Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Oct. 1, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Chowan University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
• •••••• '• • • Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker ^ announces retirement Will complete 32 i^ears as President in Mai^, 1989 Dr. Whitaker presiding at annual Commencement Exercises. Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker, who has led Chowan to a position of national pro minence during his 32 years as president, has announced his retirement effective June 30,1989. Dr. Whitaker made the announcement at the end of the September semi-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors in his office. Whitaker, 67, is the 18th president of the college, founded in 1848 as the Chowan Baptist Female Institute. Commented Dr. Whitaker: “On May 15, 1989.1 will complete my thirty-second year as president of Chowan College. On June 27.1989.1 will celebrate my 68th birthday. “I sincerely believe that the time has now come for me to relinquish the presidency of the college and to make way for younger and more vigorous hands that will provide leadership and direction as the college prepares to enter the 21st cen tury. I therefore submit my desire to retire from the presidency of Chowan College on June 30,1989. Elxpresses Gratitude “During my time here, God has been good to Chowan and to me. I have a devoted and loving wife and a wonderful family. The college has been good for my family. The broader Chowan College Family, which includes my colleagues, has supported me and joined with me in a defeated effort to ensure that the purpose of this beloved institution has been and continues to be fulfilled. For all of this, I am eternally grateful. “During the past third of a century, Chowan has come to experience its greatest stature and strength, both academical ly and economically, as a result of the devoted work of many people. It is recognized as a strong, viable institution. I can turn over to my successor an institution that is ready and equipped to face the future with confidence and hope. During her long history, and indeed during the time of my own ad ministration, the college has experienced times of adversity and times of triumph. From each experience, she has grown and matured. All Have Helped “I must register my genuine apprecia tion and sincere gratitude to my partners in this enterprise—To trustees, to ad visors, to their predecessors, to students, alumni, faculty, staff, secretaries, custo dians, Baptists of North Carolina, col leagues in Baptist higher education leader ship, and friends on the national level. Finally, to Robert B. Spivey, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and chairman of our current campaign effort, I register my personal esteem and gratitude. “These have been good years at Chowan College, spanning well over 30 years. In one way, they seen to comprise a lifetime; on the other hand, they have been busy and rewarding years, and thus appear to comprise a much briefer period of time. “I have a good feeling about the future of Chowan College. Chairman Bob Spivey has appointed a solid representative Search Committee. I am confident a wor thy successor will be identified and enlisted by the time of my anticipated retirement on June 30,1989. Great Mission “No man is indispensable. Chowan Col lege has a life and mission of service which is greater than me or anyone else. In the Chowan tradition, the college will continue to serve as a bastion against ig norance within the context of the Christian faith. “In the words of a colleague, in a time like this, there is a mixture of sweetness and sadness. But, one can move on in life when there is the belief that it is right to do so, and when one feels that he has made a valiant effort on behalf of a worthy cause. I love Chowan College. I believe in and am committed to her noble purpose. I shall continue to believe in her and pray for her success.” stated Dr. Whitaker. Plateau Reached The chairman of the Board of Trustees, Robert B. Spivey of Windsor, lauded Whitaker for his “selfless and capable leadership.” Spivey said that Dr. Whitaker’s announced retirement “comes at a time when the college has reached its highest plateau in every measurable way.” Explained Spivey, “Chowan has recently received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college has no indebtedness and has experienced a substantial enrollment increase for the current fall semester. “Chowan is nearing its minimum $4 million Mission Excellence goal although it must continue expanding the campaign in order to reach and move beyond its minimum goal. Chowan has a strong facul ty and staff and excellent plant facilities in general.” Continued Spivey, “Under Dr. Whitaker’s capable leadership, the academic program. which is the very heart of the institution, has gained national respect. The college has also prospered economically, with an en viable record of having operated in the black for the last 30 years.” He said Whitaker’s accomplishments include the growth of student enrollment from 292 to 966, the general endowment from less than $7,000 to more than $5 million, and the annual operating budget from less than $300,000 to more than $8.5 million. Growth In All Areas Spivey noted the average nine-month faculty salary has grown from $3,300 to $24,500 and library holdings have increased from about 9,000 volumes to over 90,000. Stated Spivey, “I could continue reciting the accomplishments of President Whitaker at length. The point is that all of this has required hard work and selfless devotion on the part of this one who has provided leadership for Chowan College for almost 32 years. Because of his selfless and capable leadership, he has won the respect and admiration of the Board of Trustees, Board of Advisors, faculty, staff, alumni and leaders in Baptist higher education here in North Carolina and throughout the region and nation. He has been named one of the most effective col lege presidents in the United States. “Dr. Whitaker has led the college through times of adversity and times of triumph. Because of his keen insight, he has been able to use all of these cir cumstances to promote the continued growth of the college. Through all of this, he has had the backing and unswerving devotion of his good wife, Esther. ” Search Committee Spivey said he has appointed a Search Committee “for the purpose of attempting to identify that person who will succeed Dr. Whitaker as president of Chowan Col lege.” He said serving with him and the chair- □ See PRESIDENT, Next Page “I love Chowan College. I believe in and am committed to her noble purpose. I shall continue to believe in her and pray for her success." — Dr. Whitak«r “Dr. Whitaker’s retirement comes at a time when the college has reached its highest plateau in euery measurable wai;. ” — Robert Spivey, Chairman, Board of Trustees The Chowanian, October. 1988 —PAGE THREE
Chowan University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 1, 1988, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75