Strategic Roadmap Careful planning prepares Mount Union to face challenges.

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OUNT UNION a g a z i n eM Issue III, 2012

ticulate the value of what we provide and the return on investment that students and parents can expect.

In addition, swift technological advancements mean that we must resist assuming that the way we have always done things will continue to carry us through these challenging times. We must be prepared to proactively make changes in how we more effective-ly and efficiently deliver education while remaining true to our mission and heritage. We must embrace and incorporate technology to better facilitate con-tent delivery and enhance learning.

But, together, we are contributing to the creation of future leaders and, ultimately, a better world. Isn’t that reason enough to face these challenges, to make the adjustments we need to make and to ensure that we can continue to thrive? Clearly that is the Mount Union way, and our strategic plan is guid-ing us in the right direction. The pages that follow include a sampling of the many accomplishments of the past year. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we work together as a community.

So, what’s our next step? We need to build upon the momentum of today to ensure an even more exceptional tomorrow. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but with the support and involvement of our loyal alumni and the greater University community as a whole, we can continue to fulfill our mission and carry out the initiatives of our strategic plan. With an eye toward the future, we are steadfast in our com-mitment to creating the future leaders of tomor-row and ensuring a better world for generations to come. Your continued support and involvement makes it all possible.

Sincerely,

Dr. Richard F. GiesePresident of Mount Union

PRESIDENTIAL notesPictured to the immediate right

are President and Mrs. Giese with Carrie Coon ‘03 after one

of her theatre performances in New York. Coon made her

Broadway debut in October as Honey in the revival of Edward

Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

Pictured to the far right are President and Mrs. Giese with

a group of alumni following a theatre performance in Chicago, IL that featured

alumnus Shawn Douglass ’87 and Doug Hendel, retired

professor of theatre.

C ollectively, the University community has been

busy, productive and successful over the past years, largely because of an outstanding commitment to careful planning and strategic decision making. The 2011-2012 Academic Year was no different, and as a result, Mount Union is able to celebrate a number of accomplishments that align with Advancing Excel-lence – A Strategic Plan for the University of Mount Union. As you peruse the pages that follow, I think you will agree that the University is on the move!

We all know that the reason for our existence is our students. All that we do is directly related to creating an educational experience second to none where our students grow and thrive to lead enriched and fulfilling lives, augmented with meaningful work and responsible citizenship. This is our mission and it ensures that, together, we are contributing to the creation of future leaders and, ultimately, a better world. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding.

This is why it is so critical for us as an institution to continue to work toward a future that is viable, pliable and strong, especially given the challenges we face in higher education. We have prepared as best as we can for these challenges, and we’ve been fortunate thus far to have navigated these turbulent times successfully through collective, careful plan-ning and hard work. Yet, we have merely scratched the surface of what we may face down the road. Waves will continue to come at us, and our diligence and prudence will be more critical than ever in the years to come.

Expectations of students continue to change, while their numbers decrease and their demographics shift. Our turbulent economy continues to impact their ability to afford higher education at a time when costs are rising and financial aid is being cut and even eliminated. The proliferation of higher education options continues to make the market highly competitive and demands that we clearly ar-

DESIGNER Callie Livengood ’09 EDITOR Joni Poorbaugh CONTRIBUTORS Gina (Dominick ‘96) Bannevich Melissa (Smith ’98) Gardner Callie Livengood ’09 Joni Poorbaugh Leonard Reich Megan Smith ‘13 PHOTOGRAPHERS Cockrill’s Studio Callie Livengood ’09 Joni Poorbaugh EDITORIAL BOARD Melissa (Smith ’98) Gardner Dr. Richard Giese Anne (Zimmer ’95) Graffice Gregory King ’89 Callie Livengood ‘09 Joni Poorbaugh CONTACT University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark Ave., Alliance, OH 44601, (330) 821-5320 or (800) 992-6682

Mount Union Magazine is pub-lished quarterly in winter, spring, summer and fall by the University of Mount Union Office of Market-ing, University of Mount Union 1972 Clark Ave., Alliance, OH 44601 for its alumni and friends.

Founded in 1846, the University of Mount Union is a four-year, private institution, grounded in the liberal arts. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and accredited by the North Central Association.

It is the policy of the University of Mount Union not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital or parental status, or dis-ability in student admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or employment as now or may hereafter be required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, and all other applicable federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to (330) 823-2886, Associate Dean of Students, Hoover-Price Campus Center, or to (330) 829-6560, Director of Human Resources and Employee Devel-opment, Beeghly Hall.

Strategic Plan UpdateA proactive commitment to careful and prudent planning has allowed the Uni-versity of Mount Union to continue its rich tradition of success, and Advancing Excellence – A Strategic Plan for the University of Mount Union is guiding the way. From new academic programs and innovative facilities to enrollment growth and enhanced visibility, the institution continues to celebrate its many achieve-ments while setting the course for the years to come.

With the second year of the five-year plan having recently come to a close, it is clear to see that much has been accomplished in just a short period of time. A new general education curriculum has been launched, and plans are underway for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program and further graduate program expansion. Students are benefitting from innovative housing options and will soon enjoy a new commercial development on the perimeter of campus. Enrollment remains strong, the diversity of the campus community continues to increase and the reputation and visibility of the institution have truly been broadened. All the while, Mount Union alumni remain stalwart in their commit-ment to support the University.

Yet, the institution also recognizes the importance of preparing for longer-term success. That’s why, in early 2011, Chair of the Board of Trustees Randall Hunt and President Richard Giese requested that a new task force be formed with the purpose of assessing the challenges that institutions of higher education are facing. The resulting Quality and Efficiency Task Force included members of the Mount Union and Alliance communities who were charged with examining the potential shifts in the marketplace over the next 10 years that may challenge the institution’s ability to provide a high-quality education while remaining fiscally responsible and affordable.

The result of the task force’s year-long efforts, which included research such as external readings and data review, was a report including a number of short-term and long-term recommendations. The report was presented to and ap-proved by the Board of Trustees in May.

The following pages highlight the many accomplishments Mount Union has achieved in the second year of the strategic plan’s implementation and also lay out the recommendations of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force’s report. Together, these two documents will inform the institution’s direction moving forward as Mount Union plans for continued success in the years to come.

Quality and Efficiency Task Force...........................26Alumni Weekend and Homecoming Photo Gallery..30Class Notes.............................................................30Financial Statements..............................................37

Issue III, 2012

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Community 6

Curriculum 2

Enrollment 10

Resources14

Diversity18

Visibility22

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SPOTLIGHT

for the FutureDevelop a Curriculum

AT A GLANCE

Online Programs KEY OBJECTIVE: Design and Grow Online Offerings One way Mount Union is designing and growing its online offerings is through its Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program. The two-year graduate program, which is offered primarily online, welcomed its first cohort of 15 students this fall. Some of the benefits for students enrolled in Mount Union’s program include:

• Earningadegreefromauniversitywithareputationforexcellenceineducation• Onlinecoursesofferedduringtheacademicyear• Makingconnectionsbothonandoffcampus• Convenienceofparticipatinginahybridprogram• Seven-daysummerresidencyfeaturingrenownedauthorsandexperts• Cohort-basedstructure• Full-yearsupervisedinternshipinateacher’shomeschoolordistrict• Opportunitytoenhanceindividualcapabilitiesinaverysupportiveenvironment• Reasonabletuitionandfees• Optiontoearnprincipallicense,teacherleaderendorsementandcurriculum,instructionand

professional development license

In addition to the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program, Mount Union also continues to offer online courses at the undergraduate level. This summer, 10 online courses were offered with more than 100 students enrolled.

As a result of Mount Union’s commitment to developing a curriculum for the future, the Physician Assistant Studies Program is flourishing on campus.

Access related videos, websites and blogs at mountunion.edu/magazine.

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SPOTLIGHT

First Year Seminar KEY OBJECTIVE: Strengthen and Revise the General Education Curriculum This fall, Mount Union launched a new general education curriculum – the Integrative Core – a collection of foundational courses that ensures a well-rounded educational experience for Mount Union students. Members of the Class of 2016 were the first to benefit from this innovative new program, and this semester, they experienced the first course of the new program – the First Year Seminar (FYS).

FYS courses focus on a specific topic in a wide range of areas and allow students to interact closely with a professor who helps them cultivate a vision for their education. The FYS also exposes students to basic writing and communication skills as it incorporates the Written and Oral Communication (WOC) Portfolio, another requirement of the Integrative Core. The WOC Portfolio provides students with an opportunity to continually practice their writing and speaking skills by incorporating them into all Integrative Core courses.

As they planned for the launch of the Integrative Core, faculty members dedicated themselves to the development of FYS courses that focused on interesting topics that creatively incorporated the WOC Portfolio. The following are some examples.

• ProfessorofMathematicsDr.MichaelZwilling,whoseFYScoursewasentitledCryptography! The Mathematics of Code-Making and Code-Breaking, included quizzes and exams to develop fast responses that focused on problems for students to respond to in short answer. It also required a written assignment that analyzed a real situation involving cryptography and a speaking assignment that presented a cryptographic method.

• TheresaDavis,instructorofhistory,incorporatedawrittenanalysisofhowsciencefiction/fantasyhashandledanissueof historical importance and the presentation of that analysis to a live audience into her FYS course – Pandorans, Wookies and Spock: What Science Fiction and Fantasy Can Tell Us About History.

• Dr.ScottMason,professorofchemistryanddirectorofthepre-healthprogram,taughtCSI: Mount Union, which included a barrage of interrelated WOC assignments such as short reading responses, an essay, lab reports, case studies, a crime scene analysis report and a critical analysis presentation of a particular crime scene as shown on a television crime drama.

• MorganBagley,instructorofhumanperformanceandsportbusinessanddirectorofathletictrainingeducation,taughtBehind the Scenes in College Athletics, which included a number of writing and speaking assignments such as the com-position of a NCAA championship bid and the presentation of that bid to the Budget Board.

STUDENT PROFILE

Kyle Dreger ‘14 KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase Opportunities for Experiential Learning

For junior Kyle Dreger, hands-on learning came through participation in an internship with the Timken

Company. After hearing about the position from a computer science professor, Kyle jumped at the chance to gain experience working for a company that would teach him more about large business culture. Over the

summer, he was responsible for taking the existing tools Timken salespeople used on laptops and re-imaging them for touch-enabled devices such as the Apple iPad. Kyle said he is still amazed at how the company is able to emphasize ethics and team-work while making such amazing products. Although he admits to having made a few mistakes along the way, Kyle is proud of his experience, noting that it is only through failure that people learn who they really are. “Today, I’m twice the programmer, problem solver and teammate I was before I took the internship,” he said. “And those are qualities I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”

“I’m twice the programmer, problem solver and teammate I was before I took the internship.”

AT A GLANCE

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Q&A

Scholarly Research and Achievements KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase Opportunities for Research and Scholarly Accomplishment 63 students presented formal research presentations during the annual SCHOLAR Day

26 students displayed posters of their academic research during the annual SCHOLAR Day

51 faculty members participated in professional development opportunities within their respective fields

1,290 courses were developed for the new four-credit-hour curriculum

113 faculty members were trained for the Writing and Oral Communication (WOC) Program

14 faculty members were formally involved in international teaching and learning

42 students are participating in the Honors Program

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FACULTY PROFILE

Dr. Jon Scott Associate Academic Dean for Special Projects, Professor of Biology and Director of the Integrative Core

KEY OBJECTIVE: Expand Graduate Programs

The University of Mount Union is consistently researching new academic programs to ensure that it offers relevant and in-demand programs. In an effort to expand the University’s graduate program offerings, Dr. Jon Scott is currently researching programs to determine which programs would be a good fit for Mount Union.

