Name change for Lenoir-Rhyne: College will become `University'

Move meant to reflect school's expansion goals

Sunday, March 23, 2008

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer


It's time for Hickory to become a university town.

Lenoir-Rhyne College, the Catawba Valley's only four-year school, is growing, and along with adding new buildings and broadening its curriculum, the institution is getting a name change, too.

Come August, students at the small, 117-year-old liberal arts college will be attending Lenoir-Rhyne University.

The move, approved by the school's board of trustees last week, is a reflection of the institution's expanding mission to bring more educational programs and serve a larger constituency, said President Wayne Powell.

"We were focusing on what kind of agenda we could build to help the school progress," he said. "We wanted to create more programming and do it in the context of the things that we are really strong at, and the (suggestion) to change the name came after that."

The Lutheran school, a private and liberal arts college, is now in a transition phase as amendments to its bylaws and charters are made, Powell said. He expects the plan to be complete by the 2008-09 school year.

Powell said the school hasn't set a specific goal for adding courses and increasing enrollment, but thinks Lenoir-Rhyne will see about 10 new academic programs within five years.

The first, a master's track in sports management, is expected to start in the fall. Other programs, including a health care curriculum and expanded business, religious studies and education tracks, are to begin within a few years.

Lenoir-Rhyne is already planing a $50 million expansion to include a science complex, an overhaul of the student center and new and renovated housing.

"When you add programs, you add students and facilities and faculty," Powell said.

Currently, he said, 1,628 students are enrolled, but current campus amenities could accommodate about 2,500.

But the move isn't sitting well with everyone on campus.

Students and alumni are split on how it will affect the way people look at a school that has built a reputation on small classes and an intimate and close-knit campus community.

While some have argued that the changes could bring a new level of prestige, others worry that changing the college's name could alter its identity.

"I think it complicates and compromises the school's tradition and the mission," said 2006 graduate Silas Webb. "The word `college' is more indicative of the small, liberal arts environment. If (students) wanted to go to a bigger school, they would have. People pick (Lenoir-Rhyne) because of what it offers."

About 114 students and alumni have joined Webb's "Students for Lenoir-Rhyne College" on the networking Web site Facebook, and have been debating in the online forum.

"I just don't think the word `college' is limiting," Webb said. "My sense is that it can be a college and be a very rigorous academic environment."

But freshman Jacob Thie, who sat in on focus groups and staff meetings, likes the plan.

"They're looking to build on what we have now and not necessarily make Lenoir-Rhyne become a big university," he said.

Thie, who graduated from Bandys High School in 2007 and is studying outdoor personal and religious development, said he's looking forward to seeing more variety in the curriculum.

But he's looking forward to the name change, too, he said.

"If nothing else, `Lenoir-Rhyne University' just sounds better," Thie said. "The university name is just going to enhance any degree you have. I'd rather graduate from a university than a college any day."


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