THE Decree
since 1960 “of, by, and/or the Wesleyan community.” October 7,2015
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
Wesleyan Enrollment Hits All-Time
Rv Hprrpp Staff
By Decree Staff
over the stated goal of
For the second consecutive year.
Wesleyan has seen a dramatic
increase in its first-year class, as
enrollment climbed in the traditional
day program to just over 900 for the
first time in the school’s history.
First-year students total 420, which
includes freshmen and transfers. This
represents an increase of 35 students
over 2014, when enrollment rose to
385 from 275 the previous year. First-
year student enrollment is up 191 from
2011, according to statistics provided
by President Dewey Clark.
The president attributed the
enrollment increases to “basic
marketing 101. We’re much more
customer-focused. We’ve developed a
process and procedure for everything
that's done” in admissions. He added
that Wesleyan has stepped up its
recruitment of students from small
Christian high schools.
The president praised the efforts of
Vice President Judy Rollins and her
staff in Admissions. “She’s consid
ered a marketing genius,” Clark said.
“She’s put together a tremendous
team and trained them well."
As of September 1, total enrollment
was 901 in the day program, one student
Freshmen Urged
To ‘Get Involved’
By Carolynn Davern
Decree Staff Writer
Upperclassmen, faculty and staff urged
members of Wesleyan’s recoid-breaking
freshman class to get involved with campus life.
That was the most common advice found
by The Decree in recent interviews. Interview
ees were asked to provide one suggestion for
freshmen to flourish in the first year of college.
Provost Michael Brown encourages
students to take part in activities and op
portunities such as plays, clubs, or lectur es.
“A four-year education is more than what
you do in the classroom,” he said.
Aubrey Motley, a senior, is a member of
Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, the Psychology
Club, and the new Film/Media club. He said
that if students don’t get involved as much
as possible, they’re going to be bored. Other
upperclassmen added that Wesleyan students
possess the freedom to create their own activities,
if existing programs don’t interest them.
Junior Christina Huber also urged
students to experiment and become part
of an organization. “Step out of your
comfort zone because this is the time that
you will find out who you are,” she said.
When students get involved on campus,
it's easier to make new friends and con
nections. Sophomore David White advises
freshmen to come “out of their shell” and
meet people that could help bring them suc
cess. “Don’t shut yourself up in your room,”
he warned. Two other sophomores, Jessica
Konopka and Kayla Laughinghouse, cite
The Bridge worship group as a great way to
meet people with common interests as well
as create connections for later in life.
Of course as students add new activities
to their schedules, time management
becomes critical to achieving the proper bal
ance of classes, exams, sports, clubs, plays,
and parties. Junior Karishma Patel and
Provost Brown both stressed that a student's
education should come first in the list of
priorities. “Schedule study time first (about
15-20 hours a week), and then everything
else around it,” suggested Dr. Brown.
Laughinghouse agrees with Patel and the
provost. She works in the campus bookstore
and another bookstore off-campus, takes
part in oiganizations on campus, and works
to fulfill requirements for her elementary
education major. Needless to say, she knows
a lot about time management. "Your social
life is important” she said, "but your studies
shouldn’t suffer.” Senior Kristopher Harris
echoed Laughinghouse's comments. ‘Take
care of your GPA from the start" he said.
"Don’t mess around and have too much fun.”
A good planner—either an electronic or
paper one—is integral to successful time
management. Sophomore Samantha Morton
see FRESHMEN pg 2
900. President Clark
said that the previous
high mark, around
870 students, was
recorded in both 1979
and 2004, the year
Wesleyan introduced
its football program.
Wesleyan enrolled 650
students in fall 2013.
Here are some facts
about the freshman class:
• Average SAT score:
911, an increase over
last year’s 901.
• Number of interna
tional students: 45.
This brings the total to
about 90 students from
This year's first-year students total 420, pushing overall enrollment to an all-time high.
E. Bower photo
28 different countries. Twenty-three
come from Nepal. President Clark cred
ited Donna Patterson, a staff member in
the Admissions Office, for her efforts
in recruiting internationals. “She’s very
student-focused and does a tremendous
job of follow-up," the president said.
• Number of new football players: around
100, about the same as last year. That
brings the total number of student-athletes
to 400, President Clark said, noting that
the number is equal to last year's figure
when total enrollment was about 780.
• Number of Heritage Scholarship recipi
ents: 24, a decrease of 16 from last year.
The Admissions Office did not respond to
requests for the following additional informa
tion: the average and median high school
GPAs for freshmen, the median SAT scores,
the gender breakdown, and the total number
of student-athletes in the freshman class.
Expressing favorable reactions to the
college’s recent growth spurt, many students
said the higher enrollments have led to
improved activities and a more vibrant and
diverse campus community. Many, like
junior John Jackowski and freshman Grace
Lee. said that the growing student popula
tion has made it easier to make friends.