How does Mount Union evaluate new academic programs? When we seek to develop new programs, we look at several criteria. The first and foremost is that a program must be compati-ble with the mission of the University. The second is to make sure there is a market for the program, both in bringing in qualified students who are academically prepared for success as well as ensuring that when students leave they’re likely to find mean-ingful work. Among the other criteria is the idea that it should be fiscally responsible. In these economic times, we need to pay attention to the bottom line as well. And finally, we want a new program to be sustainable. We want to make sure that any new program we develop is going to be here for the long haul.

Which new potential programs are you currently researching? I’ve been researching several programs in health-related fields at the graduate level. These include a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Master of Occupational Therapy degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree and many others.

How does a new program move from the idea stage to the implementation stage? When a new program is suggested, I begin a detailed feasibility study, addressing questions of mission compatibility, student and job markets, fiscal impacts and sustainability. If a new program is deemed to meet these criteria, we need to determine whether we have the faculty to deliver the program or if we must hire new faculty with the required expertise. We also need to assess the facility requirements of a new program because some new programs may require additional classroom, laboratory and office space as well as additional equipment. Even new graduate programs impact the undergraduate experience here at Mount Union, so we try to carefully assess how any new program will affect the programs we already have.

Faculty members, of course, have a big stake in our curriculum, so they are brought into the program development discussions early and often. New programs are always vetted through our Academic Policies Committee and, ultimately, through the entire faculty. New degree programs must be approved by our Board of Trustees, the Ohio Board of Regents and the Higher Learn-ing Commission of the North Central Association. As you can imagine, the entire process can take some time, but it’s time well spent. We’re much better off when we can make programmatic decisions based on good data. Involving the entire campus com-munity in the process makes it less likely that we will overlook an important challenge that any new program may pose.

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FACULTY PROFILE

Kevin P. Kern Assistant Professor of Theatre KEY OBJECTIVE: Enhance the Fine Arts Program Kevin P. Kern, assistant professor of theatre, has great plans to enhance the fine arts program at Mount Union. He joined the University’s faculty in 2012 after acting on his desire to return to a small, liberal arts environment similar to the school from which he graduated. Hailing

most recently from the University of West Florida, Kevin now teaches

courses in acting and directing, as well as the introductory

theatre class People, Society and Theatre. Kevin’s vision for the fine arts includes an increased effort on the part of the Department of Theatre

to actively recruit students, hoping to attract them to

Mount Union’s more personalized theatre training. He believes that a

vibrant fine arts program is vital to the cultural life of the University but that’s not the only benefit. “We train students to find viable careers in areas about which they are passionate,” he said. “This perfectly defines our mission to prepare graduates for fulfilling lives.”

Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair Director of Nursing KEY OBJECTIVE: Identify and Implement Strategic Additions or Modifications to the Undergraduate Program With a Focus on High-Demand Healthcare Programs Mount Union will begin offering a direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, a high-demand healthcare program,inthefallof2013.Todate,theUniversityhasobtainedapproval/authorizationtooffertheprogramfromtheOhioBoardof Nursing, Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College and Schools and the Ohio Board of Regents.

“Offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Mount Union contributes to the University’s efforts to achieve its mission of preparing graduates for fulfilling lives, meaningful work and responsible citizenship. Mount Union’s nursing program is grounded in strong liberal arts and science foundations that will prepare students to understand the true meaning of the art and science of the profession. It also will help the University in contributing to meet the nation’s need for competent healthcare practitioners.

“My goal for Mount Union’s nursing program is for it to be an exceptional program regionally. Graduates of the program will be sought after by healthcare agencies. I also hope to contribute to meet the increasing demand for competent professional nurses in the region and nation by increasing enrollment of traditional students. In addition, I also would like to create opportunities for adult students to become nurses, add additional tracks to the program and develop specialty graduate programs.”

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Stage makeup is just one of the many areas in which students can gain experience in Mount Union’s theatre program.

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STUDENT PROFILE

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Campus Community Foster an Engaging

Commercial Development KEY OBJECTIVE: Expand Recreation, Gathering and Eating Spaces As part of the University’s campus master planning process and focus on expanding recreation, gather-ing and eating spaces, the institution has partnered with Fairmount Properties to develop the Mount Union Gateway – a commercial presence on the perimeter of campus.

The Gateway, which will house a national coffee shop, a smoothie and fresh juice bar, a full-service bank and other service providers and merchants, will be located at the southwest corner of State Street and Clark Avenue. The development also will include second and third-level apartments for Mount Union’s growing popu-lation of graduate students. Overall, this project will result in an attractive development for Alliance and the University and will provide a new, vibrant environment for those who live, work and study nearby.

One of the highlights of the Mount Union Gateway will be Panini’s Bar and Grill, a neighborhood gathering place that Fairmount Properties recently announced it was successful in attracting to the project. One of northeast Ohio’s pre-eminent restaurants, Pa-nini’s is expected to be a favorite destination for families, students, residents, sports fans and others from the Alliance community.

The operator of the Panini’s Alliance location is one of the original founders of the company, now with 18 locations throughout Ohio. Its most recent stores – Brunswick and Kent State locations – are state-of-the-art, well-designed restaurants with spacious indoor and outdoor dining. The Alliance location will be no different.

Fairmount Properties expects to break ground for the Mount Union Gateway by spring.

The performing arts are a critical component of an engaging campus community, and participation in Cantus Femina has more than doubled in the last two years.

Access related websites and blogs at mountunion.edu/magazine.

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STUDENT PROFILE

Ivan Ng ‘13 KEY OBJECTIVE: Continue the Transformation of Student Housing As Mount Union continues the transformation of student housing, many upperclass students

are taking advantage of the ability to live in new housing as opposed to living in traditional or suite-style residence halls. Senior Ivan Ng lived in the Hartshorn townhouses last year, but when

the opportunity presented itself for him to live in the new townhouses along South Union this year, he jumped at the chance.

“The best part of being in a townhouse is having a kitchen,” said Ivan. “Also, living in an apartment-style residence helps stu-dents become more independent and prepare for the real world.”

Although more expensive, living in the apartments does have its perks. In addition to having a complete kitchen, the four residents also share a washer and dryer and have their own independent bedrooms as well as two to three bathrooms (apart-ments and the Hartshorn Townhouses have two and the new townhouses have three).

“Being away from the center of campus is nice as well,” said Ivan. “It’s much quieter, for the most part.”

Currently, only juniors and seniors have the option to live in non-traditional housing while freshmen and sophomores tend to live in traditional or suite-style residence halls on campus.

“The best part of being in a townhouse is having a kitchen. Also, living in an apartment-style residence helps students become more independent and prepare for the real world.”

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Having an independent bedroom is just one of the many perks of living in Mount Union’s apartments and townhouses.

Q&A

BY THE NUMBERS

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Athletic Success KEY OBJECTIVE: Support the Division III Student-Athlete

23 intercollegiate athletic teams offered at Mount Union

$18,000 post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation awarded to senior Nick Driskill who was one of the 15 players in all levels of college football to receive this award

27 wins this season for the volleyball team, awarding the team with its first-ever Ohio Athletic Conference title

26 Ohio Athletic Conference titles for the men’s cross country team

11 wins for the women’s soccer team this fall, matching a school-record for wins in a season

21 straight Ohio Athletic Conference titles by the football team

The volleyball team won its first-ever Ohio Athletic Conference title this past fall. The Raiders went on to the NCAA Tournament for a third time and won a first-round match before falling in a five-set thriller to No. 1 ranked Calvin.

AT A GLANCEQ&A

BY THE NUMBERS

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Fine and Performing Arts Accomplishments KEY OBJECTIVE: Broaden the Reach of the Cultural and Fine Arts Program As the University works toward broadening the reach of its cultural and fine arts program, it’s important that Mount Union shares its successes with the campus com-munity. Some of the recent fine and performing arts accomplishments include the following.

• InNovember,theUniversityofMountUnionConcert Choir collaborated with the Canton Symphony Orchestra in the concert performance of “In Memory — Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor.”

• KevinKern,MountUnion’srecently-hiredassis-tant professor of theatre, directed his first play on campus – Servant of Two Masters.

• CarrieCoon’03madeherBroadwaydebutasHoney in the revival of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in October.

• TarionYoung’07ismakingthemostofhisentertainment career in Nevada as he works in costuming for the Cirque du Soleil show Zarkana.

• AlumnusShawnDouglass’87directedDougHendel, retired professor of theatre, in You Never Can Tell at the Greenhouse Theatre in Chicago, IL.

• MargoMiller,associateprofessorofartanddirec-tor of the Crandall Art Gallery, showcased her paintings and drawings through a sabbatical art exhibit on campus in November.

Brian L. Stafford ‘69 Retired Director of the United States Secret Service KEY OBJECTIVE: Create an Environment that Encourages Alumni-Student Interaction Exceptional Connections (connect.mountunion.edu) is a cutting-edge networking site developed in an effort to provide career-mentoring opportunities for Mount Union students. The site helps strengthen relation-ships by allowing users to connect with Mount Union students, alumni, faculty and friends of the University. The purpose of Exceptional Connections is to increase student preparedness upon graduation as it relates to their professional development. Alumni and friends can serve as mentors, participate in networking events, speak to a class or student organization, help students secure internships, offer assistance and guidance and help them find permanent employment after gradua-tion. Brian Stafford ‘69 is just one of the many graduates who has become involved in this exciting and interest-

ing networking site.

What are the student benefits of Exceptional Connections?

I believe that students can gain valuable insight into their future vocational deci-sions through leveraging the diverse life experiences of alumni.

Why did you choose to participate?

If somebody had not taken the time to connect with me, I would not have had a career in the United States Secret Service, a 31-year mis-sion that was truly a labor of love and front row seat to history.

What have you done to get involved? I have discussed the application process and how to best prepare for a career in federal law enforcement with students. I also have arranged initial interviews with the Secret Service and assisted with internship opportunities.

Did anyone help you while you were a student at Mount Union? Tony Archibald, Dr. Dan Kibler and Hugh Jae were men-tors and friends.

SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT PROFILE

Enrollment GrowthManage Strategic

Class of 2016 KEY OBJECTIVE: Establish and Achieve Strategic Enrollment Levels

This fall, Mount Union welcomed a new student class of 705, the second largest in its history. This mile-

stone is especially rewarding given that it was achieved during a year when the number of high school graduates dropped by 3% in Ohio, and the number of students attending public colleges and universi-ties in Ohio dropped by nearly 32,000 this fall.

The Class of 2016 is a diverse group as it represents 12 countries including China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. In addition, students represent 22 states, 50 Ohio counties and 204 high schools overall.

The new freshmen participated in a long-standing tradition as the University community officially welcomed the Class of 2016 to campus during the annual Matriculation Convocation ceremony. Matricu-

lation Convocation is an opportunity for faculty and freshman students to officially usher in the academic year. Students also signed the Matriculation Book, a pledge that they will dedicate their efforts and talents to

excellence in liberal learning and career preparation. The book, which remains in the care of the Office of the President until graduation, will be on display in the University Store during graduation week in 2016 for these students to see.

Total enrollment on campus stands at 2,253 students.

