Dear Ferrum Friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful summer! Fall classes began on September 1 and we welcomed our new and returning students with great enthusiasm. Among the many exciting amenities being offered for the first time this semester, we are particularly grateful that the 10,000 square foot Classroom Technology Center addition to Stanley Library is now complete. It provides state of the art technology for our faculty and students and will be a wonderful enhancement to our academic programs. We will have a formal dedication during Homecoming weekend. I hope that you will all be able to join us then and see firsthand this stunning addition to our campus.

As promised in the July newsletter, I would like to give you a strategic plan update. At our opening conference on August 25, attended by faculty and staff, I shared our new Vision for Ferrum College, along with Campus-Wide Goals and Key Performance Indicators as stated in the current five-year Strategic Plan for the College (2003-2007). Included in the presentation were some exciting initiatives and strategies, such as increasing enrollment beyond our traditional base to include more transfer and adult education students, a pilot program for a “student portfolio” to be implemented for the first time this fall for incoming freshmen, an emphasis on the theme of “Ferrum Outdoors” to take advantage of our beautiful location, a revitalized Parents’ Council and an increase in the number of alumni chapters. All of these initiatives help us stay focused on “Success & Service” for Ferrum’s future.

I hope you will take a few minutes to follow the links and articles below. We are particularly excited about launching our first-ever, full-fledged continuing/adult education program. Ferrum College is a dynamic institution and continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of our community and the region, as we have done throughout our 90-year history. And as always, we thank all of you for your ongoing interest and your support. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Summer Recap
It was a very busy summer on campus, with a wide variety of groups and camps visiting weekly. The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre enjoyed another extremely successful season. Hats off to Rex Stephenson, Ferrum College Drama Professor, for writing/launching two plays this year, which brings the total to twenty! We also had many friends and alums join us on an Alaskan Cruise August 8-16th. The trip was exhilarating and memorable and a wonderful way to connect with the people who help make Ferrum the extraordinary place it is (see below).

Alaskan Cruise
Ferrum Alumni were joined by faculty and President Jennifer Braaten for an Alaskan Cruise August 8-16th. See photos from the exciting excursion here! Read more...

Homecoming Events 2003

Friday, October 3 • 12th Annual Corron Classic Golf Tournament, 1pm More... • Women's Soccer Game, 2pm • Classroom Technology Center (Library Addition) Dedication Ceremony, 2pm • Women's Alumni Basketball Game, 7pm See Full Details Saturday, October 4 • Earl G. Skeens Tennis Complex Dedication, 9:30am • Alumni Tennis Match, 9:30am. • Men's Alumni Basketball Game,10:30am • Homecoming Lunch 11:30am • Football Game, 1pm • Men's Soccer Game, 2pm • Reunion Years Reception, 5-7pm See Full Details

Meet the Homecoming Challenge!
It is time to compete for the Alumni Participation Cup! Last year the class of 1972 took home the honor. If you are a member of the class of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998 the challenge has been passed to you. The class with the highest percentage of giving to the Ferrum Fund by October 1, 2003 will atke ownership of the Cup until next Homecoming. Celebrate your reunion year by making a gift to the Ferrum Fund today! Please contact us at 540-365-4221, or jcoleman@ferrum.edu for more information. Read more..

Campus Spirit Day 2003
The 2nd Annual Campus Spirit Day featured a tremendous turn out of faculty and staff to help once again with beautifying the campus. Campus Spirit Day was announced by Dr. Braaten as a means for more of us to get involved in helping to present Ferrum at its best to new and returning students. It's an afternoon of work and fun as we demonstrate our campus spirit in this special way. See photos...

Continuing/Adult Ed Program to Start
We are extremely pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to initiate a Continuing and Professional Studies/Adult Education program. Jackie Scruggs has been named as Director of the program, which will begin on September 29, 2003. Jackie worked for many years as a human resources officer for AEP in Roanoke and has extensive experience in continuing education, having served most recently as the Roanoke Regional Director for the Bluefield College division of Continuing and Adult Education. Jackie has a B.A. in business management from Mary Baldwin, an M.A. in liberal studies from Hollins, and is completing a Ph.D. in business administration at Kennedy-Western.

New Faces at Ferrum
It is a pleasure to welcome the following faculty and staff to Ferrum College! The new Faculty members are Jack Corvin, Jr., Assistant Professor of Philosophy (B.A. Ferrum College, Ph.D. University of Georgia); James F. Hodgson, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice (B.A. York University, M.A. York University, Ph.D. York University); Christine Hall Stinson, Associate Professor of Accounting and Business (B.A. Swarthmore College, M.B.A. University of Washington, Ph.D. Stanford University); and Peter J. Verhoven, Jr., Associate Professor of Physical Education and Recreation (B.A. Morehead State University, M.A. Indiana University, Ph.D. Indiana University).

