Issue: Summer 2013 | Posted:

From The President

As the 2012-13 academic year moves toward a conclusion, it provides an opportunity to reflect upon God's many blessings to Union University throughout this year. The class of 2013, the largest graduating class in Union history, has made a significant difference on this campus for the past few years. They have done so not just because of the size of the class, but because of the quality of their leadership and the extent of their involvements. I am so thankful for the members of this class; they will be missed.

This academic year has witnessed an enrollment increase for the 15th straight year, with a fall enrollment surpassing 4,260 and a non-duplicating annual enrollment of more than 5,300. Only a handful of private universities across the South have seen consistent increases like this over these 15 years. Obviously, we have much for which to be grateful. We certainly recognize God's goodness and favor to this institution in so many ways; the healthy enrollment trend is just one of those ways.

The 2012-13 annual Scholarship Banquet welcomed former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, an event that raised almost $500,000 for student scholarships. We were pleased to welcome Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter and numerous other leading pastors and topnotch scholars to campus this past year.

Among many important items worthy of being highlighted, we can mention:

• The highest rankings ever for the University with U.S.News & World Report, the Princeton Review, Colleges of Distinction, StateUniversity.com, President's Community Service Honor Roll, America's 100 Best College Buys, among others;
• We were blessed to see the opening of the beautiful new facility for our Hendersonville extension site;
• Both the Chemistry and History departments were once again recognized with Outstanding Chapter Awards;
• The debate team had another fine season, with Union's Amanda Bennett taking the International Public Debate Association's individual championship;
• The University hosted an important conference on the Psalms, as well as an impressive array of speakers who gathered to remember the impact of Chuck Colson, evangelical statesman and friend of Union University, on the first anniversary of his death;
• The athletics department made progress in its three-year transition toward NCAA membership. Women's basketball tied for the best regular-season league record in the Gulf South Conference.
• The Lady Bulldog softball team, under the leadership of Coach Heather Hall, won Union's fourth championship in the National Christian College Athletic Association's national tournament (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2013);
• The Board of Trustees approved a record $93.5 million budget, which was the 18th straight year for the Board to approve an increased budget (we pray that we will be good stewards of these resources that have been provided to advance the Union mission);
• Excellent progress continues on all the processes and projects associated with the "Union 2015" strategic plan;
• The work of the Union student life team continued to create a great context for the implementation of the Union mission among our students;
• John Netland was named the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Tina Netland was named Staff Member of the Year, and Justin Barnard was named the Faculty Member of the Year;
• Greg Thornbury's outstanding book on Carl Henry has received much attention since it was published earlier this spring, and the recent works by Hunter Baker and Gene Fant also have been the subject of ongoing positive responses;
• The third issue of our academic journal, Renewing Minds, which focuses on religious liberty, has been quite well received;
• We had a great Homecoming celebration, with the highly accomplished Class of 1963 returning for their golden anniversary;
• Union launched a very exciting pilot partnership with the North American Mission Board to help prepare some of its church planters, a program that has enrolled more than 50 students in the online Master of Christian Studies program;
• We have been blessed this year with two new and separate "seven-figure commitments," one for an endowed chair and a second for annual scholarships — certainly, we offer praise and thanksgiving for these markers of God's gracious kindness to Union; and
• The work on the beautiful library project is ready to move from the architect's office to the site itself as project moves forward. We remain excited and hopeful about this most significant project.

These things only tell a portion of the story. There is ever so much more that could be included among these highlights. It truly has been another fine year on the Union campus. We look forward to the exciting things already underway for the forthcoming fall semester, including welcoming Dr. Ben Carson to the annual Scholarship Banquet, as well as Dr. Phillip Jenkins for the Carls-Schwerdfeger Lectures.

We stand amazed at God's ongoing goodness to all of us associated with Union University... and, we offer deep and genuine thanksgiving for the many blessings to Union University for the 2012- 13 year. Thank you for all that you have done to make this year a good one on the Union campus. We are ever hopeful about the days ahead for this University. I know you join me in responding to all of these things by saying: "THANKS BE TO GOD!"

Faithfully,

David S. Dockery