Mount Union is making great strides to manage its strategic enrollment growth as the Class of 2016 was the second-largest class in the history of the University.

Access related videos and websites at mountunion.edu/magazine.

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SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT PROFILE

Andrew Budendorf ‘14 KEY OBJECTIVE: Secure an Appropriate Segment of the Transfer Market When students like Andrew Budendorf hear about the University Mount Union, the decision to trans-fer from another school is often an easy one. A junior who transferred from the University of Cincin-nati to The Ohio State University Delaware branch and finally to Mount Union, Andrew appreciates the small class sizes and friendly environment offered at Mount Union.

“At bigger schools, I was a number and not a name,” he said. “Here at Mount Union, I have a name. I’m not some number; my professors actually know who I am.”

Another positive for Andrew is the multitude of organizations Mount Union offers its students. From frater-nity and sorority life to academic clubs and fun extracurriculars, Mount Union has plenty of opportunities for students to get involved.

“I like Mount Union the most because I can actually get involved,” said Andrew. “It was impossible at the other schools.”

He’s a member of Phi Kappa Tau and also started Mount Union’s chapter of See The Ability and Not The Disability (STAND).

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Mount Union students enjoy having class outside during the academic year.

Q&A

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Emily Fisher Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach

“Although fewer than 100 high schools in Ohio have girls’ lacrosse, and it is yet to be sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, it is definitely an up-and-coming sport. The addi-tion of men’s and women’s lacrosse to Mount Union will bring positive diversity to campus as many

women’s lacrosse student-athletes are from out of state and bring with them differing perspectives and backgrounds. Mount Union always has been recognized as a school of academic and athletic

excellence, and we want to contribute to the outstanding Mount Union environment and academic and athletic traditions.

“When recruiting student-athletes, what I look for first and foremost are quality people and quality students. I am constantly blown away by outstanding Mount Union alumni, and we want to uphold that tradition. As coaches, we are always teaching our student-athletes as much as we can about the game of lacrosse, but most importantly, we are teaching them life skills that they carry with them the rest of their lives: teamwork, a strong work ethic and time management skills to name a few. In addi-tion, it is important that we form relationships between teammates and coaches that last a lifetime.”

P.J. Kavanagh Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach “Lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport across the nation. According to the Sporting Goods Manufac-turers Association, 1.6 million Americans played lacrosse last year, which is a 37.3% jump from the previous year. This translates into a strong and growing recruiting base for quality student-athletes in our admission pool. In 2005, there were 130 Division III institutions with lacrosse and only six of these schools were located in Ohio. It is expected that, in 2013, there will be 204 Division III institu-tions sponsoring lacrosse with 12 of these schools in Ohio. Mount Union is joining an exploding trend in college athletics.

“The athletics program at Mount Union is strong, the facilities are outstanding and the teams are successful. The goal of every athletic team is to compete for an Ohio Athletic Conference championship and beyond. That’s why I came here, and that’s what we are emphasizing in our recruiting efforts.”

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Lacrosse competition will begin this spring.

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Q&A

Amy Tomko ‘81 Vice President for Enrollment Services KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase Traditional Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates

Mount Union truly cares about fulfilling its students’ wants and needs, and in an effort to meet their ex-

pectations, the University surveys them on a regular basis to discover what is working and what needs more work. No campus is perfect, but overall the institution has learned that its students are very satisfied with their Mount Union experiences. The Student Satisfaction Inventory, which is discussed below, is just one tool that Mount Union uses as part of its strategy to increase traditional undergraduate retention and graduation rates.

What is the Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI)? SSI is a national survey instrument used to gauge student satisfaction priorities. It’s critical because students have the chance to say what and how much things matter to them, and it lets us be mindful of the ways we can improve. It sends a message to students that we care about what they think, and it lets us identify the issues that we should focus on because they’re important to students. How does Mount Union compare to other institutions using the SSI? The survey is run against the national norms for four-year private colleges and universities, a group of schools like us and also against a smaller group of private universities that we feel are more like us. Overall, our students are consistently more satisfied than both groups. Despite that, we still continue to focus on improving the areas that students identify as most important to them but least satisfactory. How does Mount Union use results from the SSI? We focus on the gaps between student levels of satisfaction and the importance of each survey item. The process of addressing challenges depends on the challenges themselves. The goal is to find areas where students are dissatisfied and then find ways to address those. The SSI is a very important aspect of identifying some obstacles to student retention.

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The average class size at Mount Union is 19.

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Management of ResourcesEnsure the Sustainable

IN HER OWN WORDS

Anne (Zimmer ‘95) Graffice Executive Director of Alumni Relations and The Mount Union Fund KEY OBJECTIVE: Engage Mount Union Alumni of All Generations

“We are only as strong as those who have come before us. I can’t say enough how important it is for us as an

institution to not only engage, but also to listen to all those who call Mount Union home. Our alumni’s deep sense of loyalty means that they have a level of interest in the future successes of Mount Union

that is unparalleled. Graduates of each generation have a unique perspective of their time on campus, which allows for them to impact the current institution in different ways.

“No matter the age, most graduates can reflect positively on their experiences at Mount Union and want to help influence those who are experiencing it now. It is our expressed hope that we can pro-vide engagement opportunities that allow for just that, ways for our alumni family to connect with the

Mount Union of today and to share their time, talents and resources through a variety of programs and events. I have yet to meet an alum who wouldn’t give support in hopes of advancing a student or fulfill-

ing a need of Mount Union. It is an exceptional place, with an amazing army of alumni that stands ready to lead us into the future.”

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In order to ensure the sustainable management of resources, much effort has been put into building new facilities with sustainability in mind. The Engineering and Business Building is a shining example of this commitment.

Access related websites and blogs at mountunion.edu/magazine.

IN HER OWN WORDS

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Campus Master Plan KEY OBJECTIVE: Design a Modern Campus Master Plan Including Commercial Development Opportunities on the Perimeter of Campus In an effort to develop the campus of tomorrow, Mount Union has been working with Westlake Reed Leskosky andMSI/KKGLandscapeArchitectstodevelopaCampusMasterPlantosupportAdvancing Excellence – A Strategic Plan for the University of Mount Union. A team of individuals comprised of representation from the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, student body and alumni worked diligently throughout the course of the 2011-2012 Academic Year to develop a draft of the plan. After a great deal of analysis, planning and conversation, the plan was approved by the Board of Trustees at its May meeting.

The plan provides planning and phasing recommendations for near-term initiatives (to be completed by 2015) and long-term initiatives (beyond 2015). In general, these initiatives include building projects, campus landscape improvements, prospective building sites, selective demolitions, campus parking strategies and off-campus development.

Work has already begun on campus, as a handful of short-term priorities were launched this summer. Enhancements were made to the Union Avenue streetscape, a project that included the continuation of brick inlays and light poles to the east side of Union Avenue from Rice Street to the Haupt House. Work on the west side will be completed at a later date. In addi-tion, the first phase of the Mount Union Stadium locker room and press box project, the result of generous donations to the institution that were specifically donor-designated for Stadium improvements, is underway. This project includes the addi-tion of two new locker rooms – one for men’s seasonal sports and another for women’s seasonal sports. The second phase, scheduled for next summer, will result in the modernization and expansion of the press box.

In addition, a request for the City of Alliance to vacate roadways on Hartshorn Street, Clark Avenue, Miller Avenue and College Street was presented to the Planning Commission and City Council this past summer. Through this vacation peti-tion, the University received permission to purchase the land within the right-of-way – totaling 5.7 acres – from the city. By vacating and eventually closing the internal streets on Mount Union’s core campus, a new vehicular pattern will be created, dramatically enhancing safety and promoting a healthy and beautiful pedestrian campus.

Other Campus Master Plan projects in the institution’s immediate future include the Mount Union Gateway (see p. 6) and two new academic buildings projects – a new health and medical sciences facility and an addition and renovation to the existing performing arts complex (see p. 16).

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The advancement team is currently fundraising for many campus projects including the stadium locker room and press box project.

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KEY OBJECTIVE: Launch a Focused Fundraising Campaign Mount Union is fundraising for two academic building projects on campus – a health and medical sciences facility and a per-forming arts complex. Interest in the sciences has dramatically increased over the years, resulting in a shortage of classroom and laboratory space to meet the demand. The current arts facility has some limitations in terms of code, acces-sibility and infrastructure, and a renovated and modernized facility will better meet the needs of students. The cost of construction is currently estimated at $25 million, and the University is well on its way toward making these facilities a reality with approximately $19 million already raised. With the support of alumni and friends, the institution can enhance learning and better shape the futures of its students. Health and Medical Sciences Facility The health and medical sciences facility, which will be an addition to Bracy Hall of Science, will house the University’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, recently-approved Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program and potential health-related graduate programs. The facility will likely include:

• Anoperatingsimulationroom• Apatientsimulationroom• Examrooms• Skillslabs• Aconferenceroom• Tieredandregularclassrooms• Expansionspace• Acourtyard• Facultyoffices

Performing Arts Complex The performing arts complex, which will come as a renovation and addition to Cope Music Hall and Rod-man Playhouse, will likely include:

• Alobby• Aprosceniumtheatre• Ablackboxtheatre• Arehearsalandmulti-purposeroom• Agreenroom• Asceneshop• Acostumeshop• Dressingrooms• Achoirroom• Abandroom• Practicerooms• Classrooms• Facultyoffices

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A proscenium theatre is one of the many features planned for the performing arts complex.

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STUDENT PROFILE

Zak Suhar ‘13

KEY OBJECTIVE: Serve as a Leader in the Higher Education Sustainability Movement His passion to live in an ecologically-friendly manner is just one reason why senior Zak Suhar helps

in any way he can so that the institution can serve as a leader in the higher education sustainability movement. Along with his minor in environmental science, Zak is directly involved with the Sustain-

ability Management Advisory Committee and student task force on campus. His involvement allows him to assist in the decision-making process to create socially, financially and environmentally-sound

opportunities to maintain a sustainable and healthy atmosphere for the University.

“To me, everything ties into sustainability in some way, shape or form,” said Zak. “My minor has prepared me for a sustainable lifestyle because it is the backbone to a lot of the science behind living a more ecologically-friendly life.”

Zak has participated in several environmentally-friendly activities over the years, including evaluating sustainability-related literature in the library and welcoming a solar array on the roof of the Peterson Field House. Additionally, he’s been supportive of the many forward changes that have been made on campus including Mount Union President Richard F. Giese’s signing of a climate commitment and the implementation of hybrid fleet cars.

“To me, everything ties into sustainability in some way, shape or form.”

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The solar panel roof above the Peterson Field House is generating enough electricity to power several average-sized homes. It is one of the largest single solar arrays in the state of Ohio.

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Campus Community Enhance the Diversity of Our

STUDENT PROFILE

Bevin Blake ‘13 KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase Student Exposure to Intercultural Experiences

Offering the opportunity to study abroad is only one way Mount Union increases student exposure to

intercultural experiences. For senior Bevin Blake, that experience culminated during the summer of her sophomore year when she took the opportunity to live in San Ramon, Costa Rica for five weeks. Her passion for

travel and new experiences is ultimately what led her to apply to the Study Abroad Program.

“Mount Union prepared me as well as any school could have,” said Bevin. “However, there are some things you have to learn on your own, which is what really makes the study abroad experience unique.”

