SPIRE Summer 2019

from the president

Our Core Values: We are Christian in outlook, Baptist in tradition, and welcoming to each person. We are committed to academic excellence and life-long inquiry embracing the liberal arts tradition through the study of humanities, sciences, professional studies, and graduate programs. We are a diverse community characterized by integrity, mutual respect, support, and encouragement. We are passionate in helping students understand their life calling and become compassionate, globally- minded servant leaders. Bluefield College is an amazing place. We have been blessed in immeasurable ways. Yet, as reminded by Benjamin Franklin, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Bluefield College is growing and taking great strides forward as an institution. For all who are investing in our students’ lives and the mission of the College through the gifts of time, talent, treasure, or other, we give you thanks! Your involvement with, and investment in, our students and our collective mission is transforming lives!

Dear Bluefield College Alumni & Friends:

It is amazing to reflect back on all the many ways God has blessed our campus community this past academic year. We certainly continue to face a challenging, changing landscape within higher education, but this year brought many notable achievements and growth. Here are just a few of our significant accomplishments:

• Record-breaking 278 new traditional students who made up our largest incoming class;

• 406 residents – the most in school history;

• Historic number of graduate students – 203;

• Record-setting total head count of 1,143 students;

• $2.7 million expansion to the Science Center;

• Creation of the Center for Worship Arts; and

• Launch of the Master’s in Biomedical Sciences in partnership with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Additionally, we spent the entire year dreaming and designing our next five-year strategic plan. As part of that process, we refined our mission statement and core values. I am particularly proud of the strong, defining statements in both that speak to who Bluefield College is and how we go about serving one another. Our Mission: Bluefield College is a Christ-centered learning community developing servant leaders to transform the world.

Partnering with you in faithful service, 1

David W. Olive President

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