President's Office Archives

Posted On: January 25, 2021
By: MC Admin

By Michael Schneider, President
McPherson College

The pandemic has changed the way many families think about affording a college education. Parents are nervous as 52 percent of college-bound students say they are reconsidering college due to a change in their family’s financial circumstances. But what if you could get that four-year degree without any debt?

Meghan Smith, a sophomore from Lindsborg, Kansas, is on track to have zero debt at graduation.

Meghan Smith – a Lindsborg, Kan., sophomore double-majoring in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting and finance, and communication – says that after visiting four other mid-sized public and private colleges in Kansas, “I definitely felt like I was being forced to take out a loan to pay for college. It’s just assumed by college counselors that you will have to take out a loan and nobody tells you otherwise.”

But when she visited with McPherson College financial aid counselors, for the first time on her college tours she heard something different.

In addition to scholarships, McPherson College’s Student Debt Project offers a practical way to pay for college without taking out student loans. It’s a unique pay-as-you-go plan, combining financial literacy education, mentorship, and job support to help students pay down their student debt before they graduate. Most importantly, the Student Debt Project matches 25 cents for every dollar the student earns and puts toward his or her debt.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, students participating in the Student Debt Project were able to reduce their projected debt at graduation, on average, by $10,000. In just one academic year, that’s more than a 30 percent reduction.

And for some students like Meghan, the debt was reduced to zero. After three full semesters in the program, Meghan has now wiped out all her student-debt and expects to have her spring 2021 semester paid off early, too.

She, and the nearly 200 others in the program, are working outside jobs, maintaining above-average GPAs, participating in sports and extracurricular activities, and still staying on track to graduate with little – to no – debt. They receive monthly mentoring from more than 40 volunteer professionals who help them develop lifelong skills in personal finance as they offer advice on time management, budgeting, and goal-setting.

The mentorship – coupled with support from our Career Services office to find parttime jobs and paid internships – makes the program far more than a financial aid supplement. It also adds valuable career skills to the students’ resumes – even before they graduate.

Meghan, who landed a job last fall as a paid intern with southcentral Kansas accounting firm Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd, tapped the college’s Career Service staff for advice on her job search. She is also able to receive college credit hours toward her degree.

When I asked Meghan what advice she would give other college-bound students, she didn’t hesitate: “Larger colleges don’t care if you get deeply in debt, but McPherson College does. They push you toward a debt-free goal and have people willing to help you succeed. Without student debt, you can buy a house or a car sooner after you graduate. You can even take a job that pays less, but lets you do something you like more. Those are good options to have as you start life after college.”

Jobs in the Post-Pandemic Workforce

One thing history shows us is that the value of a college degree is long-lasting. It broadens a person’s employment options and, on average, leaves them better able to withstand job market ebbs and flows. In any downturn, college grads are generally the last to lose their jobs. Equally as important, college grads are generally the first to be re-hired at the start of any recovery.

According to the Census Bureau, about 90 percent of the jobs that were added between 2017-2019 went to college graduates. And McPherson College has a proven track record of helping students find their match. Currently – even amidst the pandemic – 95 percent of our class of 2020 graduating seniors have either accepted job offers or been accepted to graduate school.

Too often we are asking the wrong question when it comes to a college education —”How much is this going to cost?” Rather than considering important outcomes and asking, “What is the return on my investment?” At McPherson College it is simple – we care what happens to our students after graduation – just ask Meghan Smith. A job and no debt is a great way to start your life after four years in college.

Posted On: January 21, 2021
By: MC Admin

In a year that stretched health care resources to their limits, McPherson College graduate Stefan Krsmanovic gained valuable job experience on the front lines as an intern with the McPherson County Health Department during his senior year. It is what eventually helped him secure a position with the Sedgwick County Health Department after graduation.

Krsmanovic is just one of many success stories from the McPherson College graduating class of 2020, according to Amy Beckman, executive director of career services. Since commencement in May, 95 percent of the class has secured employment or further education. Additionally, of those graduates with jobs or graduate school placements, 82 percent had at least one internship while at McPherson College.

“Despite an uncertain job market because of the pandemic, our students remained successful in securing their first job,” Beckman said. “Our placement numbers are very similar to previous years, which I think is remarkable considering all of the challenges this class faced. I think their success illustrates the value of a liberal arts education that produces graduates who can adapt to the job market.”

While many colleges report placement rates similar to McPherson College, President Michael Schneider says the college’s placement numbers are a true reflection of its graduates.