Bevin cites her Spanish minor and biology major as the perfect combination for selecting Costa Rica as her destination. Since traveling, she said she feels much more cultured, and her Spanish language skills have increased dramatically. Bevin is still ex-posed to Hispanic culture by talking with her host family via email and staying in contact with the other American students she met while in Costa Rica via Facebook.

“There are some things you have to learn on your own.”

International students bring their own cultures, traditions, ideas and perspectives into the classroom, allowing class discussion to be well rounded and informative.

Access related videos and websites at mountunion.edu/magazine.

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Office of Diversity and Inclusion KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase U.S. Minority Retention and Graduation Rates Formerly known as the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Mount Union’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is integral to the University’s efforts to increase U.S. minority retention and graduation rates. Recently, the office expanded its reach, serving as a resource for students of color including, but not limited to, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native-Americans as well as women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered individuals and allies of such and qualified persons with disabilities. The name change is more reflective of the office’s purpose on campus and its support for programming on an inclusive level to educate the campus on diversity issues across the board.

Guided by the words of former President Jimmy Carter – “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” – the office prides itself on its work with students, not only on a one-to-one basis, but also as a means of fostering an environment that celebrates and embraces diversity by providing programs, services and other educational opportunities that contribute to students’ learning and growth. The of-fice provides assistance for academic, social, cultural and personal well-being and works cooperatively with faculty, staff and administrators to assist students in their pursuit of academic excellence. In addition, regular programming includes Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October, Native American Heritage Month in November, Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. The office also organizes a week-long Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January, sexual awareness programs in the spring and fall and many other events.

The office also supports various special interest groups on campus including the Association of International Students (AIS), Association of Women Students (AWS), Black Student Union (BSU), Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Hispanic Organization of La-tino Americans (HOLA) and See The Ability and Not Disability (STAND). These organizations work cooperatively on an annual basis to present the Not Another Statistic Conference, an annual diversity conference.

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STUDENT PROFILE

Students enrolled in a social responsibility course at Mount Union traveled to a rural village in western El Salvador to help others in need during spring break.

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Q&A

IN HER OWN WORDS

Sharon Luke, MSHS, PA-C Director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program, Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase the Number of Full-Time U.S. Minority, Female and International Faculty

As a full-time U.S. female minority faculty member, Sharon Luke, MSHS, PA-C, is a proponent of increasing

diversity on campus to give students a more meaningful learning experience and prepare them for working in a diverse world.

Why is it important to increase the number of minorities on campus? Diversity in any institution is an enrichment to the environment. Students and faculty members add-ing more from their experiences and their backgrounds tend to enrich the experience of all who are involved with the campus.

Can you cite specific examples when diversity in your classroom has been a positive experience for students?

In the Physician Assistant Studies Program, when we brought in older, more experienced students from vari-ous ethnic backgrounds, the discussions in the classroom changed and became more involved because some-

one had a different experience than the majority of the students. When that person was able to articulate the difference, students were left to think about things in a different way and put themselves in a different person’s shoes. Being able to pause and reflect that way provides a better learning experience because students learn about themselves and things they didn’t realize existed around them.

How does diversity on campus help prepare students for their future careers? Physician assistant studies students will take care of patients from various backgrounds and cultures, so they need to be able to reflect on their own belief systems when it comes to interacting with other cultures. Having a diverse campus provides more potential for those interactions to happen on our campus, which prepares our students to be able to interact with other people from different backgrounds.

BY THE NUMBERS

Diversity on Campus KEY OBJECTIVE: Increase the Number of U.S. Minority and International Students

249 U.S. minority undergraduate students

5% increase of U.S. minority students from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012

79 international undergraduate students

17 countries represented

27 states represented

AT A GLANCE

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Q&A

IN HER OWN WORDS

Dr. Hamako Furuhata-Turner Professor of Japanese

KEY OBJECTIVE: Create New Intercultural Opportunities for Faculty and Staff

Mount Union faculty members like Dr. Hamako Furuhata-Turner enhance the student experience by leading educational trips to international destinations.

“It is important for faculty and staff to provide opportunities for students to go to other countries through faculty-led programs so they are introduced to a different environment in which to learn new cultures and languages. By engaging in school activities in foreign countries, students will foster an understanding of the interdependence of our global society.

“I recently took a group of students to Japan, which had special meaning for me. I was very excited to show my own culture to the students. I also learned new things on the trip, even though I am Japanese. It was a meaningful experience for me.”

BY THE NUMBERS

AT A GLANCE

Association of International Students KEY OBJECTIVE: Foster an Inclusive Campus Environment

In an effort to foster an inclusive campus environment, the Association of International Students (AIS), a

student organization on Mount Union’s campus, is committed to sharing the cultures of the international students with the campus community. They also are dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional Ameri-

can students and international students. Some interesting facts about AIS are that:

• The organization has student representation from Bolivia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

• AIShasnearly100members.

• Itisopennotonlytointernationalstudents,buttoAmericanstudentsaswell.

• Moststudentmembersareinternationalstudents,foreignlanguagemajorsandAmericanstudentswhohaveinterna-tional student roommates and connections.

• GettinginvolvedinAISisawayforstudentstofurthertheirknowledgeofothercountries’cultures,traditionsandholi-days.

• TripsthatexposeandimmersestudentsinAmericancultureareplannedfrequently.Recenttripsincludeattendingabaseball game and riding roller coasters at Cedar Point.

• AIS’signatureeventistheannualInternationalDinner,whichshowcasesinternationalcuisine,traditions,cultures,per-formances and fashion.

• MembersofAISarecurrentlyworkingtoincreaseparticipationandincorporateservice-learningprojectsintotheorga-nization’s programming.

Reputation Broaden the Visibility and

of the Institution

IN HER OWN WORDS

Lillian Evans ‘13 KEY OBJECTIVE: Communicate the University’s Commitment to Diversity Efforts Mount Union has made and continues to make an unwavering commitment to diversity on campus. The University has shown its commitment by adding new organizations that identify with all students of color, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered individuals and allies of such and qualified persons with disabilities. By doing so, it makes everyone feel more included and welcomed in the Mount Union community. The change that senior Lillian Evans is most excited about is the adoption of the organiza-tion See The Ability and Not The Disability (STAND) because it will be an outlet for students to share their thoughts and opinions on this important issue.

“The Black Student Union (BSU) has always been an organization that has made a big impact on campus. Past members of the BSU truly paved the way for African-American students who attend Mount Union today. It also is impacting campus by celebrat-ing the different diversity months on campus, which gives campus a chance to celebrate different heritages and cultures.

“I believe that inclusion is important because we always want our campus to be improving. Being an inclusive campus will allow us to have people from all different backgrounds not only in the classroom, but also throughout our Mount Union journey. When we add people of different backgrounds to our Mount Union family, it makes what we learn on campus more valuable and interesting.”

SPOTLIGHT

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ALUMNI PROFILEOne way of broadening the visibility and reputation of the institution is by showcasing Mount Union’s exceptional campus and facilities.

Access related videos and websites at mountunion.edu/magazine.

IN HER OWN WORDS

SPOTLIGHT

Social Media KEY OBJECTIVE: Develop a Cutting-Edge Web Presence As social media becomes an ever-important factor in marketing, Mount Union continues to enhance its efforts as a means of garnering the greatest return on investment from this progressive and increas-ingly popular medium. This fall, Mount Union launched a page on Pinterest, a virtual pin board that allows users to “pin” items of interest that they find on the web or other pin boards. In addition, the Office of Marketing has introduced a new social media website that incorporates feeds from Mount Union’s social media sources including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr as well as its blogging site and Exceptional Connections.

The University has further prioritized social media and other forms of new media through the creation of a director of new media position. This position emphasizes the institution’s focus on social media and other forms of electronic com-munication as Mount Union continues to transition many of its marketing efforts from print to electronic format. Callie Livengood ‘09 has been promoted to serve in this new role and will be working with many offices on campus, including the offices of the President, Admission, Advancement, Alumni Relations and University Activities, The Mount Union Fund and Academic Affairs, as a means of better integrating the services of these new and other emerging media campus wide. In addition, an institutional social media strategy including an analysis of emerging social media opportunities and clearly identified measurements to gauge progress will be developed.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Dr. Shuvo Roy ‘92 Associate Professor of Biology at the University of California KEY OBJECTIVE: Leverage the Outcomes and Value of a Mount Union Education

Mount Union truly has outstanding alumni who prove the value of a Mount Union education on a daily basis through their everyday lives and work. Alumni like Dr. Shuvo Roy ‘92 are giving back by conducting

valuable research in the medical field.

The bioengineer spends his days trying to improve the quality of life for kidney failure patients.

Shuvo, associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, serves as Director of The Kidney Project, an effort to create the first implantable artificial kidney for patients with kidney failure. He is coordinating researchers at nine institutions nationwide to create an implantable device that mimics the filtration functions of a kidney as well as its ability to maintain water and salt balances, produce Vitamin D and regulate blood pressure and pH.

He started his academic journey at Mount Union, majoring in physics, mathematics and computer science. He earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and applied physics and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical engineering and computer science, both from Case Western Reserve University.

Shuvo, who grew up in Uganda, said attending Mount Union as an undergraduate was the best choice he made. When he origi-nally came to Mount Union in 1988, he planned to transfer to an engineering school after two years.

“I was having such a great time that I decided to spend more of it at Mount Union,” he said during a recent campus visit.

FormoreinformationontheKidneyProject,visitkidney.ucsf.eduand“Like”themonFacebookatFacebook.com/ArtificialKidney.

Q&A

Dr. Francis Schortgen Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies KEY OBJECTIVE: Position Mount Union Faculty as Experts in Their Disciplines Faculty members at the University of Mount Union offer a wide range of expertise that translates to a unique learning experience for Mount Union students. Dr. Francis Schortgen is one of the many faculty experts on campus.

How did you choose a career in teaching? Having grown up in the waning years of the Cold War, I developed an early fascination with Ameri-can foreign policy. This fascination eventually translated into an interest in political science and history, before branching out into Asian studies and business administration. What eventually drew me to the teaching profession was the recognition that it would allow me to combine a wide range of diverse intellectual interests with teaching as well as give me an opportunity to share my own insights and contribute to the intellectual development and maturity of future leaders.

What type of research are you conducting in your field? Most of my research to date is focused on Chinese business internationalization. Since 2008, I have annually been pre-senting my research at Harvard University and have published conference papers as book chapters or journal articles.

What are you doing in terms of curriculum development? I am currently working with Dr. Michael Grossman on a national security and intelligence analysis major, which we hope to have approved for fall 2013. Additionally, I am committed to offering short-term study tours (in the summer or during spring break) to vibrant global cities as a way of helping students experience the dynamics, challenges and op-portunities of global competition. Currently, the cities involved would include Singapore, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with Hong Kong and Seoul being possible future additions.

What is one of your proudest professional accomplishments? In July 2012, based on my prior presentations at the “China Goes Global” conferences at Harvard University (2008-2011), I had the privilege of being one of 60 scholars around the world invited by “Henry Stewart Talks” to contribute to a new series on “Doing Business In China.”

What is one thing most people would be surprised to find out about you? I speak four languages fluently (Luxembourgish, French, German and English) and have basic-intermediate skills in Chi-nese and elementary skills in Japanese and Korean. I have extensive international experience, including having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea in addition to Luxembourg and the United States.

“I am committed to offering short-term study tours to vibrant global cities as a way of

helping students experience the dynamics, challenges and opportunities of global competition.”

