Who should be Westminster’s next President? (SURVEY)

Westminster College is seeking a new President due to the retirement of President Forsythe at the end of the 2014-2015 academic year. As part of the search process, we need your input. We are reaching out to the College’s constituents for your valued thoughts and suggestions as we identify the type of qualifications, skill sets, experience, and personality that we will need in our new President to help Westminster prosper as we move forward in these challenging times.

Please read the short background information below. We believe you will find the information useful as you complete our anonymous online survey. The survey includes specific questions and opportunities for you to share your personal views as we begin the process of choosing Westminster’s next President. The survey is 10 questions long and should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

We greatly appreciate your participation in the survey. This survey will close on Monday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.

After reading the information below, please CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY.

Background

Higher education today is facing unprecedented turbulence, making it both a challenging and exciting time to be in leadership. The cost of educating young people continues to rise even as state funding has sharply declined. Leftover effects of the 2009 recession continue to bedevil families figuring out how to pay for continued education, even as press articles irresponsibly question the value of a college education. Many are deeply concerned about the rate of student debt and whether we are truly providing access to higher education to those who need it the most. In the Northeast and Midwest, the number of high school graduates will decline for the next several years, increasing the competition for students among traditional colleges and universities, which now also face a barrage of competition from for-profit and online institutions.

But with challenge comes opportunity. The globalization of higher education challenges practices commonly embraced by American institutions, but also offers unlimited possibilities for educating students worldwide and giving students a truly global education. The innovative use of technology is still evolving. Reaching out to new kinds of student populations is proving a challenge, but offers hope for raising up all who wish to learn. The demands placed on institutions of higher education to educate faster, cheaper, and with increasing flexibility may seem daunting, but they give college presidents the opportunity to shape the education of the future.

Westminster is committed to upholding its mission, vision, and the best of its traditions while adapting quickly to the changes and challenges of higher education. Under President Forsythe’s leadership, we have strengthened our mission and vision by, among others, establishing and securing funding for the Hancock Symposium, the Undergraduate Scholars Forum, and the Price Leadership Program.  All of these programs reinforce the strength of our mission and prepare students for success. We have also laid the groundwork for adaptation through the creation of our strategic plan, Westminster 2020, and through paving the way for innovation in online learning and alternative educational models.

If you would like more information regarding our long-term strategic plan, click here.

While recognizing the special challenges that small colleges still face, Westminster remains well-positioned to thrive in the future with the right leadership. With a reputation for delivering a distinctive, practical liberal arts education and a dynamic developmental experience, the College prepares students exceptionally well for success, leadership, and service. Our graduates consistently achieve placement in top graduate and professional programs and establish themselves as leaders in worldwide endeavors. At the same time, they distinguish themselves with their commitment to service and care for their communities.

Indicators of our success include:

• Westminster’s faculty continues to provide a world-class education that prepares our students for professional jobs, graduate school, and multiple future careers. In fact, 96% of our graduates secure jobs or are placed in graduate school within six months of graduation. This is one of the highest rates in the country.
• Westminster consistently ranks as one of the top schools in the Midwest. Money Magazine just named us in the “Top 10% of Best Colleges for the Money” and U.S. News & World Report continues to rank us as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Priorities for our next President

• Successful Business Leadership. Increasing Westminster’s enrollment and net tuition revenue, while maintaining student body quality and diversity; developing alternative sources of revenue that are consistent with the College’s Mission and Vision; and, operating the College in a financially responsible manner.
• Effective Branding and Marketing. Westminster has a great story that needs to be delivered effectively to prospective and current students and parents, alumni and other friends of the College, in a very crowded and competitive marketplace.
• Increased Endowment and Annual Fundraising.  Westminster’s endowment and annual fundraising need to be increased substantially to support student financial aid, faculty compensation and programmatic needs, which requires the personal commitment and involvement of the president at a college like Westminster.
• Continue Providing Students an Outstanding Educational Experience. Westminster has delivered and has an unwavering commitment to continue to deliver an outstanding educational experience to its students, even as it changes its offering to respond in a timely fashion to the dramatic changes that are happening throughout higher education.