“We can account for nearly every graduate when we track our outcomes,” he said. “Most colleges can account for only 10 to 20 percent of any graduating class. When we report 95 percent of a class has secured employment or further education, we are talking about the entire class not just a portion of the class. When you add our strong placement rate to our efforts at reducing student debt through The Student Debt Project, McPherson College graduates are getting a head start at a successful future.”

The Student Debt Project, now in its second full year with nearly 200 students participating, combines financial literacy, mentorship, and matching funds to show students how they can reduce their college debt before graduation.

Kylee Martin, another 2020 graduate, was in the pilot group of the Student Debt Project. Although she was not able to participate in the project for her entire time at the college, by paying on her college account while in school, she has been able to graduate with a reduced amount of student debt allowing her to focus on starting a career as a marketing coordinator for Motion Products, Inc. in Neenah, Wisconsin.

“Participating in the Student Debt Project at McPherson College allowed me to focus on gaining real-life experience through internships and secure a full-time job before I graduated,” Martin said. “Knowing that I have paid a significant portion of my college debt has given me confidence in my financial situation. This wouldn’t have been possible for me without the Student Debt Project. The program gave me the opportunity to pay off as much debt as possible while in college and taught me financial knowledge that I will use throughout my entire life.”

Like Martin, many McPherson College students were able to secure employment or graduate school placements prior to their commencement. According to Beckman, half of the recent graduating class had outcomes prior to commencement.

“I am very proud of our students for accomplishing so much during this pandemic,” Beckman said. “Our graduates entered a variety of different job markets across the United States this year, and they were able to successfully find jobs or further their education. It is a significant feat in our current environment.”

Posted On: December 21, 2020
By: MC Admin

Shana L. Warkentine Meyer will join McPherson College as vice president for student affairs.

Shana L. Warkentine Meyer will join McPherson College as vice president for student affairs after the completion of this academic year. She brings more than 23 years of administrative experience in higher education to the position including her current role as interim vice president for student affairs at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

“McPherson College is fortunate to have found somebody with the depth of knowledge and experience to fill the leadership role in student affairs,” President Michael Schneider said. “I am grateful for the leadership from Interim Dean of Students Jamie Pjesky the past nine months. Shana is a welcome addition to a team focused on strengthening the McPherson College student experience.”

Throughout her career, Meyer has provided institutional leadership in student development, risk management, diversity training, budgeting, strategic planning, master planning, crisis response, and assessment. Additionally, she has held leadership positions in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators including representing 10 states as a regional director and as vice president for student affairs initiatives on the organization’s conference planning subcommittee.

At McPherson College, Meyer will design and manage all student-driven programs that attract potential students, enhance student development, promote retention, and enrich the academic experience for all students. She will oversee student life initiatives, residential staff and activities, coordinate dining and healthcare, work with academic services, and promote safety throughout all aspects of student affairs.

Prior to her current interim position, Meyer served as vice president for student affairs at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, and as assistant vice president of student affairs at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She has also worked in student and academic affairs roles at Kansas State University Polytechnic in Salina, and Kansas State University in Manhattan.

“As a Kansas native, I am thrilled to be returning home,” Meyer said. “McPherson College is a special place with welcoming people and engaged students. When I visited campus, I was impressed with the quality education, excellent student experience, and the value McPherson College offers.

“There are many exciting opportunities on the horizon and I’m eager to work alongside President Schneider, faculty, staff, the student affairs team, and our students to continue and build upon the great work begin accomplished. Most importantly, I look forward to finding ways to interact with and support our students.”

She holds an M.S. in Counselor Education, Student Personnel Emphasis, and a B.S. in English/journalism, with a communication minor, from Emporia State University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in student affairs in higher education from Kansas State University.

Meyers will begin work on June 1, 2021.

Posted On: November 18, 2020
By: MC Admin

McPherson College is among the 51 inaugural member institutions of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance recently announced by the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center.

The USC Race and Equity Center works with professionals in educational institutions and corporations to strategically develop and achieve equity goals, better understand and correct climate problems, avoid and recover from racial crises, and cultivate sustainable cultures of inclusion and respect.

McPherson College has participated in the USC Race and Equity Center’s Campus Climate Survey since 2019, and as a member of the new Alliance will have access to a number of additional resources developed by the Center.

“McPherson College understands the importance of equity at all levels on our campus,” President Michael Schneider said. “Having access to the research and organizational resources of the USC Race and Equity Center will provide us with powerful tools as we continue to improve our strategies and practical approaches surrounding diversity and inclusion. I am looking forward to how this collaboration will help us better serve our students and community.”

