The Lord has blessed Union with incredible leadership from the Board of Trustees. This wonderful group of men and women has provided vision, oversight, and support for the unfolding of the campus master plan, the two strategic plans (Vision & Values 2001, 2005), and the expansion of budget resources (from $18 million to almost $35 million per year). The members of the Board have helped to raise our work to new levels of excellence. The favor of the Lord is evident on this campus each and every day through the work of Union’s gifted and dedicated faculty. This amazing group, which now numbers over 140 full time (and another 100 plus part time), invests themselves in meaningful ways in the lives of students. The faculty’s commitment to excellence in scholarship and teaching is the primary reason that Union is recognized as one of the top ten liberal arts institutions in the South by U.S. News and World Report. The Lord has brought together this wonderful group from diverse backgrounds to enable students to learn to see the humanities, the arts, the sciences, and professional programs from the vantage point of a Christian worldview. The impact of Union’s wonderful teaching faculty is an obvious indicator of God’s special favor. The Lord has clearly blessed the work of the hands of Union’s staff. They serve this campus by serving students from the recruiting process to alumni days following graduation. Staff members do this by giving of themselves for the good of others in enrollment and student services, at Union Station, and in the business office. Whether in university relations (like the talented staff who put this magazine together), development and alumni offices, or facilities management, great strides have been made. The beautiful new facilities (such as Hammons Hall, Jennings Hall, renovation in the Penick, Blasingame, and Barefoot buildings, new residence halls, the new loop road, entrance, lawn, courtyard, new lighted athletic fields), anchored by the magnificent bell tower – which may well become the most visible symbol of God’s favor to this University in days ahead – have come about because of the capable work of numerous staff members and administrators. Six of the University’s eight largest gifts have been given in the past five years. The capital campaign, which was publicly launched in the fall of 1998, has now surpassed $37 million. Certainly we are grateful for every sign of God’s favor. We are especially thankful for the generosity of James Ayers, Roy White, Ed Hammons, Benny Fesmire, R. C. Ryan, Opha Miller, and countless others among the Union family who are signs of God’s favor to this campus. Over these five years the Lord has blessed Union with hundreds of bright students. The student body has increased from slightly less than 2,000 students to almost 2,500 during this time. The student body now represents over 40 states and nearly 30 countries and includes over a dozen national merit finalists. Well over ten percent of all current undergraduates scored 30 or above on their ACT. Students are being placed in leading graduate schools, law, medical and other professional schools. Hundreds are answering God’s call to ministry or mission work. What has been exciting for me has been watching students learn to think Christianly and prepare to serve faithfully as they pursue a sense of vocatio in whatever field they sense God’s leading in their lives. It is a joy to observe Union students, as well as faculty, staff, and administration seeking Christ-centered excellence in all areas of life. Union’s long history is a testimony to God’s providential care, but the past five years have seen God’s
favor and blessing in a special way. As you read this issue of the Unionite we ask you to please join us by not only celebrating God’s goodness to Union in recent years, but in praying for God to continue to show His
favor to Union University in obvious ways, in the days and years to come, that will bring glory to God alone, even as we trust Him to continue to bless the daily work of our hands.
David S. Dockery |
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