by Anna Pinson | Jan 13, 2025
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College will restart its men’s and women’s intercollegiate soccer programs and men’s golf program, according to Athletic Director Greg Fawbush. Welch paused both programs following the COVID pandemic owing to recruiting restrictions at that time and will bring all three teams back in the fall semester of 2025.
“We are excited to restart these three programs after four years of stabilizing our athletic department following the pandemic,” Fawbush said. “Having the ability to field both soccer and golf programs will increase opportunities for Welch students and the students in our community.”
The restart of the soccer programs is made possible by a large donation from a generous donor, as well as significant gifts from the Free Will Baptist Foundation and funding from the Alumni Project of the Welch College Alumni Association. These gifts will make possible the construction of a soccer field on the Welch campus as well as other associated costs. “We encourage friends and alumni to give to help fund the restart of these teams,” Fawbush said. “Those who want to help can give by visiting welch.edu/give.”
“We’re planning to begin construction on the new field immediately in hopes that it will be finished by the fall of this year,” Fawbush continued. “The generous donation will also allow us to restart the golf program, which is a growing sport in our community.”
Students or prospective students interested in men’s or women’s soccer or men’s golf may contact Coach Fawbush at gfawbush@welch.edu for more information.
by Anna Pinson | Oct 18, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College has named Ellie Simpson as Financial Aid Coordinator, according to Craig Mahler, Vice President for Financial Affairs. “I am delighted that Ms. Simpson has agreed to join Welch to serve in this important role that helps with the financial needs of students and ensures compliance with federal and state regulations.”
Currently a senior majoring in Business Administration, Simpson will work part-time until graduating from Welch College in May 2025, after which she will serve in the role full-time. “Ellie’s love for Welch College, attention to detail, outgoing and friendly personality, and experience serving as a student employee in the Provost’s Office uniquely qualify her for this role,” Mahler said.
Originally from Missouri, Simpson is a member of Calvary Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church in Fenton, Missouri. For more information about Welch College, visit welch.edu.
by Anna Pinson | Sep 24, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College has been ranked 1st in social mobility and 10th overall among “Best Regional Colleges–South” in the 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges, according to President Matt Pinson.
The social mobility ranking measures the percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who go on to graduate. The Regional Colleges–South category comprises 96 other colleges and universities in the South.
“We’re excited that Welch has climbed to 10th overall and 1st in social mobility in U.S. News Best Colleges,” President Pinson said. “This shows students, parents, and alumni our commitment to academic excellence and that Welch’s academic program is competitive and has recognition in the academic community.”
The Best Regional Colleges category includes institutions that focus on teaching undergraduate students. These schools offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in professional fields.
“Colleges go up and down in these rankings each year,” Pinson said. “When we first entered the rankings fourteen years ago, we were ranked 52nd. In the past six years we’ve consistently been in the top 20. Our ranking this year at 10th is exciting.”
“We are thankful to be ranked so high again this year,” Provost Matthew McAffee said. “It’s especially gratifying to see that our faculty and staff’s diligent efforts to help students from economically challenged backgrounds graduate from college has been recognized in this #1 ranking for social mobility.”
U.S. News rankings judge the relative quality of institutions based on widely accepted indicators of excellence in higher education: what peer institutions think of the institution, how many freshmen return their sophomore year, how many of them go on to graduate, student-faculty ratio, faculty quality, financial resources, how many economically challenged students go on to graduate, and more.
“To put our ranking in perspective,” Pinson said, “the other top-ten institutions in our category have an average enrollment more than 5 times higher than Welch’s and an average endowment more than 30 times higher than Welch’s. We’re striving to be good stewards of the resources God has given us.”
Out of the 97 institutions in the Best Regional Colleges–South category, Welch received especially high marks in five strategic areas, ranking as follows:
1st in social mobility
2nd in graduation rate
2nd in student-faculty ratio
4th in ACT/SAT scores
5th lowest among private colleges in student debt after graduation
For more information about Welch, email gotowelch@welch.edu or visit welch.edu.
by Anna Pinson | Sep 20, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Recently, Welch College Press announced the publication of its newest book, A Life Pleasing to God, by Barry Raper, according to Matt Bracey, managing editor. “We’re so excited about our newest book. We believe Dr. Raper’s accessible study of 1 Thessalonians will be an ideal read not only for preachers and teachers but also for small-group Bible studies and devotions.”
“Among the earliest of Paul’s letters, the various emphases of 1 Thessalonians are ones much needed for our present day, as Dr. Raper helpfully elucidates in this excellent study of this brief Pauline text,” says Michael A. G. Azad Haykin, who serves Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. “I also loved the occasional examples drawn from church history that illustrated Raper’s commentary. Moreover, the questions at the close of each chapter are ideal for personal or group study. Thoroughly recommended!”
A Life Pleasing to God: Reflections on Christian Living from 1 Thessalonians was written by Dr. Barry Raper, who serves as Associate Dean of the Divinity School and coordinator of Ministry Studies at Welch College as well as Senior Pastor of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Chapmansboro, Tennessee.
President of Welch College, Matt Pinson, states, “It’s such a privilege to commend this new book on 1 Thessalonians from Barry Raper. He is a gift to the church, and his spiritually rich reflections in this volume will be beneficial not only to general readers, and for Bible study groups or devotions, but also to pastors and Bible teachers. I highly recommend it!”
A Life Pleasing to God is devotional and pastoral in its tone. With study questions after each of its thirteen chapters, it would be ideal for a small-group Bible study. While it retails at $19.99, it is available for $9.99 for bulks of ten or more.
“I love this book!”, writes Edward E. Moody, Jr., Executive Secretary for the National Association of Free Will Baptists. “Dr. Raper writes from a pastor’s heart. He helps the reader put the words of 1 Thessalonians into practice to truly live a life pleasing to God. Enjoy this book and let its message about the gospel change your life.”
People interested in the book may purchase it at www.welch.edu/welchpress. For those wanting to order in bulk (ten or more), use the code “PASTOR50” or contact Nic Cruz at ncruz@welch.edu.
by Anna Pinson | Sep 16, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College enrolled 399 students for its fall 2024 semester, similar to last fall’s headcount of 393, according to Matthew McAffee, Provost of Welch College.
“We are so delighted to welcome this promising group of new students to Welch College,” McAffee said. “We pray the Lord will grant His richest blessings upon them as they pursue their vocational preparation for life and ministry.”
At press time, college officials reported 142 dormitory students (10 of which are graduate students), 33 commuter students, 39 non-residential graduate students, 60 Adult Studies/Online students, and 125 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 251 students. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 25 states, 1 territory, and 10 other countries.
“It’s such a wonderful thing seeing students back on campus,” Welch President Matt Pinson said. “We have a great group of committed students this year. Only one other year, 25 years ago, did Welch have as many other countries represented in the student body. On-campus enrollment is not quite as high as it was last year, but we’re holding steady and gradually building up after our enrollment took a plunge in the wake of COVID.”
“Also, ministry enrollment is up, with a larger number of pastoral ministry students in the freshman class,” Pinson added. “In a few more years, we project we’ll be back up to the 40-year record enrollment the college experienced the year before COVID.”
For more information about Welch College, email recruit@welch.edu or visit the college’s website at www.welch.edu.
