GALLATIN, TN—Middle Tennessee pastor Jeff Caudill has been selected as Marketing Operations Manager at Welch College, according to Daniel Webster, Enrollment Services Director for Welch.
“I am so excited to announce Jeff’s appointment,” Webster said. I’ve never had the opportunity to work closely with Jeff, but everyone who has speaks highly of his administrative abilities. With Jeff’s organizational skills and institutional knowledge, I believe this part-time position is a perfect fit. I am excited about the future marketing program at Welch.”
Caudill currently serves as Executive Pastor at Cofer’s Chapel, a pastorate he has held since 2010. He plans to continue in this position. Before his time at Cofer’s Chapel, Jeff served at Welch for ten years (2000-2010), as Director of Enrollment Services. Caudill holds two degrees, a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Welch (1999) and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Trevecca University (2010).
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to be back on the campus of Welch College. It is exciting to see how God in His providence has made it possible for me to take on the role of Marketing Operations Manager at Welch while continuing to serve as Executive Pastor at Cofer’s Chapel. Welch College has always held a special place in my heart.”
Jeff has been married to Calisse for 41 years. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. The Caudills’ daughters and sons-in-law—Stephen and Rebekah Lopes, Joshua and Rachel Eidson—are all Welch alumni.
GALLATIN, TN—After ten years as Director of Marketing and Media, Josh Owens has announced that he will be leaving Welch College, according to President Matt Pinson.
Over the past decade, Owens has helped the college build a strong visual brand through his print and digital designs. He helped lead the rebranding efforts after the college name change in 2012, and helped introduce the college to the Gallatin community during its relocation in 2017. He has overseen two website rebuilds and redesigns, the most recent taking place in 2021. In addition to his print and digital work, he has helped oversee the college’s annual FORUM/Bible Conference since 2011.
“It’s hard to say goodbye to Josh,” Pinson said. “We love him. He’s been a part of the college, in one way or another, since he came as a student in 2003, and even at that time, with his landscaping business, he was working to improve the college’s image. I’m glad he’s staying on board as a consultant, and I will continue to take advantage of his expertise and love for Welch.”
“I am thankful for my time at Welch College,” Owens said. “President Pinson and the entire leadership team have trusted me to bring the Welch brand to life over the past ten years through a variety of print and digital designs. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to serve alongside many wonderful and talented people. As I look back over my time at Welch, it is evident that God has been developing and preparing me to serve in this new role. I look forward to supporting and serving the college in new ways as they continue to educate leaders to serve Christ.”
Owens will assume his new role February 21 as Digital User Experience Designer at HCA Healthcare headquartered in Nashville.
GALLATIN, TN—In a meeting held December 2, 2021, the Board of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to reaffirm the accreditation of Welch College for ten years until 2031, according to Dr. Kevin Hester, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Welch. The reaffirmation decision was announced in the Annual Delegate Assembly held Tuesday, December 7. SACSCOC is the primary institutional accreditor for higher education in the Southeast region.*
“This reaffirmation by SACSCOC reflects the outstanding work done by Welch College’s administration, faculty, and staff to meet rigorous standards of compliance,” said Hester, who led the reaffirmation process. “This decision serves as an important external confirmation of what every employee and student associated with Welch College knows, that Welch is fully committed to excellence in biblical higher education. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the members of the Compliance Committee for their dedicated work in shepherding this successful reaffirmation process.”
Welch College has a long history as an accredited institution. The college has been accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education’s Commission on Accreditation (ABHECOA) since 1958 and first received accreditation by SACSCOC in 1996. This makes the third successful reaffirmation decision for Welch College by this body (2001, 2011, and 2021).
Dr. Matthew McAffee, Provost and chief academic officer at Welch, said, “The reaffirmation process is long and arduous in the best of circumstances. This particular accreditation cycle has been especially challenging in light of COVID-19 realities. For these reasons, we are especially thankful to the Lord for bringing us through it successfully!”
