportunities. In this challenging economic environment, I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support of the distinctive undergraduate education we provide at Ursinus College. I offer a heartfelt thanks on behalf of our students, who will forever be shaped by their experience here. Go, Bears!
1 | URSINUS COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013
Fiscal Year 2013 GivinG in review As the costs associated with higher education continue to rise, institutions like Ursinus College must rely more heavily on the support of private donations to ensure enduring success. The generosity of our donors—whether they are alumni, faculty, staff, current students, parents, corporations, foundations, or friends of the College—plays an important role in our ability to advance our mission of liberal education. During the 2013 fiscal year, more than $23.5 million in new gifts and commitments was received by the College. Of that total, approximately $3.3 million was allocated directly to our Annual Fund. The unrestricted support that comes from the Annual Fund is essential to the College, as it enables us to enhance student programs, research initiatives, facilities management, and financial aid for our undergraduates.
TOTal GiFTs anD PleDGes BY PriOriTY 2012-2013
TOTAL: $23,520,517
Capital 38% Endowment 35% Unrestricted Annual 14.1% Unspecified 7.1% Restricted Annual 4.4% Research Sponsorship 1.4%
OUTriGHT GiFTs BY cOnsTiTUencY TYPe 2012-2013
Thank you to all of our benefactors during the last fiscal year, a full listing of whom can be found at: www.ursinus.edu/report. You help to make the Ursinus experience come alive. TOTAL: $4,952,925
Alumni 45.8% Parents 28.1% Friends 18.8% Students 2.7% Business and Corporations 2.2% Faculty and Staff 1.2% Foundations 0.9% Other Organizations 0.3%
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ADVANCEMENT Fiscal year 2013 was full of good news for the Advancement Office. The College launched a National Council— comprised of alumni, parents, and friends—with regional chapters in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Florida. Each region hosted representatives from campus as well as guest speakers, and facilitated networking opportunities. Four chapters also held a Summer Send-Off for incoming and current students, and their families. The Young Alumni Council was extremely active, and continues to find new opportunities for graduates of the last decade to become more involved with the life of the College. Work is also being done to engage current students through a comprehensive student philanthropy program. In addition, the Advancement Office enhanced its communications outreach to the College’s benefactors. Whether it was by connecting donors to students and faculty, or simply keeping them informed about the specific uses of their funding, special care was taken to show supporters the true impact of their philanthropy. Ursinus can never say thank you too often or in too many ways.
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE… The Advancement Office has begun to plan for a comprehensive campaign and has had conversations with a variety of key stakeholders on campus to develop a draft Case for Support. This Case will be the focus of presidential dinners to be held throughout 2014. The goal is to involve as many members of the College community as possible, knowing that EVERY dollar COUNTS and EVERY person MATTERS. The initial fundraising emphasis will be on support for Operations (including gift designations for financial aid, the Berman Museum, the Bruins Club, Friends of the Myrin Library, and Friends of Music), term and endowed scholarships, and an Innovation and Discovery Center to link our science facilities both physically through a new building addition and academically through interdisciplinary courses, programs, and centers. Even as the Advancement Office reflects back upon 2013, there is a focus on the future of Ursinus. It is exciting to consider the potential the College has and the legacy that can be perpetuated by those whose lives have been touched by this special place. 3 | URSINUS COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013
2012-2013 BUDGET AND EXPENSES
OPERATING REVENUE 2012-2013
Revenue for the College is largely based on tuition and fees administered to students. Nine percent of the 2012-2013 budget was covered by endowment transfer and nearly three percent was absorbed by private gifts and grants. While tuition and fees are vital to the daily life of Ursinus, we are also deeply committed to remaining accessible and affordable to all undergraduates, regardless of economic circumstance. Approximately 95 percent of students receive some form of financial assistance. Over $35 million in scholarships and grants were awarded from Ursinus College resources for the 2012-2013 academic year, both merit and need-based. Providing this level of support helps Ursinus to create a dynamic student body from a variety of backgrounds, which further strengthens the liberal arts education the College is able to offer.
