This year’s LG&E and Kentucky Utilities Named Scholars sponsorship continues a 60 year legacy of support for independent college students in Kentucky. Kentucky Utilities was one of the founding contributors to the Kentucky Independent College Fund (a precursor to AIKCU) in 1952.

The AIKCU Named Scholars program is an efficient way for corporations and foundations to fund individual student scholarships at independent colleges across the state. A single large gift to AIKCU is parceled out in its entirety to individual students according to the scholarship provider’s criteria, with no administrative overhead costs.

AIKCU and the students receiving these scholarships are incredibly grateful for the continued generosity of LG&E and KU and their employees. Learn a little about each 2012 scholarship recipient in this LG&E and KU Named Scholar booklet (PDF).

Below are commencement details by institution. In the case of missing information, we will update those as they become available.

Alice Lloyd College

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 12:15 pm (Baccalaureate: 10:30 am)

Location: Grady Nutt Athletic Center

Baccalaureate Speaker: Reverend Glenn Noe

Commencement speaker: Dr. R. Bruce Bickel

Degrees to be awarded: 98

Asbury University

Date: Saturday, May 5

Time: Noon

Location: Luce Center

Commencement speaker: Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under President George W. Bush and longtime corporate, nonprofit, and public service leader.

Berea College

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2012

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Seabury Center

Commencement Speaker: Parker J. Palmer, writer, teacher and social activist

Honorary degrees: Parker J. Palmer, honorary Doctor of Human Letters

Degrees to be awarded: 235

A live video stream can be viewed at http://www.berea.edu/commencement/2012.

Bellarmine University

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: Noon

Location: Knights Hall, 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40205

Commencement speaker: Gov. Steve Beshear

Honorary degrees: Governor Steve Beshear & Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels – honorary Doctor of Law degrees

Degrees to be awarded: 551 (449 undergrad, 102 grad)

Brescia University

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time(s): 10 a.m.

Location: RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess Street, Owensboro, KY 42303

Commencement speaker: Stacey Bess, Inspirational Author and Educator

Degrees to be awarded: 111 undergraduate, 9 graduate

Campbellsville University

Graduate Commencement:

Date: Friday, May 4, 2012

Time(s): 7 p.m.

Location: Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, Ky. 42718

Graduate Commencement speaker: Dr. Gary S. Cox, president of Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities

Honorary degrees: Dr. Gary S. Cox, honorary doctorate of public service

Degrees to be awarded: 127 master’s degrees

Undergraduate Commencement:

Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Powell Athletic Center, 203 Tiger Way, Campbellsville, KY 42718

Graduate Commencement speaker: Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Liberty

Degrees to be awarded: 30 associate degrees and 219 bachelor’s degrees for total of 249 (total of 376 for both ceremonies)

Centre College

Date: Sunday, May 20, 2012

Times: Baccalaureate at 11 a.m., Commencement at 3 p.m.

Location: Newlin Hall, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, KY 40422

Speaker: Janet Brown, Executive Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates

Honorary degrees to be awarded. Janet Brown, honorary doctorate of humane letters

Degrees to be awarded: 287

Georgetown College

Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Giddings Lawn (Inclement Weather location: Davis-Reid Alumni Gymnasium)

Speaker: Barry Munitz, former Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) and President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.

Kentucky Christian University

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Lusby Center – Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, KY

Speaker: Mr. W. James Host, Chairman and CEO of iHigh.com, Lexington, KY.

Degrees to be awarded: 105 undergraduate, 7 graduate

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. (CDT)

Location: Hocker-Hall Grove (Alternate rain location: Woodward Health and Recreation Center)

Graduate Commencement speaker: Bracken Darrell, an Owensboro native and European businessman

Honorary degrees to be awarded: Bracken Darrell

Degrees to be awarded: 150

Lindsey Wilson College

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. (CDT)

Location: Biggers Sports Center

Commencement speaker: Wayne Meisel, Director of Faith and Service at the Cousins Foundation in Atlanta

Honorary degrees to be awarded: Wayne Meisel; Allan Parnell of Louisville, founder and CEO of Mister “P” Express and new LWC board chair; Sue Stivers of Columbia, community leader and longtime LWC Trustee

