NEW WILMINGTON, PA. President gives updates on college's progress

There has been an increase in student applications and SAT scores.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Westminster College isn't looking to get bigger, only better, according to President Tom Williamson.
Williamson spoke to county leaders and college supporters Tuesday morning at his annual breakfast updating the community on the college's progress over the past year and its plans.
Williamson said the college just completed its first five-year strategic plan that included upgrades to campus buildings and increases in staff and faculty wages.
He said they want to be on par with 20 other nationally ranked liberal arts colleges in the country. Included in the group is Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and Washington & amp; Jefferson College in Washington, Pa.
Other goals accomplished over the past five years include developing a center for teacher excellence that helps college, high school and elementary school teachers improve their skills, and agreements with other schools to take Westminster students in their graduate programs.
Plans mostly continue those projects already started.
Updating building
Williamson said the Old Main Building, which houses administration, economics, business and education department offices, will be updated with new wiring, furnishings and access. The president said they will also remodel the library and finish installing overhead sprinklers in the dormitories.
"We are trying to keep in mind safety first and then move into aesthetics," he said.
Fund raising will also continue as the college seeks to increase its endowment fund.
Williamson said the college needs to have a $200 million endowment fund to take Westminster well into the future. It's about $76 million today, he said.
The endowment is a fund the college can fall back on to help with scholarships, programs and improvements.
Today the largest source of income is the nearly $10 million per year in tuition, he said. Individual tuition, including room and board, is about $26,000 per year.
Applications up, donations down
While keeping the class sizes relatively the same each year, about 350, the college has seen an increase in applications from 1,022 in 1997 to 1,325 in 2003. The average SAT score has also increased from 1097 in 1997 to 1093 in this incoming freshman class, he said.
Williamson said the annual fund drive with alumni is down to 36 percent. It had been at 40 percent. He blames the bad economy for the drop.
But, Williamson stressed, the prime goal of the college is still to provide a quality education.
"Ultimately, it is direct interaction between the professor and student that makes a difference in a student's life and propels that student," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com