TOTAL: $60,040,407
Net Tuition and Fees 58.6% College Room and Board 28% Endowment Transfer 9% Private Gifts and Grants 2.7% Services, Rentals, Investments, and Sales 1% Government Support 0.7%
OPERATING EXPENSES 2012-2013
TOTAL: $60,026,772
Compensation 50% Project Transfers 15% Student Services 12.6% Facility Operations 9.7% Academic Support 4.6% Institutional Support 4.5% Other Instructional Support 3.6%
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ABOUT THE EndOwmEnT The endowment at Ursinus stands as the foundation upon which the College is able to function and continue as an academic enterprise. Endowed funds exist in perpetuity, and ensure the long-term stability and success of the College. Contributions to create or support these types of funds are investments in the future.
5-yEAr EndOwmEnT PErFOrmAncE
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
EndOwmEnT GrOwTH dUrInG FIscAl yEAr 2013 Our successful fundraising activity during the 2013 fiscal year coupled with positive market performance resulted in the growth of the endowment during the last 12 months. The FY13 year-end value of the endowment was $122.5 million, up approximately $8.6 million from the previous year.
FY13 $125,000,000 $91,729, 270 $100,247,073 $119,634,268 $113,897,789 $122,468, 260
We are grateful to our donors whose generosity is so valuable to Ursinus. Below are new named endowed funds established during 2012-2013: Jean Gray Scholarship Fund David John Rau Scholarship Fund
The Ursinus Spending Policy The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law permits the College to adopt a spending policy for endowment earnings, subject to certain limitations. As part of the College’s endowment, individual endowed funds are managed in accordance with the Ursinus College Board of Trustees’ investment and spending policies. Based on the current policy, net income from funds supports the purpose as specified in each fund’s agreement. The College’s spending rate is annually approved by the Board of Trustees, and for the year ending June 30, 2013, the rate was 5.75 percent of the 20-quarter moving average market value of the pooled endowment. 5 | UrsInUs cOllEGE AnnUAl rEPOrT 2012-2013
EnrollmEnt Ursinus continues to attract a variety of students who are academically talented and driven to succeed. The College enrolls individuals who have taken advanced college prep level classes as well as those who are engaged in service activities outside of the classroom. Of the 4,000 applicants last year, 92 percent earned high school GPAs above 3.00 and 68 percent earned GPAs above 3.50. The incoming class typically numbers around 460 students, 22 percent of whom self-identify as students of color. Each class is nearly equally divided between women and men, and half of students are from outside of the state of Pennsylvania. Overall, there are currently 1,600 students enrolled at Ursinus, representing 35 states and 12 countries. The College boasts a markedly low faculty to student ratio of 12 to 1, which helps to build the mentormentee learning environment for which Ursinus has become known. Class sizes generally range from 15-20 students.
Snapshot Class of 2017
. 4,000 applications . SAT average: 570-670 on each of three parts . ACT average: 27-28 . 68% with high school GPA above 3.5 . 92% with high school GPA above 3.0 . National Honor Society Members (82) . Class Presidents (9) 6
. Student Council Representatives (31) . Model UN Delegates (16) . Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Members (13) . Newspaper/Literary Magazine Writers and Editors (27) . Musicians (51), Vocalists (40), and Actors (38) . Community Service Contributors (147) . Varsity Athletic Team Captains (115)
STUDENT LIFE An education at Ursinus happens both inside and outside of the classroom. As such, the College is dedicated to helping undergraduates create an appropriate balance for themselves through their studies, extracurriculars, and day-to-day lives on campus and within the local community. Last academic year, Ursinus undertook an ambitious reorganization of its Wellness Center to enhance programs geared toward the developmental and psychological needs of our students. After completing an evaluation of our counseling services, the College committed to adding three licensed staff psychologists and a full-time disabilities coordinator. In addition, our Student Government has been working holistically with the College to evaluate and revise student
policies. These changes have resulted in a decrease in vandalism, violence, and alcohol abuse, and improved communication with Campus Safety. The Student Government also made sweeping changes to its election process, which has led to increased collaboration within the group and a smoother transition between leadership. The College’s Career Services Office hosted an extremely successful Job, Internship, and Networking Fair that featured more than 100 organizations. The Office also worked with alumni to facilitate programs for students, including a financial life skills workshop, mock interviews, and various career-related information sessions. Ursinus is focused on building our database of alumni career ambassadors who are available to provide advice and career insight to current students.