Junior Dana Baker said Wesleyan’s
growth is a positive reflection on her home
town. “It’s a symbol of the overall success of
Rocky Mount” she said. “I love that Rocky
Mount is growing and excelling.”
Not all student comments were posi
tive. Many complained about parking in
general, and their inability to find a spot
close to the Braswell classroom building
in particular. “I'm glad to have eight
o'clock classes every day,” said junior Cable
Beck "I can get here early and just leave my
car in the same spot all day.”
Junior Ayla Bre wer agreed that parking is
more limited, and Lee said that the cafeteria
and other campus spaces have become too
crowded at times. Sophomore Holly Long
has detected a change in the size of her
classes. “Just last year I remember having
classes with 15 to 20 students," she said.
"Now all of my classes are pretty much
full. It makes for a harder time learning and
getting to know your professors.”
The NCWC administration has taken
steps to accommodate the new students.
This year marked the opening of Daniel
Hall, which houses 40 students in single
rooms. And like last year.the college has
contracted with the Rocky Mount Inn,
located on North Wesleyan Boulevard,
three miles south of campus. According
to Associate Dean Jessie Langley, 92
male upperclassmen now live there,
compared to 73 last year at this time.
Dean of Students Ed Naylor said that
a number of students requested rooms
at the Inn, even though there were open
ings on campus. Capacity is about 700
for the residence halls, with 652 students
living on campus in mid-September,
college officials said. "I often hear
comments from students who prefer the
Rocky Mount Inn to the residence halls,”
Dean Naylor said, listing as attractive
features the Inn’s private bathrooms,
larger beds, linen and cleaning services,
and the overall size of the rooms.
Inn resident Curtis Cummings likes the
private bathrooms and the overall freedom
of life there. “If I want company, I don’t
have to sign in my guests," he said.
Dean Naylor said the college is eyeing a
second new residence hall for the 2016-17
academic year. It's considering either a fourth
unit along the lines of Boddie. Centura,
and Daniel halls, or a 100-occupancy facility
near Petteway at the south end of campus.
Academic Affairs has moved into the
new era by adding faculty and working
to manage its classroom space while of
fering a variety of courses throughout the
schedule, Provost Michael Brown said.
In the past two years, the college has es
tablished new positions in some of its most
popular degree programs. That includes
criminal justice (Professor Mary Jackson
and Visiting Instructor Richard Allsbrook),
exercise science (Assistant Professor
Shannon Crowley) and psychology
(Assistant Professor Gregory Preuss). For
the second consecutive year, the biology
department has hired a visiting instructor
as a fifth full-time faculty member, with
Dr. Joseph White filing the position for
2015-16. Assistant Professor Ian Boucher
has joined the library staff as an Emerging
Technologies and Outreach Librarian.
The provost hopes to hire additional
faculty next year as well. He said that
his “wish list” includes five or more new
positions. Some hires will be made to fill
vacancies in English and political sci
ence, as well as a long-standing opening
in business. The provost is recommend
ing that the college bring in a second
political science professor and new
faculty in English, marketing, religious
studies, and theater and entertainment.
Some veteran faculty have
expressed concern that the sudden
growth in the day program would
mean an over-reliance on adjunct, or
part-time, instructors. The provost
calculated that adjuncts are teaching
about 30 percent of fall courses.
The Decree found that Humanities
courses were among the most reliant on ad
juncts, who staff 11 religious studies courses
as well as 19 freshmen composition classes
offered by the English the Department.
The provost was asked if he was
comfortable with the percentage of classes
taught by adjuncts. "Our part-time faculty
all contribute to the student learning expe
rience here.” he said. In the coming years,
"we’ll continue to add both full-time and
part-time faculty members to keep up w ith
our growth in the student body.”
The provost would like to raise the
percentage of courses with full-time faculty
by 10-15 percent‘T don’t know that there’s
a commonly accepted ‘ideal’ mix of full-time
to part-time faculty members," he said,
"although in the long run my goal would be
to get the ratio up to 80 to 85 percent full-time
faculty members teaching on campus.”
Dr. Brown noted that his staff coordi
nated with Admissions in planning
the fall 2015 course offerings, which
were set in early spring. He said that
classroom utilization during the day is
now about 80 percent, suggesting that
there is room for the college to grow.
He believes the current classroom space
is sufficient to handle 1,100 students,
though the college will soon face a
shortage in faculty office space.
ASPIRE has witnessed a concomitant
growth in its population of adult degree
students. Total enrollment now stands
at 1,179, just under the all-time high of
1,216, achieved in 1996, according to Dr.
Evan Duff, Vice President of Adult Educa
tion and ASPIRE. The ASPIRE program's
fall 2013 enrollment was 976, he said.
Significant growth has come from
two of Wesleyan’s 10 campuses. The
Wilmington site’s enrollment has risen
from 24 students in 2012, its first year, to
program.
High
the current level of 134, said Dr.