As a member of the new Alliance, McPherson College can participate in 12 eConvenings, professional development sessions that focus on particular aspects of racial equity, conducted by nationally respected leaders in race relations. The Center is also developing an online repository of resources and tools for Alliance members that includes equity-related rubrics, readings, case studies, videos, and other resources. Every employee across all levels at each of the Alliance institutions will have full access to the virtual resource portal. Additionally, Alliance members will participate in two new workplace climate surveys in addition to the student survey.

Beyond the resources available to Alliance members, the presidents of each member college will meet quarterly to share strategies, seek advice, and identify ways to leverage the Alliance for collective impact on racial equity in higher education. The presidents will also come together occasionally to craft rapid responses to urgent racial issues confronting the nation, and will collaboratively determine what to do, how to respond on their campus, and communicate in a unified voice to policymakers, journalists, and other audiences.

McPherson College’s most recent efforts to become a more inclusive campus include working with the Kansas Leadership Center to diagnose and engage the campus in solutions to develop a more inclusive culture through meaningful dialogue, training, and new initiatives. A campus task force meets regularly to evaluate progress on its goals, which include engaging and inclusive programming, retention of underrepresented students, more diverse applicant pools, ongoing education and conversations with employees, and serving as leaders in the community.

The college has also supported diversity and inclusion training for all student leaders, as well as any interested student, through the Student Government Association. The training has expanded this year to include all Residence Advisors and Orientation Leaders, and academic mentors. A student workgroup began meeting over the summer to discuss actions that the college can implement to support student efforts in creating and promoting antiracism activities, and a student-initiated organization, VOCAL (Voices Of Change And Leadership,) has facilitated campus-wide conversations this semester.

Member institutions include:

Allegheny College
Amherst College
Bard College
Barnard College
Bowdoin College
Bucknell University
Carleton College
Centre College
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colgate University
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Davidson College
DePauw University
Dickinson College
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Harvey Mudd College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Lafayette College
Luther College
Macalester College
McPherson College
Mount Holyoke College
Muhlenberg College
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Randolph College
Reed College
Rhodes College
Scripps College
Skidmore College
Smith College
Soka University of America
St. Olaf College
Susquehanna University
Swarthmore College
Union College
University of Richmond
Utica College
Wabash College
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
Westminster College
Whittier College
Williams College
Wofford College

Posted On: November 9, 2020
By: MC Admin

“When I look at my future, I feel confident that I will be able to start enjoying my life sooner after college without worrying about student debt.”
Kenajah Upchurch, SO
Business Administration
Houston, Texas

By Michael Schneider, President
McPherson College

Roughly one out of every six Americans owe student debt. Even more alarming, about 20 percent of those in debt are over 50 – parents and grandparents spending their retirement nest egg to pay off their families’ college loans. Student debt permeates generations.

Kenajah Upchurch, a sophomore in business management from Houston, didn’t want to put a heavy burden of debt on her family. A self-described “budget person,” Kenajah recognized McPherson College’s Student Debt Project as a way to get through college on a pay-as-you-go plan. She joined the project this academic year because, she says, “It appeals to my business sense. I am willing to work now so I can relax later.”

The Student Debt Project combines financial literacy education, jobs, mentorships, and matching funds from the college to help students eliminate their need for loans. Kenajah is one of about 170 students currently participating in the program, all on a path to graduate with little – to zero – student debt.

And it’s working – even amidst a pandemic.

Despite COVID-19 cutting short their work schedules this spring, the students participating in the 2019-2020 Student Debt Project were able to reduce their projected student loan debt, on average, by $10,000 each. That’s more than a 30 percent reduction in anticipated debt at graduation in just a few months in the project.

Across the U.S., the average student loan debt at graduation is $29,076. It’s only slightly lower here in Kansas, where 58 percent of the Class of 2019 left their respective public and private college campuses with an average debt of $27,216 per graduate. Making average payments of about $200 per month, it takes most Kansas college graduates – and/or their parents and grandparents – more than 11 years to pay off their student loans.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

By the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, more than 200 McPherson College students will be participating in the Student Debt Project, each assigned to one of 40 mentors who offer monthly advice on building a budget, setting personal and financial goals, and staying on track to achieve them. Our Career Services office assists each student in finding paid internships or other part-time work to help them pay down their debt. And this year students have already reduced their average projected debt at graduation to 35 percent below the national average.

As an added incentive, McPherson College matches 25 cents for every dollar the students earn and apply toward their college debt.

