1. The TOWER Opinion 13
West Virginia’s Private Colleges: Unleashing Potential, One Student at a Time
By DR. SCOTT D. MILLER ates from our state’s private insti- focus on communication, critical measurable hometown pride. Our
West Virginia’s eight private col- tutions reside in West Virginia. analysis and problem-solving, in- teams don’t usually play in fancy
leges and universities mirror the Private colleges work hard to re- dependent institutions develop stadiums, benefit from corporate
history of the Mountain State, and cruit their students, and we expect broad skills for global citizenship. sponsorships or attract lucrative
one—Bethany, founded in 1840— a lot of them when they arrive on I tell our Bethany freshmen that TV coverage, but everyone has a
predates the formation of our state. campus. Who are the students who they’ll be as likely to compete with chance to play and to have fun do-
But don’t let our age fool you: we’re typically attend independent insti- students from Beijing or Delhi as ing it—and that’s how we like it.
vibrant, efficient and affordable. The only negative about West
And while we value our traditions, Virginia’s private institutions of
“Our teams don’t usually play in fancy stadiums, benefit from
the future is our focus. higher education that I can think
corporate sponsorships or attract lucrative TV coverage, but
Bethany College, West Virginia of is not telling our story loudly
Wesleyan College, University of everyone has a chance to play and to have fun doing it.” enough. Yet we certainly should.
Charleston, Wheeling Jesuit Uni- When you look at the key indicators
versity, Alderson-Broaddus Col- tutions in West Virginia? they will Pittsburgh or Wheeling. that matter in higher education to-
lege, Davis & Elkins College, Ohio Although we’re often viewed Private colleges and universities day—assessment of learning, four-
Valley University, and Appala- (mistakenly) as elitist institu- also specialize in career-building year completion rates, career and
chian Bible College are “an acces- tions, many of our students are experiences like internships, facul- life preparation, global awareness,
sible, indispensable and highly the first in their families to enroll ty-student research collaboration, to name a few—our private colleges
visible component of the State’s in higher education, and almost international travel and service and universities do a masterful job
educational, economic and cultural all receive some form of financial learning that help students explore of serving West Virginia.
life.” That’s the vision of our con- aid. The state’s Promise Scholar- not only what they ought to do, but For the more than 7,500 students
sortium, the West Virginia Inde- ship, for example, benefits stu- what they want to do. who enroll in our state’s indepen-
pendent Colleges and Universities, dents who choose not only public Like public colleges and universi- dent institutions each year, and the
Inc. (WVICU), headquartered in but also private colleges or univer- ties, independent institutions give 72,000 alumni who have preceded
Charleston. Rather than compete sities. WVICU Circle of Vision and back economically and culturally, them, the private choice is the ob-
with our public counterparts, we Legacy Endowment Scholarships, providing direct and indirect finan- vious one. Although our campuses
offer a highly personalized educa- funded by private gifts, benefit aca- cial impact to the tune of over $171 are small, the benefits available to
tional experience in the liberal arts demically outstanding, financially million in total operating budgets our students are enormous.
and selected professional and pre- needy students. We’re grateful to each year and enhancing the local
professional programs. the corporations, foundations and quality of life. In small communi- Dr. Scott D. Miller is President and M.M. Co-
chran Professor of Leadership Studies at Bethany
So although we’re small, we like individuals who provide outstand- ties such as Bethany, Buckhannon College. A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan
to say that we unleash potential, ing annual support through the or Philippi, following the Bison, College, he has served as president of three private
one student at a time. To be sure, WVICU to open the doors of higher Bobcats or Battlers instills im- liberal arts colleges during the past 21 years.
the energy at a small, independent education to some of our state’s
college is different from that of a
larger institution. But we educate
best and brightest college-bound
students. My Life in High Heels
with passion and purpose, and our West Virginia’s independent col- By DR. KATRINA COOPER that comes from carrying oneself
alumni are fiercely loyal. lege students may not be financial- Faculty Contributor properly and my heels certainly
No doubt that’s because we do a ly rich when they enter our gates, Anyone who has had me for give me that advantage. When I
great job building leadership skills. but they leave undeniably enriched class, or has seen me walking wear them, I feel more confident.
Nationwide, private colleges and by the experience. With emphasis around campus, knows that I love It may also be because when we
universities are renowned for ed- on teaching, not research, and on my heels. Wedges, kitten heels, try to look good, we also often end
ucating visionaries in business, individual mentoring, not mass platforms and stilettos, I love up feeling good…about ourselves.
public service, education, science lecturing, the private campus cel- them all. In fact, my collection now Lesson 2: Take your time.
and technology, the arts and many ebrates the specific potential of tops 100 pairs of high heel shoes I have many pairs of heels that
other fields. Bethany’s graduates the person. Our undergraduates and boots. But my shoes do more allow me to run, at least for short
include Wheeling natives Greg Jor- are taught by Ph.D. professors, not for me than provide a covering for distances. I have many more that
dan, Global Managing Partner of graduate assistants. The student- my feet, or a sense of uniqueness. make running impossible! In our
Reed Smith, one of the 15 largest to-faculty ratio is typically 13- or They have taught me some very fast-paced world, wearing heels re-
law firms in the world, and CBS- 14-to-1, and rates of completion important life lessons as well. minds me to slow down and enjoy
TV Emmy-Award-winning corre- are higher at private institutions: Lesson 1: Stand up straight. the moment. My high heels some-
spondent Bob Orr, as well as Beech Independent college students tend Despite evidence that wearing times force me to notice the jour-
Bottom’s Ken Bado, CEO of global to achieve their degrees on average ridiculously high heels is bad for ney, as well as the end.
technology firm Mark Logic, and in 4.5 years, compared with a na- one’s feet and back, walking in Lesson 3: Sometimes your
Dr. Linda Lewis, Clinical Professor tional average of nearly 6 years for heels requires the wearer to alter toes will get pinched.
Emerita of Neurology from Colum- graduates at state schools. her normal posture and stand up I will be the first to admit that
bia University. Over 21,000 gradu- Moreover, with missions that straight. There is a feeling of pride see Heels, page 14