New staff members include Jeanne Anderson, Academic Secretary; Margaret Bowles, Food Services Tech II; Bettye P. Buckingham, Director of Multi-Cultural Education (B.A. Ferrum College); Melvin Linkous, Jr., College Police Officer (B.S. Bluefield College); Candace Martin, Assistant Athletic Trainer (B.S. Ferrum College); Valerie Marrison, Admissions Counselor (B.S. University of Central Florida); Jesse Anthony Pendleton, College Police Officer; Jennifer L. Powell, Academic Secretary (B.S. VPI); and Jonathan Silcox, College Police Officer.

Ferrum is also happy to announce that we have launched a Junior Varsity baseball program, and welcome Barry Shelton (B.S. West Virginia State University, M.S. S., United States Sports Academy), formerly head baseball coach at Hartwick College, as our new JV coach.

BRI Postcard Exhibit
Two new exhibits now showing at Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, the State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, create a 50-year window into Virginia’s past with regional images featured in more than 1,000 vintage postcards. Wish You Were Here: Postcards From the Blue Ridge showcases hundreds of antique postcards from the southern Virginia Blue Ridge. Riding the Lee Highway: Route 11 in Postcards takes a postcard journey across Virginia from Winchester to Bristol along Route 11. Read more...

Ferrum Athletic News
The Athletics website features several new stories including: Ferrum College junior defensive back Darren Venable (Covington, Va./Covington) has been named Don Hansen's Football Gazette 2003 NCAA Division III Preseason All-America Team as a first-team selection; The Ferrum College baseball facility and tennis courts are both in the process of major renovations.  Read more...

Faculty Accomplishments & Travel
The Profess journal will be released electronically soon. Check this website later this summer for the release. Recent faculty trips include: Rathine Basu at the Salzburg Institute; David Howell at Oxford; Bob Pohlad and Dave Johnson in Africa...

Campus Progress
Finishing touches are being applied to the Stanley Library addition; see photos from several phases of its construction here. The summer of 2003 also brings construction of a cell tower on the campus of the college. For more information, see President Braaten's memo on the new cell tower. Keep up-to-date with new projects such as these through our Campus Progress site. Read more...

Panther Gift
The Class of 2003 gave to Ferrum this custom Panther piece, which now resides on campus for display at events.

Events In September:

1 First Day of Classes Details...

10 Club Fair in the Panther's Den Details...

13 Luncheon to discuss the creation of a Danville Area Alumni Chapter. Ryan's Restaurant in Danville, 12pm. RSVP. Details...

16 Roanoke Chapter Gathering- Famous Anthony's Williamson Road, 6pm. Details...

18 Walt Disney World College Program Details...

Events In October:

3 Classroom Technology Center (Library Addition) Dedication Ceremony, Open to Public, 2pm

3-4 Homecoming 2003; See the Alumni Calendar for specific events and information. Details...

4 Earl G. Skeens Tennis Complex and Burrows Tennis Courts Renaissance Dedication, Open to Public, 9:30am

4 Fall Open House at Admissions. Details...

10 Human Services Career Fair Details...

21 Roanoke Alumni Chapter Meeting Details...

25 Folklife Festival 2003 Details...

31 Family Weekend 2003 Details...

Events In Nov:

1 Family Weekend 2003 Details...

4 Luncheon for Ferrum College Alumni of Richmond and the Greater Hampton Roads; Tues. Nov. 4, 11am-1pm. Details...

14 Fall Open House at Admissions. Details...

15 Sports Hall of Fame 2003 Details...

18 Roanoke Chapter Gathering; Location; TBA, 6pm.Details...

Recent Events:

• Opening Ceremonies for Academic Year 2003-2004; Includes Initiation & Affirmation, Class of '07 moving in...
Photos

• Opening Conference for Academic Year 2003-2004;
Photos

• BRI Announces Free Outdoor Concert & Dance Series;
Information & Schedule

• Remembering Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr.;
Special Tribute, Obituary, Scholarship Information & Links

• Landscape Class Offered to Students & Community;
Information & Details

Refer A Student:

...And His or Her Fee Is Waived! Download the form for Alumni Referral, give it to a prospective student and they can use it to defer the application fee! It's a small Word document file that could make a big impact! Download here! Also suggest that they attend a Fall Open House on the Saturdays of Oct. 4 & Nov. 15. They can register online at this link...