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AT A GLANCE

Q&A

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AT A GLANCE

Advertising Efforts KEY OBJECTIVE: Embark on an Institutional Positioning and Brand Clarification Effort

As the Office of Marketing continues to broaden the visibility and reputation of the institution, the

Mount Union website consistently remains the University’s number one marketing tool with nearly 2 mil-lion visits a year. In addition to www.mountunion.edu, much effort has been placed on advertising and market-

ing efforts that will further expose audiences to the University of Mount Union and all that it offers. These are a handful of Mount Union’s recent advertising efforts:

• Successful alumni and their respective careers have been showcased through television commercials, radio adver-tisements, billboards and print advertisements.

• Acomprehensivesearchengineoptimizationstrategyhasbeendevelopedandiscurrentlybeingexecutedtofurtherelevate a handful of Mount Union’s academic programs on popular search engines.

• Aradiocommercialcampaignwaslaunchedexplainingboththestudentandparentperspectivesonchoosingtheright college.

• MountUnionwebadvertisementshavebeenplacedonpopularnewsandtradepublicationwebsites.

• Amobileappiscurrentlybeingdeveloped.

Billboards showcasing successful alumni are strategically placed in high traffic areas around Northeast Ohio.

In early 2011, Chair of the Board of Trustees Randall Hunt and President Richard Giese determined that, in order for the University to thrive amongst the “new realities” related to cost and funding that higher education is cur-rently facing, it was imperative to assess the challenges confronting the marketplace. Thus, with the support of the Board of Trustees, a new task force was formed with the purpose of assessing current and future chal-lenges. The resulting Quality and Efficiency Task Force included members of the Mount Union and Alliance communities who focused on fundamental issues surrounding the paradigm shift in private higher education including quality, efficiency, affordability, funding and accountability.

The result of the task force’s year-long efforts, which included research such as external readings and data review, was a report including a num-ber of short-term and long-term recommendations. The report was pre-sented to and approved by the Board of Trustees in May of 2012. Along with Advancing Excellence – A Strategic Plan for the University of Mount Union and the Campus Master Plan, this report will inform the institution’s direction moving forward.

“It is imperative that the entire Mount Union community work together to face the significant challenges confronting all areas of higher education. The current status of our world requires that we evaluate our funding

methods and expenses to ensure that a Mount Union education is affordable and relevant for our

future students. In addition, new trends in higher education – online delivery, an increased population of adult learners, interdisciplinary approaches, for profit education, a seamless state transfer system and increased demands on accountability, to name a few – require us to re-evaluate our operations and allocation of our resources so that we are prepared to meet these new realities in higher education.”

– Dr. Richard F. Giese President of the University of Mount Union

Short-term Action

Reconciliation of Resources The task force’s first recommenda-tion is to conduct a reconciliation of resources to align them with demand and determine overall cost effective-ness. This includes the evaluation of staffing across the University with the goal of aligning personnel and resources with demands and in line with the strategic direction of the institution. The evaluation would include administrative and support staffing areas as well as faculty to ensure resources are allocated effec-tively. Efforts are already underway to generate ideas related to this effort.

“In an effort to hold and reduce our operat-

ing costs to make the University cost competitive in the mar-ketplace, we

must perform a thorough analysis

of our resources to ensure we are not over-

staffed and inefficiently staffed in all areas of our operations.”

– Randall Hunt ’75 Director of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths

& Dougherty Co., L.P.A. and Chair of the Mount Union

Board of Trustees

Task ForceQuality and Efficiency

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Short-term Action

Futures Committee The task force also called for the establishment of a Futures Committee to better pre-pare Mount Union for a seismic shift in the education model. As a result, the Futures Advisory Council (FAC) has been identified as a standing council of the Board of Trust-ees. This group, including representation from the Board of Trustees, President’s Council, faculty, staff, alumni and Alliance community, will explore, rethink, identify and prepare Mount Union to anticipate future opportunities and challenges.

“In order for Mount Union to thrive long-term, it is critical for transformative long-range opportunities and long-term risk ex-

posures to be identified and referred to the appropriate Board or faculty committees or the administration for assessment and development. The FAC will act as the institutional catalyst to generate long-term strategic ideas to improve student out-comes, teaching and learning innovation, curricular initiatives

and faculty development.”

– Allen Green ’77 President of H-P Products Inc., Vice Chair of the Mount Union

Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

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Short-term Action

Retention Program Assessment Another recommendation is to assess the University’s current retention program against industry best practices as it seeks to meet its goal of improving freshman-to-sophomore retention and five-year graduation rates. Amy Tomko ‘81, vice president for enrollment services, and John Frazier, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, have been charged with enhancing retention efforts and have formed a Retention Committee with representation from many areas of campus.

“We know many of the reasons students leave the institution, at least the reasons they tell us in their exit interviews,

and we do have strategies that are in place to improve retention. What Mount Union doesn’t have is a unified program that takes in all of these strategies and builds upon them so that the institution can be a little more efficient at

improving its retention.”

– Dr. Michael Olin-Hitt Professor of English and Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Short-term Action

Scorecard for Qualitative and Quantitative Measures Based on a recommendation of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force, Mount Union is working to establish a scorecard for qualitative and quanti-tative measures as a means of better measuring success. The University has compiled a significant amount of data to review, and this scorecard will provide a more uniform way to evaluate the data and then establish goals to measure these indicators and compare them with other peer and aspirant institutions. Work is already underway to develop such a tool.

“Sound management practices tell us that we manage what we measure. By es-tablishing a score-card of qualitative and quantitative metrics, we are able to track and measure our progress toward criti-cal goals and to adjust our actions as necessary to achieve them.”

– Sandra (Goff ’74) Thomas Retired Senior Vice President of JP

Morgan Chase, Secretary of the Mount Union Board of Trustees and

Moderator of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Short-term Action

Price Positioning Study Mount Union has partnered with Noel Levitz, a higher education firm, to carry out a price positioning study that will examine, evaluate and make recommendations regarding the relationship between Mount Union’s price and value as it relates to optimizing the institution’s position amongst competitors while increasing enrollment and revenue.

“Pricing is a market-based issue, so pricing of some services, including education, has quality implications. The purpose of the study is to guide Mount Union’s pricing in a way that matches its price with the market

perception of its education.”

– Dr. Raymond PoseyAssociate Professor of Management and Finance, Chair of the Department of Economics, Accounting and

Business Administration, Executive in Residence and Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Longer-term Action

Restructured Academic Programs and Curriculum The task force reinforces the idea that the University should maintain its liberal arts tradition but recognizes that graduates need to find jobs that are in demand upon graduation. Therefore, it recommends that a Mount Union education be balanced between the liberal arts and professional preparation. The immediate reconciliation of resources should assess programs that need re-structured or eliminated. Establishing that the future curriculum must be based on quality, mission compatibility and cost effec-tiveness, along with having demand in the marketplace is imperative. Steps for this recommendation include the establishment of departmental external accreditation standards, development of a process for the evaluation of programs, the continuation of the established process for evaluating positions vacated by retirement or resignation for placement in high-demand areas and investigation of the potential for three-year degrees, dual degrees with community colleges and international institutions and off-campus sites for instruction.

“Mount Union has a rich liberal arts tradition that instills in its students intellectual flexibility, knowledge of diverse worlds, breadth of awareness and innovative approaches to problems. As the demands of our

global society change, so must our students’ education and the composition of our academic offerings. The University is committed to high academic quality, and we are consistently looking for ways to add new programs, improve existing offerings and expand our impact through innovative action.”

– Dr. Patricia Draves Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the University

and Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

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Longer-term Action

Technology-Enabled Culture of Learning

The education model is changing dramatically in higher education, thus Mount Union must promote a technology-enabled culture of learning to explore education models that are student-centered. This includes concepts of online education, e-books and other electronic means for the future. Characteristics of this new environment center on hands-on, student-centric learning that is active-based be-tween online information, faculty, students and peers. This will help to meet student demands for immediate access to technology-based resources.

“The goal to create a technology-enabled culture of learning is impor-

tant because today’s students live in a world that is driven by technol-ogy. Effectively incorporating the ‘brick and click’ model can be a

game changer for higher education.”

– Cheryl Paine Government Documents Librarian and

Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Longer-term Action

An Improved Financial Model Another long-term recommendation is to create an improved financial model that evaluates the cost to deliver higher edu-cation, how it is funded and prices the University in its market. This will require looking at funding and cost of delivery as well as locating additional sources for revenue. Exploring an improved use of campus over a 12-month period and shifting the fundraising focus from facilities and construction to one that establishes endowment for scholarships also is warranted.

“In a world of escalating costs of education, affordability is fundamental to success-fully maximizing the value of a Univer-sity of Mount Union education for our students. As we work to sustain and cul-tivate the culture of learning at Mount Union and pursue new opportunities to educate and serve in a rapidly-evolving world, we must also pursue a financial model that will ensure that a Mount Union degree will continue to make financial sense for our students.”

– David Rodman ’78 Founder and Principal of Rodman Capital Management and

Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Longer-term Action

Economic Engine for Northeast Ohio This action encourages the University to know and understand its market and com-munity by becoming an economic engine for northeast Ohio, providing experiential learning for students, developing model citizens and building community relations and pride in the City of Alliance. This includes partnering with the city in the devel-opment of emerging industries, supporting student-run businesses and expand-ing its community relations function to explore building additional connections to

achieve these desired outcomes.

“The University and the City of Alliance are mutually depen-dent on each other. Their symbiotic relationship is integral

to shared success. The leadership team at Mount Union and the city administration put politics aside and work together to accomplish projects that will have long-term positive results for the University as well as for the com-

munity. This mutual understanding is a key component for our shared future.”

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Longer-term Action

Use of Campus Facilities In the years to come, Mount Union will work to identify new and creative ways to utilize its outstanding campus facilities year round. Currently, the cam-pus is used during the summer for camps of both an academic and athletic nature, but it is not a fundamental piece of the undergraduate education offer-ing. An important element of this recommendation is to continu-ally monitor the marketplace to determine if there is a shift in the demand for 12-month education. The task force also emphasized that the University should con-

tinue to build with sustainable prac-

tices in mind.

“As we look at higher education in the future,

we realize that we have to

contain costs and be more efficient in all segments of our institution. Creating efficient use of our facilities on campus is a key strategic initia-tive for Mount Union. The tradi-tional model is for our facilities to basically be idle for three months of the year, and we be-lieve this will change over time, so remaining open to meet the demands of our constituents and still being as effective as possible in maintaining costs will be a key component of who we are in the future.”

– Patrick Heddleston ’86 Vice President of Business

Affairs and Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Quality

and Efficiency Task Force

Longer-term Action

The Needs of the Student of 2020 According to the task force, Mount Union must take steps to better know its audience by identifying and responding to the needs of the student of 2020, who has a very different student profile. To meet student demands of the future, the institution may need to look at summer course structuring, high school preparedness, ability to pay and continued growth of niche programs for both a residential and non-residential population. The institution also will need to seek out a more diverse student body and ways to retain them as students.

“I believe the student of 2020 will want greater control in the design of their own course of learning at the University of Mount Union, and they will expect this learning experi-ence to be personalized to meet their own learning styles, whether it be visual, auditory, kinesthetic or experiential. They also will want it on their own time, at their own pace and at their own convenience. The student of 2020 will watch the professor’s lectures online and then explore the content of the lecture in creative activities with the professor and other classmates during the scheduled class time. They will continue to use technology more and more to communicate, conduct research and even practice their academic skills.”