Degrees to be awarded: 158 this spring (445 total for the academic year)

Mid-Continent University

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 3 p.m. (CDT)

Location: Graves County High School

Commencement speaker: William Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Degrees to be awarded: Approximately 425

Midway College

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Midway College Amphitheater

Commencement speaker: Harvey Thomas, International Public Relations and Presentation Consultant

Degrees to be awarded: 380 graduates

St. Catharine College

Date: Saturday May 12, 2012

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Lourdes Hall, 2735 Bardstown, KY 40061

Commencement speaker: Margaret Ormond, OP – Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Columbus, Ohio

Degrees to be awarded:160

Spalding University

Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Canaan Christian Church, 2840 Hikes Lane, Louisville, KY 40218

Commencement speaker: TBA

Degrees to be awarded: Approximately 620

Thomas More College

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: 1:30 p.m. (Baccalaureate Mass: 10 a.m. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Avenue in Covington, KY)

Location: Connor Convocation Center, 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, KY, 41017

Commencement speaker: Kit Andrews, news anchor for Local 12 WKRC-TV in Cincinnati

Degrees to be awarded: Approximately 350 graduates

Transylvania University

Date: Saturday, May 26

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Old Morrison Lawn

Commencement speaker: Bianca Spriggs, award-winning poet, class of 2003

Degrees to be awarded: 244

Union College

Date: Saturday, May 5

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Robsion Arena

Speaker: William T. Trent, Ph.D., a 1966 graduate of Union College and in the departments of Educational Studies and Sociology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Honorary degree: William T. Trent, Ph.D., Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters

University of the Cumberlands

Date: Saturday, May 5

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Rollins Center

University of Pikeville

University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Date: Saturday, May 19

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Eastern Kentucky Expo Center, Pikeville

Commencement speaker: Dr. Rand Paul, U.S. Senator

Honorary degree: Dr. Rand Paul, U.S. Senator

University of Pikeville College of Arts and Sciences

Date: Saturday, May 19

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Eastern Kentucky Expo Center, Pikeville

Commencement speaker: Gregory D. Stumbo, House Speaker of Kentucky

Honorary degrees: Speaker Stumbo; William P. Malone, founding partner, Deming, Malone, Livesay & Ostroff and University of Pikeville Trustee

The most significant growth continues to be at the graduate level, where total enrollments increased by 12.1% over fall 2010 as new programs continue to come online and existing programs mature. Undergraduate enrollment growth was solid, with a 3.8% annual increase. Combined, AIKCU’s total enrollment grew by 5.3% between 2010 and 2011.

As the graph below shows, the 10-year trend provides an even more impressive story of growth in the independent sector. Since 2001, total AIKCU enrollment has grown by 46.3%, with a 31.7% increase in undergraduate enrollment and a whopping 179.1% increase at the graduate level.

The full press release from Union College appears below. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Hawkins to Kentucky and to the AIKCU community.

Barbourville, Ky.—Following a nationwide search, the Union College board of trustees has named Marcia A. Hawkins, Ph.D., as the college’s 19th president. Hawkins will be the first female to lead the institution.

Hawkins, who has built a solid reputation in fundraising, currently serves as associate director for advancement with the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education in Georgetown, Texas, where she has led a comprehensive effort to establish self-sustainability in response to tough economic times.

“I am honored to accept the role of Union College president,” Hawkins said. “I have found everyone involved with Union to be passionate about the institution and personally invested in its future. I look forward to working with the campus community to build on the successes of the past and to continue to provide a nurturing environment conducive to the transformative powers of a liberal arts education.”

The official hiring announcement was made Saturday, April 14, in an email to the campus community on behalf of board Chairman Paul F. Isaacs. Hawkins is expected to begin presidential duties on July 1.

“When we began the process of looking for a president, we asked the entire college community and community leaders to identify the characteristics they would most like to see in the Union College president,” said Isaacs. “Dr. Hawkins embodies those characteristics. The board of trustees is excited and looks forward to working with her to make a great college even greater.”

