McPherson College is a great place to work and it’s been confirmed again this year. The annual survey published in The Chronicle of Higher Education recognizes McPherson College as a “Great Colleges to Work For” for the sixth year in a row as well as on the survey’s Honor Roll for the fifth year in a row. McPherson College is the only Kansas school earning recognition on the lists.

The Honor Roll is an elite group of institutions that are standouts within their respective enrollment sizes. This year, 221 colleges were surveyed for the list and 79 were recognized while 42 were singled out for the Honor Roll.

“Everyone at McPherson College works hard to make this a great place to work, and it’s special to be recognized again this year. This recognition is remarkable given the survey was taken amid the pandemic,” McPherson College President Michael Schneider said. “The fact that we have earned this distinction now for six years running–and been named to the Honor Roll for five years in a row–speaks to the strong, collaborative relationships among our faculty, staff, and administration.”

President Schneider points to some of the basics like the college’s health insurance plan that has not had a premium increase for more than 10 years and monthly all campus meetings, “huddles,” as reasons why people like working for McPherson College. Additionally, involvement in programs like training from the Kansas Leadership Center, which develop adaptive problem solving skills, and other significant professional development investments in the operating budget, sets McPherson College apart from other college campuses.

“Practices that are part of our culture at McPherson College, like regular communications and campus-wide leadership training allowed us to be well prepared for our current situation,” Marty Sigwing, director of facilities, said. “Being a part of a community that gives you the tools you need and the freedom to use them is very rewarding.”

McPherson College was one of just eight institutions nationwide to earn top honors in 11 or more of the report’s 12 categories, which include areas like compensation and benefits along with work and life balance.

“The minute I stepped onto the McPherson College campus, I could instantly feel the community,” Jamie Pjesky, interim dean of students, said. “During my tour of campus we were stopped multiple times because people wanted to say hello. I love that now I help build that community for our students.”

Community is central to McPherson College’s identity, according to President Schneider. “As our college community continues to work through the current challenges, faculty and staff continue to implement the intense yet innovative strategic plan, Community by Design 2021. The strategic plan drove decision-making and much of the work we did over the last several years. In addition, we did all of it while balancing our operating budget, maintaining our overall student retention, and working through a pandemic. By working together, these plans will nurture the creative processes to sustain innovative academic ventures like the new Health Science Program, develop a new tuition revenue model based on the Student Debt Project, and transition MC from a traditional residential campus to a vibrant community.”

The “Great Colleges to Work For” survey is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. The survey conducted by ModernThink — an organization committed to improving workplace quality — recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.

McPherson College President Michael Schneider welcomed students to campus in a virtual all-campus convocation Friday, August 28 that highlighted school milestones and reminded students to take care of each other.

“Although there continues to be uncertainty, know one thing – you are right where you need to be,” President Schneider said. “Together we can navigate this challenging year safely and successfully. We have a lot to be proud of as we begin this year.”

The fall semester began on August 17 with more than 300 new students and the largest enrollment in school history, continuing the college’s upward enrollment trend established over the past five years. Students arrived on campus in phases over several weeks to reduce social interaction during the move-in process. With record growth, President Schneider said he recognizes that the campus is outgrowing student common spaces. Last year, the college announced plans for a new campus center.

“We are making progress on our plans for a new campus center and have hired an architect who is finalizing the initial plans for the new building,” President Schneider said. “There will be opportunities this year for the campus to engage in conversations on how to best use the new space.”

More students are also participating in the McPherson College Student Debt Project. In its second full year, the program has more than doubled in size. The project focuses on financial literacy and mentoring, as well as starting financial discipline that lasts a lifetime. In addition, students in the program commit to work during college and the college matches a portion of their earnings. Last year, students in the program reduced their average projected debt by $10,000, President Schneider said.

“Students participating in the debt project have 30 percent less debt than the rest of the student body,” President Schneider said. “When you add the Student Debt Project to our success placing graduates in jobs, McPherson College is offering a solid foundation for student success.”

Focus on career education and experiential learning is throughout the McPherson College curriculum. Outcomes for the class of 2020 are on track with previous years at more than 95 percent in careers within six months of graduation. Two-thirds report having a job or post-graduation outcome before they graduate – three times higher than the national average.

“We maintained our high outcome results last spring during a very uncertain time in the job market,” President Schneider said. “That speaks volumes about the kind of graduates we are preparing and about our focus on career exploration.”

Health Science, a new program added this fall, relies on experiential learning and gives students opportunities through community partnerships to get real-world training in a variety of health care professions. There are 30 students in the program this fall including seven new Health Care Scholars who will participate in signature outreach experiences.

Providing experiences beyond the classroom goes further than academics at McPherson College. Bulldog Adventures, a program introduced last year engages students with the great outdoors of Kansas. Bulldog Adventures has hosted hiking trips, float trips, a fishing derby, disc golf, and many other outdoor related activities. This year in addition to the planned monthly adventures, students will have opportunities to build their own adventures choosing from several options with gear provided by the college. Already this semester, Bulldog Adventures teamed with Student Life to offer several activities during the first 40 days on campus. The program will work with the Natural Science department developing an outdoor adventure education center later this semester.

The college also continues its work to combat racism on campus with small group discussions and a campus-wide conversation facilitated by the Kansas Leadership Center for all employees this fall. A campus task force and student work group meet regularly to discuss actions the college can implement to support and create antiracism activities this year.

A video of the opening convocation is at www.mcpherson.edu/covid/campus-updates.

Today we face another crisis in our country because of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor and the chaos that has followed. McPherson College stands beside our black faculty, staff, and students and all underrepresented people during this challenging time.