– Dr. Patricia Boehm Associate Professor of Music, Chair of the Department of Music

and Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

– Suzan Goris Owner of Goris Properties and Member of the Quality and Efficiency Task Force

Class Notes to be included in Issue I, 2013 of Mount Union Magazine must be received before April 30, 2013.

Material for Class Notes is obtained from the “Update” form at the end of the Mount Union Magazine or online and news passed along from alumni to the offices of Alumni Relations and University Activities, Advance-ment and The Mount Union Fund. Notices sent by the Post Office are not printed in Class Notes.

1937Arthur “Pat” Engelberg resides at 1882 Knob St. NE, Apt. D8, Louisville, OH 44141. He is a retired administra-tor at the Stark County Common Pleas Court and has served as a volunteer tutor for 35 years. His email address is arthurengelberg@gmail.com.

1947Janet (Jones) Spencer resides at 9038 E. Parkview, Lakeside, OH 43440.

ALUMNI WEEKEND AND HOMECOMING 2012 October 13, 2012

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CLASS notes1959Thomas and Beverly Salmon reside at 1810 Oakbrook Dr., Longwood, FL 32779. Thomas is a retired oral and maxillofacial surgeon. His email address is thomassalmon@att.net.

1966Allen and Deborah Roud reside at 3107 Wild Grape Rd., New Castle, PA 16105. He is the head women’s golf coach at Westminster College, and she is the head teacher and education director of Westminster College Preschool Lab. Allen’s email address is jeff_roud@yahoo.com.

1968Dr. Robert Bragdon, who has been a clinical faculty member for 28 years, is the historian for the department of plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He was named Teacher of the Year in Plastic Surgery at the university’s 2012 graduation.

1970Janet Crossland resides at 925 California Ave., Apt 507, Avalon, PA 15202.

Dr. Barbara (Green) Hall is a psychologist.

1978David Schoeck recently retired after serving more than 20 years as a federal probation officer. He resides at 2760 Greenridge Rd., Norton, OH 44203. His email ad-dress is DMSGolfer@yahoo.com.

1991Joseph Bailey is the area sales manager for Northern Illinois of Carboline Company. He resides at 912 Summit Creek Dr., Shorewood, IL 60404. His email address is bailey74010@yahoo.com.

1998Melissa (Smith) and Terry Gard-ner announce the birth of son, Ross Hines, on August 21, 2012 who joins sibling Logan, 14. She is the vice president for marketing at the University of Mount Union, and he is a chemical operator at Omnova.

Shaun and Catherine (Oakes ‘97) Rook announce the birth of a daughter, Casey Rose, on August 15, 2012. He is an account manager at Matco Tools, and she is the head athletic trainer at Ursuline College. They reside at 3035 Lincoln Ave., Parma, OH 44134. His email ad-dress is rook911@msn.com.

Melanie (Lundberg) and James Schuller announce the birth of a son, Luke Aksel, on July 2, 2012 who joins sibling Ava, 3. They re-side at 211 Lansbrooke Ln., Apex, NC 27502.

1999Rev. David MacDonald received the 2010 Bishop James S. Thomas Leadership Award from the East Ohio Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. He is currently the chaplain at Ohio Northern University.

2000Erin (Mares) and Todd Butler announce the birth of a daughter, Paislee Kade, on June 29, 2012 who joins siblings Logan, 7, Hudson, 4 and Campbell, 2.

Robert Morgan III resides at 1009 Concord Dr., Medina, OH 44256.

Kara Shadeed is an accountant IV in the cash management depart-ment of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company in Mayfield Village, OH.

2001Kelly (Kester) and Shane Hochstetler announce the birth of a daughter, Emma Marie, on June 13, 2012. They reside at 127 Drinkwater Rd., Hampton Falls, NH 03844.

Allison (Sloan) and Brandon Ollanketo announce the birth of a daughter, Camryn Sloan, on September 3, 2012 who joins sib-ling Carson, 2. They reside at 3691 Cahill Ct., Dublin, OH 43016.

Heidi Tatsch and John Hinton were married July 2, 2011. Heather (Tatsch ’00) Lowers served as the matron of honor and Amanda (Crist) de Fays served as the maid of honor. Heidi and John announce the birth of a daughter, Tori Lynn, on May 4, 2012.

2002Shannon (McCarthy) and Curtis Metrick announce the birth of a daughter, Briana, on May 15, 2012 who joins sibling Addison, 3. They

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COUNCIL messageHenry van Dyke once said, “Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” I share this quote in hopes that it will encourage all of you – Mount Union gradu-ates – to use what talents you

possess and to explore the interests that you have to help Mount Union become all it can be. You may have a few hours of time that can be offered to a student who may be interested in shadowing someone in your profession, or you may be able to attend a lecture or concert on campus that piques your interest. Or it may be that you can share a few dollars to ensure that scholarships and excellence continue at Mount Union. Whatever, however big or small, it ALL makes a difference.

The Office of Marketing and the Office of Alumni Relations and University Activities have been working together with Credo, a higher education consulting firm, to develop an alumni engage-ment and magazine readership survey. If we have a valid email address on file for you, you should have recently received the survey. To ensure we have ac-curate information on file for you, please fill out the “Update Form” at the end of the magazine, update your information through Purple Raiders Central or email alumni@mountunion.edu. Please take the time to respond and let us know what interests you and how you want to be involved. We want to hear from YOU. We are listening and plan on moving forward in a way that matters most to those who matter most to us, our dedicated and loyal alumni. We are only as strong as those who support us, and our students are counting on you. Your participa-tion in the life of Mount Union is imperative…WE ARE ALL FOREVER MOUNT.

Aaron Swartz ’00 Alumni Association President

2009Elizabeth Hadgis and James Kirby were married July 7, 2012. Members of the wedding party included Matt Hadgis ’06 and Mallory (Herman) Wickham.

Ryan and Sarah (Brockett) McFeely announce the birth of a daughter, Addison Sophia, on February 14, 2012, who joins sib-ling Brooke, 2. Her email address is sarahmcfeely@gmail.com.

2010Dani Baxendale and Connor Nell were married April 28, 2012.

She also worked a social worker for the Maine Department of Health and Welfare.

1934 Martha (Robbins) Black of Richmond, VA died July 12, 2012. Throughout her career, she worked at Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, Eastern Michigan University, Adelphi University, Kent State University, Muskingum College, McMurray College and Cathedral School of Saint Mary, among other schools.

1937Frances (Farwick) Engelberg of Louisville, OH died July 15, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Arthur “Pat” ’37.

1939Dr. Gladstone Brown of Alliance, OH died August 2, 2012. A former member of the Mount Union Board of Trustees, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Oberlin College and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Drew University.

1940John Cabas of Salem, OH died July 16, 2012. A member of the U.S. Navy, he retired from Salem City Schools as assistant principal in 1985.

Kenneth Erb of Dowling, FL died October 2, 2012. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and is a retired executive with the Ford Motor Company. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Howe (Jones ’41).

1942Doris (Johnson) Liambeis of Cleveland, OH died September 17, 2012. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1945 and taught at Shaker Heights High School.

1945Bruce Brown of Kalamazoo, MI died April 8, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Smith ’46).

Helen (Harshman) Shanewise of Spokane, WA died September 19, 2012. She earned a Master of Health Science degree from Whitworth College. Over the years, she worked in the plastics testing laboratory at Goodyear and the experimental surgery laboratory at the University of Rochester. Shanewise also was a patient educator for Orthopedic Associates of Spokane before building and operating the Moran Vista, an as-sisted living facility.

1946Dorothy (Littrick) Van Ornum of Edgeley, ND died October 15, 2012.

1947John Kacarab of South Bend, IN died October 1, 2012. A member of the U.S. Army, he earned a master’s degree in geology from the Univer-

son, Cayden, on June 27, 2010. They reside at 740 Southwood Dr., Uniontown, OH 44685.

Paul Moore and Erica Raby ’04 were married August 12, 2011. They announce the birth of a daughter, Ava Marie, on Septem-ber 6, 2012. Paul is a registered nurse at Akron General Medical Center, and Erica is an adjunct professor at Kent State University. They reside at 1193 Juniper Ave., Akron, OH 44310. His email ad-dress is pmoore3@kent.edu, and her email address is ericaraby1@gmail.com.

2006Stacy (Murphy) and Michael Gordon announce the birth of a daughter, Avery Christine, on April 29, 2012. Stacy is a staff accountant at Novogradac & Company. Her email address is scmurphy4@yahoo.com.

Matt Hadgis and Sandra Tobul were married October 8, 2011. Members of the wedding party included Phil Mansfield and Elizabeth Hadgis ’09.

Susan (Hartley) and Nicholas Sudzina announce the birth of a daughter, Adamina Rose, on April 16, 2012. She recently earned a Master of Education degree with a focus on teacher leadership. They reside at 563 Knollwood Ave., Tallmadge, OH 44278.

Lindsey (Buckel) and Joel Szymanski reside at 645 N. 18th St., Sebring, OH 44672. She earned an educational specialist degree in school psychology from Kent State University in August. She is a school psychologist for West Branch Local Schools, and he is an elementary physical education teacher for Sebring Local Schools. Her email address is Lindsey.Szymanski@gmail.com.

2007Albert Smith earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

2008Maggie Miklos and Hanson Sponseller were married June 30, 2012. Members of the wedding party included Theresa (Borner ’10) Bardo and Amanda Uterhark ’10. Maggie is a fifth grade teacher at Claymont City Schools. They reside at 825 4th St. SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.

ALUMNI WEEKEND AND HOMECOMING 2012 October 13, 2012

reside at 35502 Beach Park, East-lake, OH 44095. Her email address is shannonm2980@yahoo.com.

Maureen (March) and Nathan Wise announce the birth of a son, Jude March, on November 30, 2011. She is the sustainability pro-gram manager at Stark State Col-lege. They reside at 3721 Arnold Dr. NW, Canton, OH 44709.

2003Rebecca (Hovanec) and Todd Baxter announce the birth of a daughter, Violet Elise, on May 29, 2012. They reside at 1899 Brittainy Oaks Trl. NE, Warren, OH 44484.

Rachael (Mayfield) and Shan-non Price announce the birth of

a daughter, Scarlett Bayes, on May 24, 2012 who joins sibling, Julianna, 3.

Lori (Zelenak) and Nick Zangardi announce the birth of a son, Nico, on January 5, 2011.

2004Jesse Davis II and Jennifer Joos were married April 28, 2012. They reside at 3001 Marshall Rd. Apt 316, Pittsburgh, PA 15214.

Danielle (Fladung) and Bradley Sommers announce the birth of a son, Tyler Neil, on March 6, 2012.

2005Desiree (Shundry) and Chad Dennis announce the birth of a

Jackie Grahek and Andy Bonath reside at 1169 Bella Springs VW #633, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. She is a teacher at The Classical Academy, and he is a teacher at Harrison High School. Her email address is jgrahek@hotmail.com.

Abby Jensen and Bill Kaglic an-nounce the birth of a daughter, Braelyn Kay, on November 15, 2011. They reside at 4205 Staatz Dr., Youngstown, OH 44511. Her email address is reena345@aol.com.

DEATHS

1932Anne (Ospeck) Mueller of Camden, NJ died November 19, 2009. She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee. Over the years, she worked in medical research at the City Lab at New York Department of Public Health, Lederle Laboratories, S.M.A. Corporation and the Vanderbilt Clinic at Columbia University Col-lege of Physicians and Surgeons.