Duff who highlighted the college’s
successful partnership there with
Cape Fear Community College.
Rocky Mount’s enrollment
has jumped from 293 students
in 2013 to 364. While attributing
some of that growth to a new
relationship with a local company.
Cummins, Dr. Duff cited the
leadership of Site Director Michael
Drew as well as efforts of staff
member Doretha Chichester.
“Michael and Doretha have done
an amazing job of recruiting since
2012,” Dr. Duff said.
As far as 2016, President
Clark would like to see a total
enrollment of 1,000 in the day
. The college hopes to attract 100
more students each year until it reaches
total enrollment of 2,000. “Saturation
is a long way off for us in our current
markets.” the president said. “Next year
should be our best one yet.”
Parkes in Recreation Post
Karen "Karie" Parkes wants to es
tablish a “safe, inclusive environment”
for Wesleyan students in her new role
as Director of Student Activities.
Parkes, 31, joined the Wesleyan
community last spring following an
exhaustive search. She was one of 70
applicants for the position and one of two
invited to campus for a day of interviews.
The new director brings six years of
experience to her post. Before moving to
Rocky Mount she worked at Campbell
University, where she earned undergraduate
and graduate degrees. She succeeds Adia
Cuthbertson who left for a new opportunity
last spring after five years at Wesleyan.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida,
Parkes drew praise from students based
on her campus interview last spring.
Senior Macon Hammond, a member
of the search committee, said Parkes came
to the interview with plenty of ideas for
NCWC student activities. He likes Parke’s
"energy and down-to-earth demeanor.” He
called her “confident, but humble."
Jessie Langley, Associate Dean of
Students for Campus Life, cited Parke’s
previous experience at Campbell, noting
“I’ve been impressed by her enthusiastic
engagement in the work of student ac ¬
kind of college ministry and felt this was
where God was leading me.
Q. Campbell is a larger school than
Wesleyan. What particular challenges will
you face in working at a smaller school?
A. I think pulling student volunteers
from such a large athletic population in a
small-school setting is going to be challeng
ing. In the past I’ve had only a few athletes
volunteer, but here many of my students
are athletes and learning to work around
multiple schedules is going to be difficult.
Q. When it comes to student activities, what
are some advantages found at a smaller school?
A. One of the biggest advantages is that
I can get to know a large segment of the
students and actually listen to what they
want to happen on campus.
Q. You hold a master’s degree in
divinity. How will that background
influence your work in student activities?
Should we expect programming to have
a more spiritual component?
A. My degree is more focused in Biblical
studies, like Biblical languages and studying
the Bible. The way it will most come into
play for my job is how I treat students, staff,
and faculty and expect the students to treat
each other. I want us all to have fun, but in
a safe, inclusive environment that everyone
tivities.” Langley
added that Parkes
possesses the right
ideas for "building
community” and
providing the
student body
with "meaning-
fill leadership
opportunities.”
Hammond said
he expects Parkes
to be successful
in her new
position. “She is
very driven and
student-centered,"
he explained.
The Decree
conducted a
G. Wallace photo
Karie Parkes
will enjoy. My organiza
tions are all student-led, so
I’ll help guide them in the
selection of events. But I
like for them to make most
of the decisions about
programming.
Q. You began last
April. What were your
initial impressions of the
student body?
A. They were all very
friendly and helpful.
Q. What are you early
impressions of the staff
and the campus itself?
A. It's a beautiful
campus and the staff is
very easy to work with.
Q. The Decree often
recent interview with Parkes about her
background and plans for the future.
Q. You served as Assistant Director of
Student Activities at Campbell. What was
the most important lesson you learned
during that time?
A. One was not to stress when things
didn’t turn out as we had planned. When
things went wrong or something was forgot
ten at an event, I learned to stay calm and
help students work through the speed bumps.
Q. What drew you to this work and
what do you find most satisfying about it?
A. I was at Campbell University
working on my master's of divinity when
a graduate assistant position in Student
Activities opened up. I got the job and spent
the next two and a half years as a GA for
the department. I loved it so much and it
was such a good fit for me and the school
that when I graduated, they offered me a
full-time job. I knew I wanted to do some
surveys students regarding their likes and
dislikes. They will often state that there is
“nothing to do on campus.” What can you
do to erase this perception?
A. I’m working on communication with
the students and making sure they know
there’s always stuff to do on campus. I have
a calendar full of organizations' events that
everyone is welcome to enjoy.
Q. What are some early plans you have
for making campus life more vibrant?
A. I’m working to strengthen our
"Wesleyan Cinemas” program to make it a
fun movie experience. We moved it to the
Carlton Board Room so we could have a
great picture and sound, and serve snacks!
I'm working with SEAT to bring new events
to campus. I want to bring fun acts that this
campus has never seen before. I want to
help the clubs and organizations create new,
exciting events for their fellow students.
see PARKES pg 2