Kenajah – who balances her studies while still playing women’s basketball and working part-time jobs as a campus orientation leader, volleyball line coach, and Wal-Mart clerk – says the extra 25-cent match gives her a little breathing room in her budget and means she doesn’t have to work as many hours or sacrifice study time for work.

“When I look at my future, I feel confident that I will be able to start enjoying my life sooner after college without worrying about student debt,” Kenajah told me.

Plugging the Student Loan Gap

In student loan lingo, the “gap” is the amount a student will owe at graduation after all scholarships and personal contributions are applied. The gap is where most colleges stop their financial aid, leaving students to apply for thousands of dollars in loans to pay off the balance. Sometimes students apply for more loans than they end up needing – which only further extends the vicious cycle of debt.

The Student Debt Project was designed by McPherson College to fill that loan gap, so students don’t end up graduating with a mountain of debt. We did it because we never take a student’s future well-being – or their future financial health – for granted.

There’s no “typical” student or “typical” amount of financial need in our program. Every student comes into the Student Debt Project from a different personal and financial perspective. Their family incomes stretch across the financial spectrum.

And that’s as it should be. Because this program is about more than just money.

The Student Debt Project is not simply a way to pay off college loan debt before graduation. It’s equally about embracing life skills like budget discipline, time management, goal setting, and the intrinsic value of mentorship – aspects of a college education that will serve students long into adulthood.

The American ideal of earning a college degree remains alive and well. But the prospect of grappling with years of student loan debt – piled on top of pandemic angst – should have prospective college students and their families thinking long and hard about their choices. It literally pays to attend a school like McPherson College, a campus community that not only prepares students academically but helps them bridge the gap to start a financially healthy – and debt-free – post-graduation life.

Posted On: September 17, 2020
By: MC Admin

McPherson College is reporting record enrollment for the fifth year in a row bolstered by a new student cohort of 300 and an increase in overall retention. Enrollment was confirmed on Friday, September 11, which marked the point when enrollment numbers become official for the fall semester.

Total headcount for the college is 864, and fall-to-fall retention increased to 76 percent. Total headcount includes 790 full-time degree-seeking students, 25 graduate students, as well as part-time students.

“McPherson College continues to make great progress despite the challenges of this year,” President Michael Schneider said. “Our Student Debt Project and Bulldog Adventures programs encourage students to return to McPherson College, and new academic programs like Health Sciences are attracting new students.”

In its second full year, the Student Debt Project has more than doubled in size with more than 200 student participating. The program combines financial literacy, mentoring, and matching funds supporting students on a path to zero student debt. Last year, students in the program reduced their average projected debt by $10,000.

“When you add the Student Debt Project to our success placing graduates in jobs, students and families are recognizing that McPherson College offers a solid foundation for success,” President Schneider said.

Bulldog Adventures, a program introduced last year, provides opportunities for students to get out and explore Kansas. Offering activities like hiking, float trips, a fishing derby, and lawn games, Bulldog Adventures utilizes outdoor spaces in and around campus to engage students and develop leadership skills. In addition to the monthly adventures planned for this year, the program will also offer students the option to build their own adventures with gear provided by the college.

McPherson College introduced a new academic program this fall that offers majors in health science and healthcare management for students interested in areas of allied health. The Health Science program offers students field experience with community partners to gain 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.

Posted On: September 15, 2020
By: MC Admin

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.

Posted On: September 14, 2020
By: MC Admin

US News & World Report Best Colleges List

For the fifth year in a row, McPherson College has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report on the 2021 “Best Colleges” list for Regional Colleges in the Midwest. Additionally, McPherson College was included on five of the publication’s other lists including Most Innovative Schools.

The Most Innovative Schools rankings are based solely on the response of college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans, who are asked to nominate colleges or universities in their ranking category that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities. According to U.S. News & World Report, “These rankings enable top college officials to pick schools that the public should be watching because of cutting-edge changes the colleges are making on their campuses.”

McPherson College was recognized again as a Best Value School by the publication. Only schools ranked in or near the top-half of their categories are included on the “Best Value Schools” ranking list. When evaluating colleges for this list, U.S. News & World Report considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically and takes into account academic quality as well as cost.

“It is an honor to be included on such a well-respected list,” President Michael Schneider said. “It’s further proof that McPherson College is being recognized for the work being done by our faculty and staff to ensure quality education, excellent student experience, and value.”

Initiatives such as the college’s Student Debt Project, which teaches students how to graduate debt-free, and the college’s successful career placement rate are just two examples of why McPherson College is recognized on the “Best Colleges’ list, according to President Schneider.

