Annual Report

Greenville College Annual Report 2000-2001

Campus Highlights

Greenville College foundation relations efforts continue to improve despite cutbacks by many foundations as a result of a turbulent stock market. More than $900,000 in grant commitments were received during the 2000-01 fiscal year. Additionally, we have received notification from the state regarding a $1,000,000 capital improvement grant to be disbursed over the next two years.

Greenville College campus lab band “For All the Drifters” became the second college band to win the Gospel Music Association (GMA) top award for unsigned musical acts. The 2001 annual talent competition recognized five Greenville College students - Justin “J. T.” Daly, Josh Heiner, Chad Howat, Brian Lee, and Andy Smith - for their “Best Performance” in three categories: Contemporary Christian Division Ensemble/Band Spotlight - Regional Finals, Contemporary Christian Division Spotlight - International Finals, and Overall Winner - International Finals.

In January 2001 Greenville College was approved by the National Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) to “umbrella” partnership the development of a new Free Methodist college in Africa. Greenville College will oversee curriculum development and give college credit to students taking a selected number of courses at Hope Africa University (HAU).

Greenville College is planning to extend its off-campus semester programs, offering students the opportunity to study and travel in southern Africa, primarily Zimbabwe and Mozambique. This new partnership program hopes to bring 25-30 GC students to the University of Zimbabwe beginning in the fall of 2002. Students will study at the university while living in traditional Zimbabwe homes, will interact daily with Zimbabwean students, and have the opportunity for internships in Mozambique.

Greenville College celebrated the lives of three board members who passed away uring the last year. John Minshall (1973-2001), Frank Joy (1968-1994, Emeritus 1994-2001) and John Kelsey (1968-1994, Emeritus 1994-2001) were remembered for their significant service to the college community. Frank Joy served as board chair from 1971-74 and John Minshall served as board chair from 1982-96.

Greenville College granted honorary bachelor’s degrees to the popular Christian music group Jars of Clay, a band that originated at GC, during the 2001 Commencement ceremony. President V. James Mannoia, Jr. presented honorary Bachelor of Creative Arts degrees to the four members of Jars of Clay, Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason and Matt Odmark.

Greenville College bestowed master’s degrees on the first 17 graduates of its Leadership and Ministry Program (LAMP), which was launched in August 1998, during the 2001 Commencement exercises.

The Dietzman Center, which houses the bookstore and coffee shop, as well as the Communication Department and radio station offices, was dedicated Saturday, March 10, 2001. A ribbon cutting ceremony included the building’s namesakes, Les and Estelle Dietzman. Les is president and CEO of Family Christian Stores, the nation’s largest Christian retailer, and both Dietzmans are 1964 graduates of Greenville College.

Greenville College announced the initiation of the Greenville College Tax Assistance Program (GC-TAP). The goal of this program is to provide free tax return preparation service to lower income individuals who do have wage income. GC-TAP was established as part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Tax returns are prepared by college students, who have successfully completed a course in Personal Income Tax, and reviewed by Larry Sayler, Professor of Accounting.

Greenville College extends its wireless network to the various businesses within the city of Greenville. The Greenville City Council voted to participate in a program giving all of the computers in the municipal building internet access via this wireless system. Other businesses and non-profit groups benefit from the placement of a wireless antenna on the courthouse.

Four years ago, Seattle University chose Greenville College art professor Steve Heilmer from dozens of artists across the country to carve an image of the Virgin Mary for its new St. Ignatius Chapel. Today the unique eight-foot-tall solid marble statue stands completed in the Seattle chapel. The finished sculpture weighs 2,300 pounds.

The Greenville College Richard W. Bock Museum celebrated it 25th anniversary October 27-28, 2001. Special guests for the event included Dr. Donald Hallmark, former member of the Greenville College faculty and founder of the Bock Museum. Hallmark worked closely with Bock’s children and several other people at the college to raise funds and gather the large collection that is now on display in the museum.

The Monday, October 30, 2001, chapel service welcomed three area politicians, State Representative Kurt Granberg (D), U.S. Congressman John Shimkus (R), and State Senator Frank Watson (R). They addressed students, faculty and staff regarding key November election issues.

The Greenville College chapter of Habitat for Humanity sponsored a “Shack- a-Thon” October 18-20, 2001, on Scott Field. More than 70 students and faculty members turned out for the event aimed at educating people about homelessness and moving them toward action. Guidelines allowed participants only one blanket and whatever clothes they could wear for the two-day event. Habitat provided cardboard boxes for everyone to sleep in and planned a series of activities for the participants.

Greenville College maintained its record enrollment trend set in Fall 2000 with a Fall 2001 total enrollment of 1160, of which 948 are traditional undergraduate students.

Dr. Richard Huston, associate professor of history at Greenville College,
was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to lecture and conduct research in
Paraguay. The Fulbright Program award allows Huston to teach History
Research Methods and Social Studies Teaching Methods at a local university. He will also conduct research to further the content of his doctoral dissertation into the next historical era.

Last updated: January 16, 2002