Lyon welcomes largest freshman class since 1995 Lyon College welcomed its
largest entering class since 1995 last week. Dr. Walter B. Roettger, Lyon president, told
faculty and staff gathered at a luncheon Thursday, Aug. 26, that the college expects to
meet or exceed its admission objectives of 135 new freshmen and 25 transfer student.
Meeting the admission goals was among the successes of the past year that Roettger
reviewed at the luncheon. He also outlined the challenges that lie ahead as the college
begins its 128th year.
Among those challenges will be the development of a five-year strategic plan that will
carry the college into the 21st century.
This year’s entering class is not only the largest since 1995, it is one of the best
academically, Roettger said.
About 10 percent of the freshmen are valedictorians, and the class includes more
distinguished governor’s scholars than ever before.
Other successes of the past year included filling a number of vacant positions with key
hires, and achieving two important financial goals: "We lived within our
budget," Roettger said, and "We have increased net tuition revenues for the
first time in nearly a decade."
Also last year, the college created three new academic majors, bringing the total number
to 16. The new majors are in accounting, business administration and computer science.
Co-curricular program development during the past year included full implementation of the
freshman house system, the addition of a college chaplain, new fitness equipment in the
Becknell Physical Education Building, the addition of women’s golf as a varsity
sport, and a number of capital improvements on campus including the wiring of residence
halls to allow students to access the campus computer network from their rooms.
As for the goals for the year ahead, the president highlighted seven key elements:
- Achieve sustained, predictable growth in enrollment through continued gains in
recruiting and retention.
- Continue community building.
- Continue strategic development of academic and co-curricular programs.
- Enhance the college’s visibility while creating and implementing an institutional
marketing plan.
- Continued successful fundraising.
- Continue to move the college toward financial equilibrium.
- Create a realistic five-year strategic plan.
The enrollment objective next year will be 145 to 155 freshman and 30-35 transfers.
"This is realistic," Roettger said. "We enter this recruiting year with a
tested plan of action based on the lessons of last year; we have a full staff this year
including David Wilkey ... as vice president for enrollment services."
A second key element to enrollment growth is improved retention. Retention to graduation
in four years has been rising for more than a decade. This year, it reached 49 percent,
more than three times the statewide average, but "it is not good enough for a college
of our quality," Roettger said.
Improving the quality of student life and strategic program development are seen as ways
to improve retention, along with the freshman house system and career development areas.
Roettger said a lot of time will be spent this year creating a five-year plan to be
presented to the Board of Trustees in April 2000. This process will include the
development of a mission statement. "We will build a common vision of the
future," he said, through an open and inclusive planning process.
"This is an ambitious agenda," he said. "I suspect it may be a bit
controversial as well. It should not be otherwise on matters as important as this to Lyon.
... It will continue to move us toward our goals of becoming a national liberal arts
college of consequence, of having a larger student body with talents and interests which
will support our programs and enliven our campus, and of being an even better place to
learn and teach, to live and work."
Lyon ranked among top colleges by U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News and World Report has once again ranked Lyon College as one of the best
liberal arts colleges in the nation, as well as the best value in the region. U.S.
News’ year 2000 edition of "America’s Best Colleges" ranks Lyon No. 2
overall for the third year in a row among regional liberal arts colleges in the South. And
for the fourth consecutive year, it ranks Lyon No. 1 "Best Value" among regional
liberal arts colleges in the South.
Lyon has been ranked by U.S. News among the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges in the
South, usually at No. 1 or No. 2, for nine consecutive years. There are 429 regional
liberal arts colleges in the classification system used by the magazine. Lyon is the only
Arkansas institution represented in the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges this year.
Lyon also has consistently ranked at or near the top of U.S. News’ list of colleges
that offer the best higher education value. Lyon’s strong showing in this category
began more than a decade ago when it was first listed as the best buy in the nation among
regional liberal arts colleges.
"Once again, we are gratified to find ourselves at the top of the U.S. News and World
Report quality and affordability rankings for institutions of our kind in the South,"
said Dr. Walter B. Roettger, Lyon College president. "This is a great testimony to
the talent and dedication of our faculty and staff. We are very proud to be able to serve
the Batesville area with programs and opportunities that are among the best the college
community has to offer. We strive to be an institution that our community and the State of
Arkansas can be proud of, and by this latest national recognition, we appear to have
succeeded once again."
U.S. News breaks down the nation’s 1,400-plus four-year accredited colleges and
universities into categories based on their mission and region. The categories are
modifications of the groupings developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching, which classifies colleges and universities by their mission. The four major
categories are: national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional
universities, and regional liberal arts colleges. The 228 national universities offer a
full range of undergraduate majors plus master’s and doctoral degrees, and emphasize
faculty research. The 504 regional universities offer a wide selection of undergraduate
programs and master’s degrees but few, if any, doctoral programs. Liberal arts
colleges, both national and regional, focus on undergraduate education.
Some of the criteria U.S. News uses to compile its rankings include: academic reputation,
graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial
resources, and alumni giving rate.
Berea College in Kentucky was ranked No. 1 among top regional liberal arts colleges in the
South, and Berry College of Georgia was tied with Lyon at No. 2.
The value rankings relate the cost of attending a college or university to its quality.
"Higher academic quality coupled with lower cost to students equals a better
deal," U.S. News said in announcing its value rankings. "The editors of U.S.
News believe a ranking is one of the many important criteria students should consider when
choosing a college."
A student’s academic and professional ambitions, financial resources, and scholastic
record, along with a school’s size, atmosphere, and location are important factors as
well, the editors said.
