Bluffton University has seen the arrival of nine new staff members, including three graduate assistants in athletics, since the end of the 2009-10 academic year in May.
. Kevin Nickel will become Bluffton's vice president for fiscal affairs on Sept. 1. He succeeds Willis Sommer, who is retiring Aug. 31 after 16 years in the position and 31 years of service to the university overall. Nickel came to Bluffton in mid-July to begin the transition.
Bluffton University's Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retired individuals, is beginning its 20th year with a number of course offerings from Sept. 20-Nov. 11.
The eight-week fall term costs $80, which enables participants to take as many of the courses as they wish and to join in other ILR activities. Individuals may take either one course or two for $30 each.
Bluffton University's fiscal year ended June 30 and, for the ninth straight year, Bluffton alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends contributed more than $1 million to the Bluffton Fund that helps underwrite annual operations.
"Gifts to the Bluffton Fund provide essential support for instruction, academic support and financial aid. During a challenging economic time, we are thankful for the generosity of Bluffton's alumni and friends who make a difference in the lives of our students," said Dr. Hans Houshower, vice president for advancement.
Tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 2, for the 2010-11 Bluffton University Artist Series, featuring performers from Cleveland to Croatia and sights and sounds from Russian to percussion.
Summer is the season for family reunions and, in early July, a close-knit group whose members didn't know each other two years ago got together for one of their own.
Twelve Iraqi college students, now studying in the United States as part of the Iraqi Student Project (ISP), reunited for several days in Bluffton, Ohio. Housed in Bluffton University's Neufeld Hall, they spent time with families of the support group for one of their own-Shahad Aldoori, an interior design student at Bluffton-and took a trip to Cedar Point.
