At semi-annual meeting
Trustees hear reports
of enrollment increase,
sound financial condition
Alumnus joins Board
The Rev. Dennis Bazemore. right, chats with Chaplain R. Hargus
Taiilor following the semi annual meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Bazemore. now serving as pastor of the Chadbourn Baptist
Church, is a graduate of Chowan and is beginning his first term of
service on the governing board.
Chowan College trustees re
elected the Rev. Felix Arnold of
Enfield, as chairman and Mrs.
Ethel Smith of Benson, as vice
chairman and honored a retiring
trustee for 34 years of service dur
ing their semi-annual meeting
Feb. 10 in McDowell Columns.
E. L. Hollowell of Edenton, and
Robert Spivey of Windsor, were
elected chairman and vice chair
man respectively of the Executive
Committee. J. Guy Revelle, Jr., of
Murfreesboro, presided for the ad
visors, who met with the trustees,
in the absence of Chairman Dr.
Melvin Kunkle of Portsmouth, Va.
Retiring Trustee Honored
Charles L. Revelle, Sr., of Mur
freesboro, one of nine outgoing
trustees, was honored with resolu
tions of appreciation. Revelle, who
began his trustee service in 1947,
served one term as chainnan of
the Board of Trustees and 32 years
as a member of the Executive
Committee including three terms
as chainnan.
He was honored for the “consis
tent commitment” he has
demonstrated “to the welfare of
Chowan College through both per
sonal benefaction out of his
resources and private solicitation
on her behalf among associates
and friends, making his an emi
nent model of trusteeship.”
Also commended was “his
record of support to Christian
higher education through Chowan
College—in both word and
deed—i s worthy of emulation by
all who are concerned with the
well-being of this institution, and of
others like her.” Only one other
trustee, the late Rev. John Mit
chell, had served for more years.
Revelle’s wife, Martha, a
Chowan alumna, was present for
the presentation of a framed cer
tificate of appreciation to Revelle
by the Rev. Felix Arnold, trustee
chainnan. He was also presented a
plaque for completing his current
trustee term by Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker, President.
Dr. Whitaker reported that the
college is headed toward operating
in the black for the 28th straight
year. He stressed “the sound finan
cial condition” of the college.
Whitaker said the plant in
debtedness is about $250,000 on
total assets of $22 million. He said
the indebtedness has decreased
over the years of his administra
tion from a high of $5 million.
Whitaker will begin his 30th year
as the chief administrator in May.
Dean of Students Clayton I>ewis
reported that the spring semester
enrollment was 820, an increase of
22 over last year, Thomas Mc
Crary, outgoing Executive Com
mittee chairman, praised I^ewis
and his associates for the enroll
ment increases for both the fall
and spring semesters.
Whitaker explained that the
decline in the number of 18-year-
olds will continue through 1994,
when their number will be 21 per
cent fewer than the present. He
said this is a matter of major con
cern to private colleges. “The com
petition for students is very in
tense. Chowan is doing everything
it can to interest and enroll the
kind of student we want and can
l>est serve,” he assured the
trustees and advisors.
Tuition Assistance
Whitaker said Chowan’s
students rely on the financial sup
port they receive from the North
Carolina General Assembly. He
said the increase for the 1985-86
year raises the amount to $950 for
each in-state student attending a
North Carolina private college. In
addition, $300 per student is
available to be distributed in vary
ing amounts to North Carolina
students according to financial
need, he declared.
Whitaker encouraged the
trustees and advisors to support ef
forts to have the General Assembly
raise support for in-state students
attending the state's private col
leges.
Dean of the College B. Franklin
Lowe, Jr., reported on the institu
tional self-study which each ac
credited college must undergo
every ten years leading to the reaf
firmation of its accreditation.
Two Year Study
Dr. Lowe said Chowan’s ac
creditation was last reaffirmed in
1978. He said the self-study usually
requires from 18 months to two
years and involves the faculty and
staff and all of the college’s consti
tuencies.
Lowe explained the steering
committee was named by Dr.
Whitaker in the fall and is chaired
by Dorothy Wallace, chairman of
the Department of Business. He
said the committee laid the
groundwork for the self-study dur
ing the fall and named the various
committees, which have begun
their work.
He said everything is proceeding
according to schedule toward the
reaffirmation of the accreditation
in December, 1988.
After hearing a report from
Business Manager Ben Sutton,
trustees approved a $250 increase
in tuition, room, board and fees for
the 1987-88 year.
Development Report
Director of Development Bobby
Cross reported that over $74,000
has been raised in pledges and
gifts toward the 1985-86 Annual
Giving Program goal of $150,000.
In other business, the trustees
heard background information on
the $4 million Development Pro
gram campaign from President
Whitaker and general chairman
Robert Spivey.
Whitaker expressed the belief
that the loyalty and dedication of
many supporters—to include in
dividuals and groups—would
assure the success of the cam
paign, the largest in the college’s
138-year history.
Spivey thanked the work of the
trustee, advisor, faculty and staff
committees which are responsible
for raising over $1 million toward
the goal. He said the campaign
would be a success because
“Chowan is a winner.” He explain
ed that the college is fortunate to
have a strong faculty and staff that
is interested in the welfare of the
students. “I am pleased to be a
part of the campaign and honored
to have been asked to serve as
chairman,” Spivey remarked.
Following his presentation,
trustees and advisors voted
unanimously their approval of the
campaign and pledged their sup
port in helping the college reach its
$4 million goal.
Resolutiuons of Appreciation
Resolutions of appreciation were
presented to two late college
leaders, advisor Ben C. Fisher of
Murfreesboro and Raleigh, and
Edwin Banks Branch of Enfield.
Fisher , who died on Nov. 3,19K,
was commended for his “breadth
of vision, strength of character,
and wisdom in leadership which he
See TRUSTEES, Page 6
Longtime Trustee honored
Charles L. Revelle. Sr.. center, proudly; display's
the framed resolution presented by the Board of
Trustees in recognition of his 34 years of service
as a member of the board. The Rev. Felix Ar
nold. left, chairman, made the presentation with
Mrs. Martha Revelle present.
The Chow^onian, February, 1986—PAGE FIVE