In compiling its "Best Values" rankings, U.S. News says it uses three primary
factors: ratio of quality to price, percentage of undergraduates receiving grants meeting
students’ financial needs, and the percentage of the school’s total costs
covered by the average need-based grant to undergrads.
Two other colleges in Arkansas were ranked in the top 10 in the "Best Value"
category for regional liberal arts colleges - University of the Ozarks at Clarksville (3)
and Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia (9).
U.S. News has posted all of the rankings and additional information from the
"America’s Best Colleges" guide on its Web site, www.usnews.com.
| Kay Stice named employee of the year Lyon College faculty and staff members gathered Thursday, Aug. 26, at Edwards Dining Hall for an all-campus luncheon marking the beginning of the college’s 128th year. The luncheon featured a "State of the College" address by Dr. Walter B. Roettger, president of the college; introduction of new faculty and staff; and presentation of faculty and staff service awards, including the announcement of the staff employee of the year. The staff employee of the year honor went to Kay Stice, communications services manager. Mrs. Stice has been employed at Lyon since 1973, serving in several capacities before being promoted to her current position last spring. The employee of the year is elected by the staff and goes to the employee they believe has demonstrated loyalty to the College, is a consistently productive and hard worker, is easy to work with, and who demonstrates creativity on the job. Employees were honored for 5, 10 and 15 years of service to the college. Receiving recognition for 15 years of service were Cassie Creighton, associate professor of accounting; Cecil Hennings, general maintenance helper; MaryAnn Stracener, administrative coordinator for admissions, financial aid and alumni relations; and Peggy Weaver, administrative assistant for the Business and Economics Division and Social Science Division. Recognized for 10 years of service were Diane Ellis, counselor and manager of Student Counseling Services, and Dr. Helen Robbins, associate professor of English. Five-year service recognition went to Archie Berry, housekeeper/custodian; Norman Branscum, building mechanic; George Cunningham, campus safety officer; Dr. Bradley Gitz, The William Jefferson Clinton Professor of International Politics; Adele Grilli, bookstore assistant; Max Hunter, custodial supervisor; Dr. Cheryl Lichti, assistant professor of chemistry; Randy Manuel, dining hall assistant; Dr. Alan McNamee, the Frank and Marion Bradley Lyon Associate Professor of Accounting; LaWanda Ross, dining services assistant; Dr. Russell Stinson, professor of music and college organist; Dr. Frank Winfrey, The Clark N. and Mary Perkins Barton Associate Professor of Management; and David Worley, electrician. John Cuny, vice president for business and finance, recognized the college’s Building and Grounds crew for the work it has done on campus this summer, and the Sodexho-Marriott food services staff for its work this summer in preparation for the new school year, including remodeling of the dining hall. Cuny also introduced Mike Ayers, the new food service manager; Hugh Hall, the new head chef and kitchen manager; and Gary Goforth, who has joined the maintenance staff. Dr. Bruce Johnston introduced two new staff members in the Student Life component: the Rev. Pat Baxter, the college chaplain; and Stacy Glickman, director of student activities. Kris Penix, director of admissions, introduced four new admissions representatives: Amanda Griffin, Michael Lofton, Jeff Obert and Jennifer Tedder. Dr. William Moncrief, provost and dean of the faculty, introduced new additions to the athletic department and the new faculty members for 1999-2000. Three new coaches join Lyon College this fall. They are David McClure, assistant men’s basketball coach and assistant volleyball coach; Grace McDowell, who will coach women’s basketball and women’s golf; and Be Pham, who will coach cross country and tennis. Dr. Moncrief also introduced Marjorie Seascholz, a new administrative assistant in the Mabee-Simpson Library. The new faculty members are: Dr. David Thomas, assistant professor of microbiology; Dr. Mahbubul Kabir, visiting associate professor of economics; Gary Morris, visiting instructor in music; Dr. Daniel Deffenbaugh, visiting assistant professor of religion; Dr. Robert Kurfirst, visiting assistant professor of politics; Deon Garrett, visiting instructor in computer science; Juan Gomez, instructor in physics; and Dr. Patricia Whitfield, The Rountree Caldwell Bryan Professor of Education and director of teacher education. |
 Dr. Roettger and Employee of the Year, Kay Stice
|
WELCOME New faculty members...
 Daniel Deffenbaugh Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion |
 Deon Garrett Visiting Instructor in Computer Science |
 Juan Gomez Instructor in Physics |
 Mabubul Kabir Visiting Associate Professor of Economics |
|
 Robert Kurfirst Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics |
 Gary Morris Visiting Instructor of Music |
 David Thomas Assistant Professor of Microbiology |
 Patricia Whitfield Rountree Caldwell Byran Professor of Education |
...and new coaches
|
|
 Be Pahm Head Coach Tennis & Cross Country |
 David McClure Asst. Men's Basketball Asst. Volleyball Coach |
| Wells named new director of Batesville-Lyon Band Lyon College has announced that Michael Wells has been appointed the new director of the Batesville-Lyon Band. Wells is also director of bands at Batesville High School and a member of the Pine Bluff Symphony. He holds a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Central Arkansas. The band will rehearse Monday evenings in Brown Chapel from 7 to 9 p.m. Its Christmas concert is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble consists of performers within the Batesville area as well as college students. No audition is required. Anyone interested in playing should attend the first rehearsal on Sept. 13. Interested musicians should bring their instruments to the first rehearsal. For more information, call the Lyon College Music Department at 698-4261. |
Lyon College begins its 128th year!
Do you have an item you would |