2011Natasha Collins and Robert Towne were married August 25, 2012.

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ALUMNI babies

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family.

Let us know about your new bundle of joy by sending in an update form (found in the back of each issue of the Mount Union Magazine) or submitting it online on Purple Raiders Central at alumni.mountunion.edu.

Upon receipt of a birth announcement, we will send you a baby tee to welcome your child to the Mount Union family. Return a photo of your child wearing the tee, and we will include it in a future issue.

Office of Alumni Relations and University Activities1972 Clark Ave., Alliance, OH 44601 | (800) 992-6682, ext. 2030

alumni@mountunion.edu•alumni.mountunion.edu

Paislee ButlerDaughter of Erin (Mares ’00) and Todd ’00 Butler

Cayden DennisSon of Desiree (Shundry

‘05) and Chad Dennis

Kade and Reed DoakChildren of Andrew ’05

and Andrea Doak

Ross Hines GardnerSon of Melissa (Smith ’98) and Terry Gardner

Ella Grace GarrottDaughter of

Stephanie (Foltz ’05) and Richie Garrott

Avery Christine GordonDaughter of Stacy (Murphy ’06) and Michael Gordon

Braelyn Kay Jensen-Kaglic

Daughter of Abby Jensen ’11 and Bill Kaglic

Briana MetrickDaughter of Shannon

(McCarthy ’02) and Curtis Metrick

Camryn Sloan Ollanketo

Daughter of Allison (Sloan ’01) and

Brandon Ollanketo

Casey Rose RookDaughter of

Shaun ’98 and Catherine (Oakes ‘97) Rook

Tyler Neil SommersSon of Danielle

(Fladung ’04) and Bradley Sommers

sity of Notre Dame. Before teaching at Central High School and Clay Intermediate, he worked at Bendix and at Bauer Soft Water Company.

1948Grace (Tanney) Kish of Tallmadge, OH died June 17, 2012. She earned a master’s degree from Kent State University and taught first grade for the City of Cuyahoga Falls.

1949Earl Clemens of Geneva, IL died July 23, 2012. A member of the U.S. Navy, he earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. He taught high school music in Michigan and Ohio and was a professor of music education at Northern Illinois University.

R.W. “Bill” Doll of Austin, TX died August 16, 2012. A member of the U.S. Army, he was employed by Western and Southern Life Insur-ance Company for 41 years.

Betty (Ramsey) Schneider of Alli-ance, OH died June 24, 2012. She taught in the Canton City Schools’ adult basic education program.

1950Loren Fawver of Canton, OH died August 28, 2012. An Army World War II veteran, he was a cost ac-countant for Teledyne Monarch.

1951 Homer Lash of Columbus, OH died June 15, 2012.

Philip Pittenger of Louisville, KY died June 18, 2006.

1954 Gene Bissell of Fletcher, NC died September 4, 2012. A member of the U.S. Navy, he was an accom-plished pianist, composer and high school music and drama teacher.

Ruth Buehler of Akron, OH died June 28, 2012. She was a special education and elementary educa-tion teacher for Akron Public Schools.

Ann (Hofstatter) Fowkes of Wakeman, OH died June 21, 2012. She taught in Orrville and Elyria, OH. She also worked at Capital University Law School as a financial aid assistant.

Dr. Russell Thomas of Akron, OH died September 17, 2012. A member of the U.S. Navy, he gradu-ated from The Ohio State University Medical School. After training as neurosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, he began his neurosurgical career in Akron.

1955 Norman McLeod of Alliance, OH died August 4, 2012. He was a lifelong educator in the Alliance, Marlington and Louisville public school systems.

John Murphy Jr. of Canyonville, OR died June 22, 2012. A member of the United States Army and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, he was

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a geologist for The Hanna Mining Co. before assuming his duties as mine superintendent at Nickel Mountain.

1956 Edward Gregor of Bloomfield Hills, MI died May 9, 2012.

Dr. Naomi (Bruey) Patterson of Topeka, KS died October 17, 2012. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Nebraska. Patterson was employed by Shawnee County Health Center, The Topeka Psychiatric Center and Pediatrics P.A. She also was an ac-complished writer and poet.

1957 Jayne (Jewett) Bowman of Canton, OH died August 11, 2012. She retired as chemical laboratory supervisor from the University of Akron after 18 years of service.

Shirley Brown of Ashtabula, OH died September 28, 2012. She was a principal in Shaker Heights, OH and innovator in special needs education.

1958 Jerry Garlock of Worthington, OH died August 19, 2012. He was a retired math and science teacher from North Olmsted Schools.

1959 Myra (Taylor) Gray of Newcomer-stown, OH died July 16, 2012. She was an elementary school teacher at Indian Valley where she retired from in 1999 after 32 years.

1963 Terri (Bonner) Davis of Fairfax, VA died July 26, 2012. She taught el-ementary education in Columbus,

OH and Monroeville, PA and taught intersession in Reston, VA.

1964 John Bracken of Pawleys Island, SC died September 17, 2012. Over the years, he served as a school library media specialist, social worker, bookstore and video store clerk and gate attendant.

1965 Susan (Ringel) Zoog of North Strabane Township, PA died July 29, 2012. She taught at Upper St. Clair Middle School and served as coordinator of Christian education at Center Presbyterian Church.

1972Eric Shively of Columbus, OH died June 18, 2012. He earned a master’s degree in English from

The Ohio State University. He was a marketing and communica-tions professional with Chemical Abstracts Service.

1984 Judd Kemats of Lisbon, OH died August 1, 2012. He was the owner and operator of Polaris Earth Man-agement Company.

2000 Marcus Coldsnow of Olmsted Falls, OH died October 18, 2012.

2011 Nathan Petersen of Chardon, OH died October 8, 2012. A member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, he was a general manager at Chipotle Mexican Grill and an operator for Peterson Trucking and Excavating.

FriendsJune Olney Bennett of Medford, OR died September 9, 2012.

Lawrence Bryner of Kent, OH died May 26, 2012. He spent a majority of his working life with McBee-Gray Electric.

Alice Cromwell of Sebring, OH died September 4, 2012.

Morris Jobe of Akron, OH died October 9, 2012. A member of the Mount Union Board of Trustees from 1969-1978, he retired as president and chief executive officer of Goodyear Aerospace.

David Landes of Safety Harbor, FL died February 6, 2012.

June Ludden of Urbana, OH died July 20, 2008.

Student Supervisors

Joey ForchioneSeniorNorth Canton, OHFinance and Healthcare Management

Zach McMurraySeniorBurton, OHAccounting and Sport Business

Ben ParkerSophomoreBerea, OHBehavioral Studies

Alyssa StitzelSophomoreNew Middletown, OHEarly Childhood Education

Representatives

Katelyn ChefSeniorNorth Lima, OHEnglish/Writing

Emily MasonSeniorGarrettsville, OHPsychology

Carl BennettSeniorMantua, OH Sport Business

Jordan BeardJuniorCambridge, OHPublic Relations

Alyssa CuffmanSophomoreUniontown, OHMiddle Childhood Education

Mariah MostollerSophomoreNiles, OHSport Business

Courtney ReeseSophomoreCleveland, OHMarketing

Aly DanielSophomoreWillard, OHSport Business

Jenny BookSophomoreBarberton, OHCommunication

Bree DeRoseSophomoreCanfield, OHPsychology

Ashley ChittendenFreshmanWooster, OHUndecided

Presley MaysFreshmanEast Liverpool, OHCommunication

Natalie RicciuttiFreshmanCanfield, OHPsychology

Lexie BusheeFreshmanPittsburgh, PABiology

Nikki BrownFreshmanStrongsville, OHComputer Science

Devan WeckerlyFreshmanNew Middletown, OHCommunication and Marketing

Scott WhislerFreshmanBryan, OHExercise Science

Alyssa RafothFreshmanCanfield, OHUndecided

Holly BondFreshmanMansfield, OHBiology

Raven Brandon-WilmottFreshmanKent, OHPsychology

Meet Mount Union’sRaider Relations Representatives

By day, they are regular college students attending class, studying for exams and spending time with friends. But by night, they become a vital ingredient in Mount Union’s continued success. They are our 2012 Raider Relations Representatives, and their work on behalf of The Mount Union Fund is ensuring adequate scholarships, financial aid, updated technology and much more for students now and into the future!

Maybe you’ve already received a telephone call this year, or maybe you will soon. When you do, we hope you’ll take a moment out of your busy day to talk with these students about their motiva-tions for giving back to Mount Union in this way and about the opportunities they’re able to take advantage of on campus due to the generosity of alumni, parents and friends of the institution. They represent some of Mount Union’s best and brightest and, like many students here, a Mount Union education would have been beyond their reach without the aid of The Mount Union Fund.

While Raider Relations Representatives share the importance of giving back, they also offer invitations to events, share campus news and reconnect alumni, parents and friends who have not been able to visit campus recently. They love sharing what they’re up to on campus, and they also enjoy hearing your Mount Union stories! In short, we have an amazing young team of Purple Raiders who are working hard to ensure that students can continue to enjoy the best possible Mount Union experience. We hope you’ll answer their call, get to know them and do what you can to support their important mission.

Name and Address q The information I am providing is new.

Name Year of graduation

Spouse’s name Year of graduation (if from Mount)

Home address

Home telephone number ( ) Cell phone number ( )

Email address

Occupation q The information I am providing is new.

Your occupation (title)

Employer (full name)

Business address

Telephone number ( ) Email address

Spouse’s occupation (title)

Employer (full name)

Business address

Telephone number Email address

Children q The information I am providing is new.

Child’s name q male q female Date of birth

Child’s name q male q female Date of birth

Child’s name q male q female Date of birth

Marriage Announcement q The information I am providing is new.

Date of marriage

Honor or Achievement Recent honor or achievement

Legacy Information (high school-aged children of alumni who may be interested in attending Mount Union)

Name Cell Phone School Class Year

Home address

Name Cell Phone School Class Year

Home address

Other Information

UPDATE form

An update about you and your family is always requested by fellow alumni...and we’d like to know here in the Office of Alumni Relations and University Activities as well! If you have any news for us, please complete this form and send it to:

Office of Alumni Relations and University ActivitiesUniversity of Mount Union1972 Clark Ave.Alliance, OH 44601(800) 992-6682(330) 823-2030Fax (330) 821-0425alumni@mountunion.edu

You also may update your information on Purple Raiders Central online at:alumni.mountunion.edu.

Remember, pictures are welcome! They will be used at the discretion of the magazine staff, as space allows. Photos that are submitted for publication in the magazine cannot be returned.

q I do not want my information to be included in the Mount Union Magazine.

q Dr. q Rev.q Mr. q Ms.q Mrs. q Miss

q Dr. q Rev.q Mr. q Ms.q Mrs. q Miss

first last maiden

first last maiden

box/house number and street city state zip

box/house number and street city state zip

box/house number and street city state zip

month day year

month day year

month day year

first last

box/house number and street city state zip

first last

box/house number and street city state zip

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University of Mount Union Financial Summary

University of Mount UnionFinancial Summary

2011-12 Fiscal Year

The University of Mount Union will begin offering a direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in the fall of 2013. The University has obtained approval/authorization to offer the program from the Ohio Board of Nursing, Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Ohio Board of Regents.

