"Looking back, looking forward" was the focus of the Nov. 11-13 fall meeting of the Bluffton University Board of Trustees, which accepted the final report of the university's 2006-10 strategic plan and began discussion of the next generation of the university's strategic plan and long-term vision during a daylong planning workshop that preceded the regular meetings.
"The board's focused review and planning activities provided an opportunity to gain some larger perspectives on the university," Bluffton president Dr. James M. Harder observed.
"It is both remarkable and gratifying to perceive the significant progress that Bluffton continues to make toward meeting our strategic goals-particularly the goals that positively influence our students' overall experience and enhance the impact of Bluffton on church and community."
The board also applauded Bluffton's recent efforts to help meet the growing need for trained health care and social service professionals.
This fall Bluffton launched two new programs-an evening social work bachelor's degree-completion program for working adults and a master's in business administration with a concentration in health care management-that began with full classes.
"Plans are also being finalized for the launch in fall 2011 of another health-related undergraduate major-this one in public health," Harder said. "All signs indicate that a program in this field will be of interest to students who will have multiple opportunities in public health-related careers."
These new programs build on Bluffton's long tradition of preparing students for careers in human service fields. The social work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1982.
For more than 30 years, Bluffton has offered a food and nutrition major accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetic Education and the American Dietetic Association.
"Bluffton continues to focus on serving the career aspirations of our students and on meeting the need for growing numbers of health care professionals in our region," Harder said.
Other topics of board discussion included:
. Bluffton's work with the Mennonite Learning Network, an initiative of Mennonite Education Agency, to work toward a shared learning system with all of the Mennonite colleges and universities.. Updates on recruitment and retention efforts.
. Fundraising progress for Extending Our Reach - The Campaign for Bluffton, which has surpassed $28.2 million in gifts and pledges, including $1.1 million since entering the final, public phase of the campaign on Sept. 14, 2010.
Action at the fall meeting included:
o Approval of two named, endowed scholarships:o The Laura Diller Handford Scholarship, with preference for social work majors. This was established by H. Allen Handford in memory of his wife, Laura Jane Diller Handford, class of 1963.
o The Kathryn and Paul Luginbill Community Scholarship, with a preference for music education majors. This was established by Kathryn Luginbill in appreciation for the many ways Bluffton University influenced her family.
oApproval of the 2010-11 operating budget of $33,534,377.
o Approval of six faculty sabbaticals:
- Dr. Perry Bush, for spring 2012, to teach United States history under the auspices of the Fulbright program at Zaporizhzhia National University in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. He will focus on 20th-century American political history as filtered through the twin lenses of recent U.S. economic and religious change.
- Dr. Melissa Friesen, for fall 2011, to research the professional literature for community-based (or applied) theatre, participate in an intensive workshop with a professional theatre company specializing in community-based theatre; interview and observe selected practitioners; and create curriculum, strategies and workshops for future Bluffton University projects in community-based theatre.
- Dr. Karen Klassen Harder, a half year to research leadership and international organization development, assist Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in several organization development projects and facilitate the transition of leadership within MWC.
- Dr. Donald Hooley, for fall 2011, to investigate mathematics history and develop historical and pedagogical materials in an effort to integrate topics into existing courses.
- Dr. George Lehman, for fall 2011, to conduct research in the field of neuroleadership.
- Gregg Luginbuhl, for spring 2012, to engage in a period of intense personal studio work, which would include work in functional ceramics; fused and slumped glass; and sculpture in clay, cast bronze and cast glass.
