President Docking Gives 'State of the College'
posted 3/28/08

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College President Jeffrey R. Docking offered some of his thoughts about Adrian and its future during “The Vision for Renaissance II”, his 2008 State of the College Address, presented today (Friday) in the Adrian Tobias Room on campus.

Docking opened his address by discussing the successful efforts and completion of Renaissance I. During the Renaissance I campaign a five-year goal was reached in just its second year of existence.

“We grew our application base from 1,116 to nearly 4,000,” Docking said. “We enlarged our freshmen class from 263 students in 2005 to 492 students last year. Our average ACT is much stronger and our denial rate expanded from 79 students to 1,189. And most importantly our College budget grew from a meager $24 million to nearly $39 million. All of this in two and half years!”

Docking concluded the Renaissance I portion of his speech by stating that in order to reach great things, great efforts must be put forth.

“We have learned many things together through this process. We have learned that great change requires great effort. We have learned that excellence is expensive and one should not be fooled into thinking that you can ever cut your way to prosperity.”

He praised the College faculty, students, administration, Board of Trustees, and community for their support, patience and hard work and dedication to Adrian College which helped to create a “better Adrian College.”

Docking then focused the majority of his speech on Renaissance II. The main component of this campaign is facility enhancements. He said the enhancements are not to improve curb appeal but rather for educational reasons.

Within the next several years his hopes are that every academic department and every academic facility on campus will be enhanced to “look distinctively better than it does today.”

The first department to receive this “renewal and design” is the Communication Arts & Sciences department which includes a one million dollar renovation for new classrooms, a new, better-equipped radio station, and a state-of-the-art television production studio.

Other departments include the science facilities, the modern foreign languages department, and English department. Additions to The Merillat Sport & Fitness Center will give the athletic training program new laboratory and classroom space.

Mahan Hall will become The Mahan Center for Art and Interior Design which will provide the art and interior design departments the space they need to teach and display their work. A new dance floor will also be set in Downs Hall so that theatre and dance can be housed and taught under the same roof.

Docking also discussed the implementation of institutes and new majors.

“Institutes will serve both a teaching and administrative support role to our faculty,” Docking said.

Some ideas for institutes include the Institute for Ethics, the Institute for Public Policy, and the Institute for International Education.

Docking emphasized the importance of learning outside the classroom with enhanced study abroad and internship opportunities as well as senior capstone experiences. A new idea is to combine the experiential learning with career planning. He also revisited the idea of J-Term, a January mini semester that would give students the opportunity to study abroad for four weeks or take classes outside their major.

The address ended with the formal announcement of “Operation Education”. The new scholarship program will provide a disabled veteran returning from war in Afghanistan or Iraq a cost-free education with a meal plan, housing, and supplies.

The State of the College is an annual tradition on the Adrian College campus usually taking place on or around the College’s anniversary and Founder’s Day of March 28. This year marks the College’s 149th anniversary.

A whirlwind of change continues at Adrian College thanks to the success of the Renaissance I program, which has grown freshmen enrollment by nearly 90 percent and added $15 million to the College budget, and the beginning of Renaissance II.

Witnessed in beautiful new academic and athletic facilities, the College is booming at a pace unmatched by other colleges and universities throughout the country. With the Renaissance II plan set forth, Docking said they are succeeding but the work is far from over.

“Despite these gains, we know that our work is far from over,” said Docking. “We are not satisfied and we will never be satisfied until we achieve the successful completion of Renaissance II, the complete evaluation of, and dedication to enhancing, the academic experience of our students on this campus.”