McPherson College has been and will always be a place that welcomes diversity – whether it is race, gender, age, sexuality, ability, or religion. It is who we are. It is part of our founding identity. Discrimination, racism, bigotry – in any form – is unacceptable. We have an obligation as educators and learners to uphold the fact that the best communities are diverse and inclusive.

The events of the last several days are a stark reminder of the importance of our work to end racism. We are committed to do better as a campus by continuing our work with the Kansas Leadership Center to ensure a more inclusive culture through meaningful dialogue, training, and new initiatives. We will continue to support diversity and inclusion training for all student leaders and any interested student through the Student Government Association. We will continue to participate in the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center’s National Assessment of Collegiate Climates to better understand and act on student perspectives on campus climate and diversity.

I hope each of you will join us to do better – to embrace an inclusive culture that supports all types of diversity, engagement, open communication, and authenticity.

More than 70 students and their parents joined McPherson College staff online Saturday, April 4 for the first-ever Virtual Presidential Scholarship Competition. Despite the event transitioning to an online format, more students than ever participated.

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious of the McPherson College scholarships and is awarded for those who qualify based on a cognitive ability activity, round table discussion, personal interview, and high school academic record. The virtual event included interviews, a roundtable discussion, and presentations submitted by students. Christi Hopkins, vice president for enrollment management, also hosted parents in a Livestream chat to answer questions.

“Presidential Scholarship Day is one of our favorite visit days. It allows us an opportunity to spend time with students and their families,” Hopkins said. “Although this was a new format for us, we were encouraged by parents and students who said they were grateful we didn’t cancel the event.”

One of the parents commended the college on its smooth transition from the on-campus event to an entirely virtual experience. “Your team did a great job adapting to the current situation,” he said. “I work with Fortune 500 companies and state government organizations and they’ve been struggling to get up to speed with online activities. It almost appears as if your school was prepared in advance due to how seamlessly your school has appeared to move to an online format.”

Although prospective students are not visiting campus in person, campus visits and other recruiting events continue virtually. Updates about the campus regarding the COVID-19 situation can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/covid. The college is sharing a variety of information and on Facebook @McPhersonCollege, Twitter @Mac_College, and Instagram @McPhersonCollege.

President Michael Schneider is pleased to announce Chandler Short as the new director of athletics at McPherson College. Short, who is currently serving as interim director of athletics, will be the first woman to serve as the full-time athletic director in the history of McPherson College.

“Chandler has been key to recent successes in our athletic department,” President Schneider said. “She will serve our coaches and students well as the department focuses on consistently competing to win the KCAC Commissioner’s Cup, while embracing core values related to our mission of developing whole persons.”

Short began her career at McPherson College in 2017 and was quickly promoted to assistant director of athletics and senior woman administrator in 2018. In addition to a number of administrative activities, Short also supervised all game day operations for Bulldog teams and led many external relations activities including the creation of the Bulldog Athletic Banquet fundraiser. She has been part of an athletic department at McPherson College that has experienced all-time highs in enrollment, fundraising and academic success. In addition, she played a vital role in the creation of the athletic department’s first strategic plan. She replaces Andrew Ehling who resigned in December to accept the position of athletic director at New Mexico Highlands University.

“I would like to thank President Schneider for the continued opportunity to lead McPherson College Athletics,” Short said. “These are exciting times to be working with the talented athletic department staff, coaches, and student-athletes. McPherson is a special place where I started my college career and I am excited to serve the student-athletes and staff of McPherson College Athletics and support this campus community.”

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Health from McPherson College in 2015 and a Master’s Degree in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2017. Short served as a graduate assistant in the OU Athletic Department Student-Athlete Support Services & Student-Athlete Development Office. She spent time working with the sports psychologist and psychological resources for the student athletes office at OU, and served on the Intercollegiate Athletic Administration Student Association Executive Board as alumni relations coordinator. She was also part of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament staff in Oklahoma City.

As a student-athlete at McPherson College, she was a member of the women’s basketball team from 2012-2014 and the tennis team that won back-to-back KCAC championships in 2014 and 2015.

Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, was elected to a three-year term to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). He will represent Region VII, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. President Schneider was elected at the close of the 2020 NAICU Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day held in Washington, D.C. last week.

“NAICU does extraordinary work for private colleges and I am honored to serve,” said Schneider. “I am excited to advocate for the hundreds of mission driven colleges and universities that educate many of our nation’s best students.”

President Schneider has served McPherson College in a number of key positions since 2002 helping spearhead increased giving to the college and enrollment numbers. The college appointed him president in 2009, at the time he was the youngest college president in the United States. He is a graduate of McPherson College and earned an MBA from the University of Denver and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to returning to McPherson College, he ran a publishing company and supported a range of start-ups from information technology to green energy.

Today, he is passionate about lifting up liberal arts through an entrepreneurial mindset that sparks the interest and imagination of the entire campus. The college’s strategic plan, Community by Design, changed the way the campus plans for the future. The plan, created by the entire campus, focuses on creative initiatives like The Student Debt Project, which partners with students to eliminate student loan debt. Under his leadership, McPherson College has been named in the Chronicle of Higher Education on the list of “Great Colleges to Work For” for the past five years.

As a NAICU board member, President Schneider will help set the association’s agenda on federal higher education policy, actively encourage support for the association’s priorities and initiatives, and oversee the organization’s financial administration. As part of his service, President Schneider will be a member of the board’s student aid committee, which is spearheading work to enhance the federal Pell Grant program.

With more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and associations as members, NAICU serves as the unified national voice of independent higher education and reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. Member institutions include major research universities, church-related colleges, historically black colleges, art and design colleges, traditional liberal arts and science institutions, women’s colleges, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business and other professions.