Welch President Matt Pinson said, “This vote is the final act following an intensive, multi-year, peer review process to verify the institutional quality of Welch College, its facilities, staff, and educational programs according to fourteen rigorous principles of accreditation. The decennial review is a comprehensive examination of the College that engages the entire campus community in documenting compliance with these principles.”
Welch College’s Compliance Committee began its work in the spring of 2019 and subsequently submitted a compliance certification report, and a focused report in advance of a virtual on-site committee visit that occurred April 5-8, 2021. During this visit, Welch College board members, administrators, faculty, staff, and students engaged with the visiting committee in validating the quality of the institution and its academic programs.
For more information about Welch College and its academic and student life programs, visit www.Welch.edu.
*Welch College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Welch College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College enrolled 336 students for the fall semester 2021, according to Matthew McAffee, Provost of Welch College, a nearly 6 percent drop from last fall’s enrollment. This marks the second year in a row that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on enrollment.
“We’re grateful for the Lord’s guidance as we have weathered the challenges of a global pandemic,” McAffee said. “While enrollment has not yet bounced back to pre-COVID norms, it demonstrates a stabilizing effect from the fallout created by a worldwide pandemic. Our fall numbers signal His continued providential care and our institutional health.”
Traditional dormitory enrollment declined the most, owing to the lack of normal recruiting last year because of COVID-19, as well as last year’s larger-than-normal graduating class. Graduate studies, adult and online studies, and dual enrollment showed gains.
“All in all, despite traditional enrollment being down, this year represents some enrollment stabilization,” McAffee explained. “While our first COVID fall enrollment last year drove full-time equivalency (FTE) enrollment down from 307 to 254, a drop of more than 17 percent, this year the FTE enrollment was down only 5.5 percent.”
At press time the college reported 135 dormitory students, 46 commuter students, 37 graduate students, 25 Adult Studies students, 42 Online Studies students, and 60 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 240 students. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 18 states, one territory, and four foreign countries.
This fall 70 new students enrolled in traditional on-campus programs at Welch, an increase over last fall’s number of new students, which was 63. “The last year-and-a-half has created challenges for higher education, especially at small Christian colleges that enroll a lot of out-of-state students, and Welch is no exception,” President Matt Pinson said. “But God has taken care of us, and he continues to provide for our needs.”
“We’re thankful for all of our incoming students,” Pinson continued. “Students are so positive about life at the college and in the classroom, and they’re hopeful about the future. COVID has had a negative impact on enrollment. Schools like ours have had a tough time during COVID, not being able to send recruiters out or have big on-campus recruitment events for so long because of the pandemic. Yet things are stable, and we’re praying for an even greater return to normalcy next year.”
GALLATIN, TN—Mrs. Jennifer Thompson has joined Welch College as Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Greg Ketteman, and to the Dean of Adult and Online Studies, Mr. William Slater.
Mrs. Thompson is a Sumner County resident with over twenty years of experience as an administrative assistant in law firms, a local Christian school, and, most recently, a nationwide non-profit organization based in Sumner County.
Mrs. Thompson’s new role combines the part-time roles of Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, formerly held by Mrs. Sherry Russell, who retired in the summer, and Online and Adult Studies Assistant, currently held by Miss Alyssa Hill, who will now work full-time for the Financial Aid Office and the Business Office.
Mrs. Thompson and her husband have two grown sons and three grandchildren. They are expecting a fourth grandchild in January.
Ketteman said, “We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Thompson to the Welch team. She brings experience, a reputation for excellent work, and a strong Christian testimony to her role.”
Slater, who previously worked with Mrs. Thompson when he was headmaster at Hendersonville Christian Academy, stated, “Working with Mrs. Thompson again is a great joy. I have known her and her husband, Bo, for over twenty years. Her professionalism and commitment to ministry will be a great asset to the college.”