Hawkins said she is eager to lead Union College, in part because of its commitment to serve first generation college students, a group with whom she identifies. The granddaughter of a West Virginia coal miner, Hawkins was the first in her family to earn a college degree. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington, she earned a Master of Science in Education, Analytic Teaching from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. She later returned to University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a doctorate in history.

She brings to Union a wide breadth of experience in higher education. As president of Texas Independent College Foundation, she developed and implemented various fundraising programs while promoting independent higher education. At Texas Wesleyan University, she filled various leadership roles, focusing strongly on budget management and fundraising.

In Texas, Hawkins has volunteered for such foundations as United Way, Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement, Red Cross and Susan G. Komen. She now looks forward to becoming an active member of the Barbourville community and beyond.

Founded in 1879, Union College is four-year liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church.

Download the:  2012 AIKCU Technology Conference Agenda – updated (PDF)

Spalding University will host the 2012 AIKCU Technology Conference on Friday, June 8 in Louisville. The event brings together campus information technology staff, faculty, and library personnel for a full day of presentations, roundtables, and networking opportunities. Conference tracks will address information technology, instructional technology, and library topics. There is no cost to participants from AIKCU institutions thanks to the generous support of AIKCU’s technology business partners.

More information about the 2012 AIKCU Technology Conference, including detailed session descriptions, will be available soon in this space. Use the form embedded below to register now and make sure you don’t miss any updates.

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Bistline sees the internship with Capital Link Consultants as an opportunity that could open up her future:

“Even if it doesn’t take me anywhere, I feel like this will let me get to know some people and get to know what’s out there and open up some options,” she said.

This is the first year that AIKCU has placed interns with lobbyists.  In odd-numbered years interns work with the General Assembly, normally working directly with members of the legislature. This year AIKCU added a small number of placements with carefully selected lobbyists in order to provide opportunities for students to gain a different perspective on the legislative process. In even-numbered years interns work in a variety of state agencies.

Read the entire article about Nikki Bistline on the State-Journal website.

Transylvania University

Since $10 from the sale of each plate goes back to the school’s general scholarship fund, the Battle of the Bumpers is also a competition to see which institution can raise the most money for students. Transylvania plate sales raised $8,520 for student scholarships in 2011. Overall, sales of Kentucky Independent Higher Education license plates generated more than $45,000 in scholarships last year. The plates have generated more than $300,000 for student scholarships since they began hitting Kentucky highways in 2002.

“We’re very proud of the commitment that Transylvania and our other members have made to promoting their license plates,” said Gary S. Cox, AIKCU President. “The pride people show by displaying these plates is an extension of the institutions’ quality and dedication to supporting students.”

Transylvania has implemented a number of promotional strategies to bolster their plate sales, including sending license plate birthday cards to alumni reminding them to purchase or renew their plates.

Centre College, the only other institution to hold the Battle of the Bumpers title, was the runner-up for the fourth consecutive year. Georgetown College placed third.

Plates for all 20 AIKCU institutions are available to Kentucky residents through local county clerks offices. Plates cost $44 upon initial issue and $31 for renewals, including the $10 that goes to the campus to support student scholarships.

The 7 AIKCU members recognized on the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll are:

Bellarmine University, Berea College, Campbellsville University (Honor Roll article), Centre College (Honor Roll article),  Georgetown College, Lindsey Wilson College, and University of the Cumberlands (Honor Roll article).

St. Catharine's economic impact is evident just by walking around campus. The new library (scheduled to open 2013) is just one of many recent capital projects.

St. Catharine College has released a new multi-year study touting the rural Catholic college’s economic impact on its surrounding region. The study was completed by Dr. Thomas Lambert, Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Northern Kentucky University.

While traditional college economic impact studies tend to focus on a single year, the St. Catharine report looks at the cumulative impact the college had on the region from 2005-2011. The study places a special focus on St. Catharine’s local impact in the college’s primary tri-county service area (Marion, Washington, and Nelson counties) as well as its impact in the Louisville metropolitan region.