“We have some of the highest placement rates in the country with two-thirds of our graduates having jobs or graduate school placement before they even graduate,” President Schneider said. “Combined with our focus on eliminating student debt we are proving to students and families that a McPherson College education is the best choice, and resulting in growing enrollment this fall and steady retention over the past few years.”

McPherson College was also included in the top twenty schools for Ethnic Diversity, Schools with Most International Students, as well as in the top twenty of Top Performers on Social Mobility. The social mobility ranking measures how well schools graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants (those typically coming from households whose family incomes are less than 450,000 annually, though most Pell Grant awards to students with a total family income below $20,000.)

The U.S. News & World Report has been ranking colleges for more than 35 years. The rankings are based on several key measures, each weighted as a percentage of the total score. Graduation, retention rates, and social mobility, assessment of excellence by peers, quality of faculty resources (such as class size and student-faculty ratio) account for more than three-fourths of the ranking.

The remaining one-fourth of the ranking is determined by a college’s student selectivity, and amount of alumni giving and the financial resources at the institution’s disposal. The data gathered for the rankings serves as an objective guide for students and families who are making decisions about attending college.

Posted On: August 31, 2020
By: MC Admin

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.

Posted On: June 3, 2020
By: MC Admin

McPherson College recently announced its plans for a condensed fall semester that will begin with on-campus classes on August 17 and conclude before Thanksgiving break on November 24. President Michael Schneider shared information about the college’s plans for the fall in his weekly update to students and families.

“The past several months have taught us that things can change quickly,” President Schneider said. ‘We are excited to get students and faculty back on campus and have been working diligently to finalize plans for a healthy and safe return to classes this fall. Our ability to adapt allowed us to move quickly to prepare for the fall semester. The campus has done a remarkable job.”

While McPherson College has maintained its day-to-day operations remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is working toward a gradual reopening of the campus that is consistent with the state’s phased plan to lift restrictions. The college has worked with task forces from across campus and with community partners to develop a plan that focuses on a healthy and safe environment when students, faculty, staff, and visitors return to campus.

Faculty is preparing for several different scenarios that allow classroom and on-campus instruction for the fall. Faculty will be ready to deliver courses in hybrid formats as needed to accommodate for any disruptions to in-person classes. All classrooms, labs, studios, shops, and other campus facilities will be accessible to students provided there are no mandates from local health officials. In the event of health restrictions, the college is prepared to implement social distancing measures in these spaces.

The fall semester will begin with fewer students living in the residence halls and limitations on common spaces as well as practicing important personal hygiene behavior. Residence hall staff will be prepared to implement social distancing with single-point entry, bathroom assignments, and one-way stairwells to prevent the spread of the virus on campus.

The college is finishing a health and safety plan to guide students and staff through the fall semester and beyond, and continues to follow guidance from national, state, and local health officials. Custodial crews began cleaning and sanitizing residential halls, classrooms, labs, athletic facilities, the dining hall, and administrative offices as soon as students were safely off campus using guidelines from the CDC, state, and local health offices. Increased sanitizing will continue as campus reopens.

“After we complete plans that will include advice from health experts and the McPherson County Health Department, we will host a community forum to discuss impacts on the greater community,” President Schneider said.

The college is also working with its campus health clinic partner to assure that students, faculty, and staff will have access to virus testing when classes resume this fall.

There is still some uncertainty about what the fall sports season will look like on all college campuses. McPherson College is working closely with the NAIA to develop plans that provide student-athletes with the best possible experience while minimizing any health risk. The NAIA’s goal is to make an announcement about the fall season by July 1. The college athletic facilities will reopen in the fall as long as there are no restrictions from state or local health officials. Additionally, the college is ready for fan attendance at athletic events as long as there are no restrictions from state officials, local health officials, Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, or the NAIA. The college will also prepare to accommodate capacity numbers that support social distancing if necessary.

More details about the fall semester can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/covid

Quicklinks

Category: President’s Office

In The Post-Pandemic Workforce, The Best Protection May Be A Debt-Free College Degree

McPherson College Reports 95 Percent Placement for Class of 2020

McPherson College Announces New V.P. for Student Affairs

McPherson College Joins New Racial Equity Leadership Alliance

How To Pay-As-You-Go and Graduate Debt Free

McPherson College Announces Another Semester of Record Enrollment

McPherson College Named One Of “2020 Great Colleges To Work For” With Honor Roll Distinction Among Small Colleges

McPherson College Ranks in U.S. News & World Report “Best College” List for 2021

President Schneider Welcomes Students at Opening Convocation

McPherson College Announces Plans for Fall Semester