April 22, 2013
Dear Friends:
The spring 2013 semester is an exciting and amazing time at Campbellsville University. As our May 3-4 commencement ceremonies near and we prepare to experience a record number of students graduating, I am filled with a tremendous sense of gratitude to God for the support we are receiving from churches, alumni, and the growing number of friends of the university. Coupled with the beauty of the campus as the trees bud and flowers bloom, we are reminded that God’s hand is upon Campbellsville University and His blessings continue to be evident.
In the reading of the history of Campbellsville University, I think of the sacrifice and dedication of those who have served in this place through the years. Founded in 1906 as Russell Creek Academy, CU remains fully committed to our founding principles of providing quality Christian higher education within the framework of our Baptist heritage and tradition. I can honestly say that all decisions made here at CU are bathed in prayer, viewed for compatibility with the CU mission statement and core values, and influenced by the impact the decision will have on our mission of providing our students with Christian higher education and servant leadership training. And I firmly believe that the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and coaches have never been more committed – in all the 107 plus years of Campbellsville University’s history – to the core mission of providing a quality and excellent Christ-centered higher educational experience through a liberal arts approach.
Let me summarize some of the highlights of the 2012-2013 academic year:
-We have had a series of exceptional chapel speakers, including former Kentucky Baptist Convention President Dr. Adam Greenway, Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter, Jr., Dr. Dan Garland with LifeWay Christian Resources, Dr. Joseph Owens who is CU Board chair, and a number of other outstanding evangelical Christian speakers. Dr. Thom Rainer, CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, was the keynote speaker for our fall 2012 pastors and church leaders conference on the “transformational church” which had around 250 pastors, church leaders, and students in attendance.
-Our fall 2012 FIRST CLASS chapel series and mentoring program was a huge success with approximately 50 professions of faith made among the freshmen students as a result of these programs.
-Approximately 125 CU faculty, staff, and students have participated in mission projects, during the current academic year, to a number of locations around Kentucky and the United States, east Asia, Guatemala, Haiti, and Africa. Reports from these trips indicate around 100 people having made professions of faith as a result of the efforts of these CU missions outreach efforts.
-CU has received a number of accolades from several key organizations during the current year: U.S. News and World Report ranked CU as one of the South’s top 100 regional universities; our online business programs were ranked 86th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report; our graduate education online programs were rated 16th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report; CU was recognized once again as being one of America’s Best Christian Colleges; we were rated a military-friendly institution; the Chronicle of Higher Education rated CU as the 16th fastest growing institution in the nation among private nonprofit universities; CU was once again recognized by the President of the United States as an honor roll institution in providing community service; and CU was once again recognized as a five-star Champions of Character Institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
-During the current year, CU is receiving around $1.2 million (about 2% of our total budget) from the Kentucky Baptist Convention, while providing more than $7.0 million in institutional financial aid to students coming from Kentucky Baptist churches.
-CU has experienced two record enrollments in 2012-2013 – our 12th consecutive fall semester record with more than 3,700 students and a spring record enrollment of more than 3,360 students.
-CU’s student body is an increasingly diversified global community of learners. We have more international students than any institution in Kentucky among the private universities – around 300 from 45 countries. We have the unique opportunity to impact the lives of young people for the cause of Jesus Christ. Surely this is Great Commission work!
-Campbellsville University’s Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Tony Cunha, Dean of the School of Music was honored to be invited to participate in the Baptist Church Music Conference in Toccoa, Georgia on April 14-16, 2013. The CU Chamber Choir members are from South Korea, Brazil, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas.
While CU is neither a church nor a seminary, we remain strongly committed to our Christian heritage and faith, and the very strong and rich history of Baptist higher education. “Vision 2025-Preparing Christian Servant Leaders,” a long-term blueprint for the future, is the official plan put in place by the CU Board of Trustees. Vision 2025 calls for CU to become one of America’s premiere Christian universities in the Baptist tradition; to increase enrollment to 5,000; to prepare a generation of Christian servant leaders in the range of more than 80 academic options offered by CU; and to provide quality and excellence in Christian higher education for all students. We are doing this in our commitment to the “whosoever will gospel” of Jesus Christ, in following the Great Commission, and practicing the Great Commandment.
If you have any questions, we invite you to come and visit with us. Campbellsville University is a great place – and a place that is changing lives – transforming them spiritually, intellectually, and socially – and a comprehensive Christian university seeking to change the world for Christ. Thank you for your prayers, words of support, and many acts of support.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Carter
President