The study underscores St. Catharine College’s role as a job creator from 2005 to 2011, which included the nation’s most difficult economic period since the Great Depression. During this timespan St. Catharine was responsible for 267 jobs in its tri-county region. The average direct employment by St. Catharine College was 125 during what, for the college, was a period of significant employment growth (currently SCC employs more than 145). Those 125 average jobs at St. Catharine College supported another 142 jobs in the tri-county region.

Additional highlights from the report:

• The total economic impact of St. Catharine’s operating and capital budgetary expenditure effects and student spending effects in the local tri-county region (Marion, Nelson, and Washington counties) was $108 million. Expanding to include the 13 county Louisville metro area added $195.5 million to the total economic impact of college expenditures and student spending.
• The $2.9 million in spending by St. Catharine College’s increasing numbers of residential students is estimated to have generated a total economic impact of $3.3 million in the tri-county service area.
• Total taxes generated by St. Catharine’s economic activity from 2005-11 totaled $4.8 million.

In addition to the factors enumerated above, the report also quantifies the economic impact that St. Catharine’s production of degrees has had on the local economy through the creation of human capital. The study quantifies this growth in human capital as the difference between the lifetime earning power of St. Catharine graduates compared to what they would have earned with only a high school diploma.

Dr. Lambert said he emphasized the value added that degrees add to the region’s human capital because 75% of graduates stay in the area. The total human capital impact of that increased earning power over time was $1.48 billion, with $738 million of that centered in St. Catharine’s tri-county region.

The report acknowledges that the development of the region’s human capital provides more than purely economic benefits.

“Perhaps more difficult to quantify is the extra quality of life benefits that St. Catharine College brings to the north-central part of Kentucky,” Lambert wrote. “Graduates receive a liberal arts education that addresses issues such as diversity, religion and ethics, which enables them to become leaders in their communities and professions.”

AIKCU released an economic impact study in 2006 that looked at some of these same issues for Kentucky’s independent college sector as a whole. At the time, Kentucky’s private colleges and universities generated an annual economic impact of almost $1.5 billion. A much more recent analysis of employment data revealed that the number of full-time employees at AIKCU institutions would rank the independent college sector 7th among Kentucky’s leading private employers.

More:

SCC touts economic impact (The Springfield Sun)

New study reveals Campbellsville has over $93 million impact in Taylor County (AIKCU.org) 

The full text of the announcement from Midway:

Midway, Ky.-Dr. William B. Drake, Jr, President of Midway College today announced that he has given his resignation to the Board of Trustees.

“In 2002 I accepted the Presidency of Midway College and the Board of Trustees’ very aggressive goals related to enrollment management, fundraising, development, capital improvement and other long-term priorities to insure the viability and academic excellence of this historic institution,” said Drake. “After ten years, I have largely accomplished those major goals. Only the pharmacy school project remains and with the shift of that project to now become a partnership with another institution, I feel my work on this initiative from concept to date is complete and now is the time to move on.”

Under Drake’s presidency the College has realized many accomplishments, including:

• more than doubled student enrollment
• received the largest capital and planned gifts in the history of the College
• consistently balanced the budget without taking a return from the endowment
• acquired and developed 100 contiguous acres, doubling the size of main campus
• constructed the Anne Hart Raymond Center and the Learning Resource Center resulting in nearly 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, office and auditoriums
• received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities for a level change from a baccalaureate to a master’s degree granting institution
• expanded curriculum and degree offerings including the Masters of Business Administration
• launched Midway College Online programs
• developed Midway College off site campuses in Lexington, Radcliff and Somerset
• negotiated articulation agreements with five community colleges of the Kentucky Community College and Technical System to offer degree completion programs on those campuses

“It has been a privilege to work alongside a staff and faculty unselfishly invested in the mission of the College, ” said Drake. “It has been an inspiration to witness the determination and achievement of our diverse student body and it has been humbling to advance the legacy of Midway College with the support of alumni, friends and donors.”

Dr. Drake is committed to a seamless transition of responsibilities to insure the College’s continued success.

UPDATE: The Midway College Board of Trustees has named Dr. Robert Vogel interim president.

More:

Midway College president stepping down (WUKY)

Midway College president resigns after 10 years on the job (Kentucky.com)