8/7/2019 Change Coming to Pikeville College - an News-Express - February 8, 2011

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Change coming to Pikeville College

Posted: Tuesday, February 8, 2011 11:45 pm

By Russ Cassady, Staff Writer|

Much like the entire community surrounding it, Pikeville College is undergoing big changes.

On Monday, the college asked for the communitys help in taking another step renaming the school to reflect its status as a

university.

Pikeville College President Paul Patton held what he termed a family meeting on Monday at the colleges Booth Auditorium to

announce to the community that the school is no longer defining itself as a college, but a university. A purpose of the meeting was to

enlist the help of the schools community in renaming the institution.

During the meeting, Patton said the reason for the change is simply the offerings of the school. A university, he said, is defined as an

institution which offers undergraduate programs, a graduate school of arts and sciences offering masters degrees and doctorate and

graduate professional schools.

In the fall, Pikeville expects to begin offering a program leading to a Master of Business Administration degree, which, when coupled

with the institutions offerings through the School of Osteopathic Medicine and other offerings, lead to the school outgrowing its

college status, Patton said.

However, he said the name change, to be approved in the May 21 board of trustees meeting, is just a part of the colleges future.

This part is more cosmetic, he said. And is an attempt to accurately portray what we are. It signifies in a very concise way what you

portray yourself to be.

For many people, he said, earning their degree from an institution called a university is important, and Pikeville College now meets th

status.

Patton said the change to a univers ity will not affect the schools private status, which is to remain in place.

The board of trustees has enlisted a Long Rang Planning Committee, made up of 16 people, which includes faculty, staff and leadersh

of the college, along with representatives of the institutions alumni and student body. Their job, according to Pikeville College Vice

President Boyd Buser, only begins with the name change.

While this project were asking you to engage in right now centers around the name, the real meat of what the Long Range Planning

Committee will be working toward is defining the future vision, he said.

And, Patton said, that vision has to take into account the growth of the institution.

It is this committees opinion, and I think the boards opinion, that over a 10-year period, this university will grow to become the mo

prominent higher education institu tion in Central Appalachia, he said.

But, he said, that is just a reflection of the community in which the institution is placed.

Pikeville is emerging as the dominant business, commercial, legal and financial center of Central Appalachia, he said. In medical

services, theres no question weve got the most comprehensive healthcare services, the most comprehensive educational system.

And the college is growing with the community, he said

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The institution is not currently contemplating changing its mascot or school colors.

Patton said the college is also enlisting the help of the community in the renaming process . The Long Range Planning Committee will

present three names out of those suggested to the board of trustees in May, with the requirement that they all include the word

university.

To make suggestions or comment on those names already suggested, the community can visit the website, forum.pc.edu.