THE TRADITION OF IVY HAS SYMBOLIZED GROWTH AND CONNECTION AT GREENVILLE COLLEGE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THE PRESENCE OF IVY REMINDS US THAT THE COLLEGE IS A DYNAMIC ORGANISM, AND, WHEN NURTURED THROUGH THE TIME AND TALENTS OF ITS FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND DONORS, ITS STRENGTH WILL EXTEND BEYOND ITS BRICK AND MORTAR WALLS TO REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES.
 aving weathered some winter-like seasons over the last decade, the recent past has brought new growth in programs, facilities, and, most importantly, students. Greenville College now stands positioned to sustain this new season through changes in institutional organization, new buildings and additional program expansion.
Fundamental to the nurturing process was a need for a broader governing structure in the academic areas. Dr. Randall Bergen, interim vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty, states, “It is probably surprising to most people that we now have as many graduates each year in our adult and graduate programs as we do in our traditional undergraduate programs. In spite of the substantial growth in the non-traditional programs, the governance structure that was in place last year was the same one that was in place decades ago when all classes were offered on campus and almost all our students lived in the residence halls.” He adds,” We want to do all we can to keep Greenville College unified. Changing the governance structure will help maintain the unity that makes GC a special place.”
The confluence of growth from programs and students prompted college officials to restructure the existing system of academic divisions and departments into three schools: the School of Education, the School of Professional Studies and the School of Arts and Sciences.
School of Education
One catalyst of this new academic structure was the marked growth in the Education Department. The addition of the Master of Arts in Education (MAE), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Undergraduate Teacher Education Partnership (UTEP) programs necessitated the creation of a School of Education. When the Illinois State Board of Education reviewed the college’s Education Department in 2005, the state mandated that all education programs must be moved under one unit with the same administrative guidance and conceptual framework, or be accredited twice. Previously the master’s and UTEP programs were housed in the Office of Adult and Graduate Studies (OAGS).
The OAGS programs now fit into several different categories. The MAE and MAT have been moved to the School of Education while the Greenville College Opportunities in Adult Learning (GOAL), an accelerated bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and Master of Arts in Leadership and Ministry (LAMP) programs have moved to the School of Professional Studies. Dean of the new school, formerly dean of Adult and Graduate Studies, Dr. Dave Holden, has also been named associate vice president of strategic initiatives. “I will be working with faculty to look for new program opportunities,” said Dr. Holden.
School of Professional Studies
Under the direction of Dr. Holden, the School of Professional Studies hopes to add graduate programs in the Management Department and the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPR).
Dr. Ivan Filby, head of the Management Department, is working to create a master’s in Organizational Leadership. “One of the key things businesses are realizing is that management helps to manage ongoing relationships in an organization. However, when an organization needs to be turned around, faces change, or new direction and strategy, it takes a different set of skills,” said Dr. Filby, head of the Management Department. GC’s program will focus on acquiring the new skills needed for strategic leadership and change. The new program will cater to existing managers with practical professional experience who desire a graduate degree without the analytical and quantitative requirements of an MBA. Scheduled to begin enrollment in the fall of 2007, the program will offer classes in organizational behavior, change development, legal and ethical modules, financial ratios, as well as human resources management. The target student will be professionals already successful in the business environment who are seeking to further their education, such as those who have completed the college’s undergraduate GOAL program.
Within the HPR Department, the college seeks to create a master’s of Sports Administration or Coaching, of which there are very few programs in the country. If approved, this program, which is in the early stages of conception, would benefit many coaches across the state who are required to take credits of continuing education.
School of Arts and Sciences
A successful partnership of the School of Professional Studies and the School of Arts and Sciences, the Music Business major has attracted the attention of students and prospective students alike. Within only one semester, the major is already the eleventh largest and Professor David Wray, a new member of GC’s faculty (see page 14), hopes to have forty majors in the program by the end of the fall.
While students in this program take music-specific courses like Artist Management, Copyright and Album Marketing, they also take business courses such as Microeconomics, Marketing and Management.
The School of Arts and Sciences continues to serve as a backbone for the college, housing many general education courses, the college’s COR program, as well as other vibrant programs such as Music, the Sciences, Religion, and Communication. “The COR program ties us together,” said Dr. Dale Martin, dean of the school, referring to the general education requirements. “I encourage faculty to teach COR 101 and 401 because it draws them together and allows them to see the big picture.”
 Dr. Martin sees the goal of the School of Arts and Sciences as innovation. “We are finding ways to use what we’ve got to attract more students,” said Dr. Martin. He plans to do this by adding a contemporary edge to current majors and creating new interdisciplinary majors. The department of Language, Literature and Culture is seeking to add a digital journalism component to their existing course offerings while interdisciplinary programs such as Digital Media have a large prospective student draw and are growing rapidly.
Mission Minded
All three deans emphasize that while sustaining change is necessary, the liberal arts tradition is still at the heart of what we do at Greenville College. The college continues to focus on its mission of transforming lives through the liberating arts and sciences. Our Christian identity remains paramount to this goal as students learn the principles of character and service.
As our growth continues, we ask for your continued prayers and support. God’s guidance and GC community participation are essential in the maturation process. The firm heritage of Greenville College remains strong as we look to the future with joy and build upon the solid foundations of the past. Dr. Bergen states, “Greenville College has been in the business of educational transformation for 114 years. In the midst of change, our mission remains the same.”
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