Our Ursinus Bears varsity athletics teams enjoyed success during the 2012-2013 academic year, excelling against key rivals within the Centennial Conference (NCAA Division III). Most notably, the wrestling team won the Centennial Conference Championship, with Chris Donaldson being named AllAmerican. The men’s tennis team qualified for playoffs for the first time in College history, and head coach Pete Smith was named Centennial Coach of the Year. Athletics also made important facilities upgrades, including putting in a permanent fence at Eleanor Snell Softball Field, renovating the press box at Patterson Field, and installing improved sound systems at several locations. Furthermore, a new Bears logo was unveiled as part of an exciting rebranding effort.
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Faculty Appointments
and Recognition
During the 2012-2013 academic year, several faculty members at Ursinus College were rewarded for their excellence in teaching, scholarship, and advising through tenure and promotion, or year-end awards in those areas. FACULTY AWARDED TENURE AND THE POSITION OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR: Thomas Carroll, Physics Elizabeth Ho, English Patrick Hurley, Environmental Studies Stephanie Mackler, Education FACULTY PROMOTED TO PROFESSOR: Carol Cirka, Business and Economics Jonathan Marks, Politics and International Relations Gabrielle Principe, Psychology FACULTY AWARDED TENURE: Karen Clemente, Theater and Dance YEAR-END AWARDS DISBURSED AT COMMENCEMENT: The Laughlin Professional Achievement Award: April Kontostathis, Mathematics and Computer Science The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching: Rebecca Jaroff, English The H. Lloyd Jones, Jr. Award for Distinguished Teaching and Mentoring: John Spencer, Education
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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Ursinus remains committed to strengthening the first-year experience for students. Last year, the College received a grant from the Mellon Foundation to partner with Columbia University to explore and extend our Common Intellectual Experience, (CIE). These monies supported the work of our CIE Fellows and brought a visiting speaker to campus. In addition, the College received funding from the Teagle Foundation to back the collaborative discussion and dissemination of the accomplishments of Ursinus and three other colleges on common syllabus, first-year courses. We are dedicated to expanding civic engagement initiatives for students and faculty, and to that end were selected as one of 33 institutions to receive the NetVUE grant to enhance a “culture of service and community engagement.� In addition to this, last summer a team of students, faculty, and staff from Ursinus attended an institute on Bonner High Impact Initiatives. During the months ahead, the College will begin to implement some of the ideas that came out of that conference, including considering civic engagement within our curriculum, strengthening partnerships with regional organizations, and further developing our relations with the surrounding local community. Finally, the College has been focusing additional attention toward fostering novel thought from within our student population. Last year saw the inauguration of a visitor series on Innovation, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and the Liberal Arts. This year, the series will continue as the recently named U-Inspire! and it will be interconnected with U-Innovate!, a new opportunity for student teams to compete in developing innovation plans.
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The Ursinus College Annual Report is reflective of the 2013 fiscal year, which spanned July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. A full donor listing is available online at www.ursinus.edu/report. If you would like more information about giving to Ursinus, please visit the Philanthropy section of the Ursinus website, at www.ursinus.edu/supportuc or call toll free 1-877-GIVE2UC. We strive for accuracy in all of our reporting, but if you feel something has been published in error, please contact Jacqueline D’Ercole, Director of Advancement Communications and Donor Relations, at (610) 409-3257. Editor: Jacqueline D’Ercole, Director of Advancement Communications and Donor Relations Layout and Design: Heather Holiday, Associate Director of Advancement Communications Printing and Production: The Standard Group