The University of Mount Union closed another positive financial year ending June 30, 2012, marking the 58th consecutive year of balanced operations, thanks to excellent management of ex-penses by the campus and another exceptional fundraising year. The University was able to maintain net assets within 0.4% of its record 2011 total despite slightly declining revenues and a flat-to-declining overall investment market. As outlined in the Statement of Activities, net assets were down $951,000 (0.4%) overall. Unrestricted revenues, at $54.2 million, were basically flat to 2010-11 totals, but were offset by flat operat-ing expenses, providing Mount Union with a margin of $3 million. These operating expenses, at $51.2 million, included University investments in young programs to support civil and mechanical engineering and physician assistant studies, as well as the first-year investment to start a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Mount Union in the fall of 2013. Offsetting this strong performance in unrestricted net assets was a reduction in overall endowment returns, as identified in temporarily restricted investment returns, where Mount Union saw a 2% reduction in investments in 2011-12. The University had an outstanding year in fundraising, with more than $8 million in gifts and private grants, following up a near-record-year of $16 million in 2010-11. The University’s Statement of Financial Position continues to show solid financial performance, despite the slight drop in investment assets. The University’s cash position improved thanks to the col-lection of accounts receivable and pledges receivable. Overall

Net Assets$240 million

$230 million

$220 million

$210 million

$200 million

$190 million 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

$216,716,351

$195,963,227

$203,381,006

$232,623,604

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$231,672,187

assets for the University stand at nearly $280 million, down 1% from its record 2011 mark. Liabilities were reduced as the University has been focused on debt reduction, lowering overall external debt by $1.7 million or nearly 5% from prior year levels. All other categories stayed fairly consistent with 2010-11.

This financial information is an excerpt from the audited financial statements. The audited financial statements contain important disclosures not included here.

Statements of Activities

Year Ended June 30, 2012

Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted TotalRevenue, income and other support Educational and general Student tuition and fees $ 53,821,941 $ —— $ —— $ 53,821,941 Less financial aid (23,061,302) —— —— (23,061,302) Net student tuition and fees 30,760,639 —— —— 30,760,639 Gift and private grants 2,723,509 4,543,012 803,660 8,070,181 Investment return designated for operations 4,908,061 —— —— 4,908,061 Change in value of split-interest agreements —— (146,051) 475,458 329,407 Other income 547,774 —— —— 547,774

Total educational and general revenue 38,939,983 4,396,961 1,279,118 44,616,062 Auxiliary enterprises 12,965,482 —— —— 12,965,482 Net assets released from restrictions 2,252,355 (2,252,355) —— 0 Total revenue, income and other support 54,157,820 2,144,606 1,279,118 57,581,544

Expenses Educational and general Instruction 14,902,975 —— —— 14,902,975 Academic support 2,896,571 —— —— 2,896,571 Operation and maintenance of plant 6,008,303 —— —— 6,008,303 Student services 7,117,424 —— —— 7,117,424 Institutional support 8,359,125 —— —— 8,359,125 Depreciation 3,618,364 —— —— 3,618,364 Total educational and general expenses 42,902,762 —— —— 42,902,762

Auxiliary enterprises Debt services 1,841,371 —— —— 1,841,371 Operations 5,675,423 —— —— 5,675,423 Depreciation 758,673 —— —— 758,673 8,275,467 —— —— 8,275,467

Total expenses 51,178,229 —— —— 51,178,229

Change in net assets before investment return less amounts designated for operations and other items 2,979,591 2,144,606 1,279,118 6,403,315

Investment return less amounts designated for operations (491,699) (6,776,890) —— (7,268,589) Change in value of interest rate swap (86,143) —— —— (86,143) Accumulated depreciation valuation adjustment —— —— —— 0

Change in net assets 2,401,749 (4,632,284) 1,279,118 (951,417)

Net assets, beginning of year 88,704,536 78,890,121 65,028,947 232,623,604Net assets, end of year $ 91,106,285 $ 74,257,837 $ 66,308,065 $ 231,672,187

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Statements of Activities

Year Ended June 30, 2011

Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted TotalRevenue, income and other support Educational and general Student tuition and fees $ 52,577,397 $ —— $ —— $ 52,577,397 Less financial aid (22,197,852) —— —— (22,197,852) Net student tuition and fees 30,379,545 —— —— 30,379,545 Gift and private grants 2,756,931 8,697,996 4,518,193 15,973,120 Investment return designated for operations 5,045,114 —— —— 5,045,114 Change in value of split-interest agreements —— 631,651 1,908,380 2,540,031 Other income 266,388 —— —— 266,388

Total educational and general revenue 38,447,978 9,329,647 6,426,573 54,204,198 Auxiliary enterprises 12,823,667 —— —— 12,823,667 Net assets released from restrictions 3,700,476 (3,700,476) —— 0 Total revenue, income and other support 54,972,121 5,629,171 6,426,573 67,027,865

Expenses Educational and general Instruction 14,345,875 —— —— 14,345,875 Academic support 2,898,587 —— —— 2,898,587 Operation and maintenance of plant 6,664,801 —— —— 6,664,801 Student services 6,902,579 —— —— 6,902,579 Institutional support 8,804,738 —— —— 8,804,738 Depreciation 3,579,796 —— —— 3,579,796 Total educational and general expenses 43,196,376 —— —— 43,196,376

Auxiliary enterprises Debt service 1,639,618 —— —— 1,639,618 Operations 5,593,906 —— —— 5,593,906 Depreciation 740,246 —— —— 740,246 7,973,770 —— —— 7,973,770

Total expenses 51,170,146 —— —— 51,170,146

Change in net assets before investment return less amounts designated for operations and other items 3,801,975 5,629,171 6,426,573 15,857,719

Investment return less amounts designated for operations 296,579 11,600,580 —— 11,897,159 Change in value of interest rate swap —— —— —— 0 Accumulated depreciation valuation adjustment 1,487,720 —— —— 1,487,720

Change in net assets 5,586,274 17,229,751 6,426,573 29,242,598

Net assets, beginning of year 83,118,262 61,660,370 58,602,374 203,381,006Net assets, end of year $ 88,704,536 $ 78,890,121 $ 65,028,947 $ 232,623,604

This financial information is an excerpt from the audited financial statements. The audited financial statements contain important disclosures not included here. |37|

CAMPUS calendar

2012 2011 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,114,474 $ 7,024,242 Accounts receivable net of allowance; 2012 - $352,134; 2011 - $364,143 1,462,959 1,795,721 Contributions receivable net of allowance; 2012 - $325,000; 2011 - $500,000 4,164,841 6,652,167 Inventory 210,320 250,667 Loans receivable 3,463,485 3,602,593 Investments 108,568,041 110,653,577 Beneficial interest in perpetual trusts and charitable remainder trusts 11,840,048 11,590,690 Annuity and life income funds held in trust 8,303,779 9,680,469 Property and equipment, net 130,786,190 130,753,665 Other assets 662,594 611,835

Total assets $ 279,576,731 $ 282,615,626 Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities Accounts payable $ 1,886,035 $ 1,811,579 Accrued expenses 4,159,706 3,975,216 Annuities and trusts payable 2,221,076 2,718,827 Deposits and other 925,157 1,121,179 Advances from government for student loans 3,060,192 3,023,415 Debt 35,652,378 37,341,806

Total liabilities 47,904,544 49,992,022 Net Assets Unrestricted 91,106,285 88,704,536 Temporarily restricted 74,257,837 78,890,121 Permanently restricted 66,308,065 65,028,947 Total net assets 231,672,187 232,623,604 Total liabilities and net assets $ 279,576,731 $ 282,615,626

This financial information is an excerpt from the audited financial statements. The audited financial statements contain important disclosures not included here.

Statements of Financial Position

June 30, 2012 and 2011

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CAMPUS calendarJanuary 26Women’s Basketball Alumni Game11 a.m., Timken Gymnasium, McPherson Academic and Athletic ComplexTo participate, contact Head Coach Suzy (Venet ‘98) Pietz at venetsm@mountunion.edu.

February 7Wolf LectureDr. Michael Olin-HittAuthor and Professor of EnglishStory and Identity: A Writer’s Perspective7 p.m., Presser Recital Hall

February 18–20Education on the RunThe Inn at Honey Run6920 County Rd. 203, Millersburg, OH 44654Reservation deadline February 10

February 23Kalahari Indoor Waterpark Discounted Room Rates Available7000 Kalahari Dr., Sandusky, OH 44870To make a reservation, call Kalahari at 1-877-KALAHARI.Reservation deadline January 25

March 6Schooler LectureCory BookerMayor of Newark, New JerseyHow to Change the World with Your Bare Hands8 p.m., Timken Gymnasium, McPherson Academic and Athletic ComplexReservations beginning in January

For a full calendar of events including times and locations, visit: calendar.mountunion.edu/MasterCalendar/MasterCalendar.aspx

We’re looking for some great students who would benefit from the college experience that only Mount Union can provide. And who is better positioned to know future Purple Raiders when they see them than our loyal alumni?

The admission staff needs your help in obtaining information about students who may be great matches for Mount Union. • Go to www.mountunion.edu and click on the Alumni and Friends link. • Click on Prospective Student Referral Form (on the left). • Provide us with information about students (at least freshmen in high school).We’ll respond to your student with a general information mailing and place him or her on the mailing list to receive appropriate literature on an ongoing basis. Be sure to have the complete name, address and year of graduation before you go to the website as you’ll need it to complete the form. The year of graduation is especially important to aid in our ability to send appropriate communications. Any other information that you can provide is wonderful, but not essential for us to make contact!

We appreciate your help as we build the loyal Mount Union alumni ranks of the future together!

March 13-15Florida Alumni Gatherings

March 16M Club Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction6 p.m., Skyland Pines, Canton, OHTickets required

March 23Sigma Nu Mike Hardy Basketball TournamentTo participate, contact Chapter president Matthew Miller at millermm@mountunion.edu.

April 23SCHOLAR DayStudent Celebration Honoring Our Latest Academic Research8 a.m., various locations on campusFor a complete schedule of presentations, visit mountunion.edu/scholarday.

May 10Class of 1963 50th Class ReunionReservation required

May 11Baccalaureate10:30 a.m., South Lawn of Chapman Hall

May 11Commencement1:30 p.m., South Lawn of Chapman Hall

Save the Date – October 26Alumni Weekend and Homecoming 2013

The fifth annual M Club Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction will be held Saturday, March 16 at Skyland Pines in Canton, OH. The event supports current athletic programs at Mount Union and future M Club events. The cost is $100 per ticket, which includes admission, a raffle number and dinner. Additional dinner-only tickets may be purchased for $25. To purchase tickets, contact the Office of Alumni Relations and University Activities at (330) 823-2030 or (800) 992-6682, ext. 2030 or alumni@mountunion.edu.

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Name the SpotDo you know where these iconic images can be found on campus?Visit mountunion.edu/name-the-spotto submit your answers.If you correctly identify all three, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a Mount Union prize pack. Please submit your answers by February 15, 2013 to be eligible.

Winner of Last Issue’s Name the SpotCongratulations to Adam Shonk ’11,

the winner of last issue’s Name the Spot. The answers were:

1. Studio M, 2. Entrance marker at the corner of Simpson Street and Union Avenue, 3. Mount Union Stadium

Are you a registered member of Purple Raiders Central, the site dedicated to all things alumni?

If not, visit alumni.mountunion.edu while you’re online!

Get social with Mount Union!While you’re surfing the web,

check out our social media sites.

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