GALLATIN, TN—Welch College recently received notification that it ranks 8th among “Best Regional Colleges—South” in U.S. News & World Report’s2022 edition of America’s Best Colleges, according to President Matt Pinson. This also included a ranking of #1 for “Top Performers on Social Mobility” in the Regional Colleges—South category, which comprises 92 other colleges and universities in the South.
“We’re so pleased that Welch is moving up in the rankings,” President Pinson said. “We’d hoped to get into the top ten in our category in the next five to seven years. So this is welcome news. This respected national study confirms that the college’s academic programs are recognized not only by our supporters but also by the broader academic community. It’s also another reminder to prospective students and their parents that Welch College remains a top-quality institution of higher learning that delivers its educational promise.”
“We’re delighted that, for the first time, we were ranked #1 in ‘Top Performers on Social Mobility’ for our category,” Pinson continued. “This ranking measures how well colleges and universities do at graduating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We are especially thankful for this distinction.”
The “Best Regional Colleges—South” category where Welch College is ranked includes institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in professional fields such as business, nursing, and education. Most of these institutions award fewer than fifty graduate degrees annually.
Provost Matthew McAffee said, “To be among the top ten institutions in our category is remarkable. This accomplishment is a testimony to the hard work of our faculty and staff over the years and its cumulative effect on our institutional success. Our rise to 8th place indicates measurable success. It demonstrates to our constituents that Welch College is increasingly being recognized by the broader educational community as a quality institution of higher learning.”
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, alumni giving, and more.
“To put our ranking in perspective,” Pinson said, “the other institutions in the top ten in our category have an average enrollment of 1,952—five times higher than Welch’s—and an average endowment of $77 million—17 times higher than Welch’s.”
U.S. News ranked the top-ten institutions in the Regional Colleges—South category as follows:
[1] High Point University (NC) [2] Ouachita Baptist University (AR) [3] Florida Polytechnic University [4] Flagler College (FL) [5] (tie) Maryville College (TN) [5] (tie) University of the Ozarks (AR) [7] Claflin University (SC) [8] (tie) Catawba College (NC) [8] (tie) Welch College (TN [10] LaGrange College (GA)
Welch received especially high marks in three strategic areas, ranking as follows:
1st in student-faculty ratio 1st in classes under 50 students (tied) 3rd in graduation rate 5th in classes under 20 students 8th in freshman-to-sophomore retention 8th in alumni giving
Welch College Enrollment Services is conducting a search to add a full-time Admissions Counselor to the Enrollment Services Team. If you are a self-starter with people skills who is interested in engaging high school-aged students in the Christian college selection process, then the role of Admissions Counselor may be the perfect fit for you.
The Admissions Counselor works to recruit, admit, and enroll high school students in the undergraduate, on-campus program at Welch College. The Admissions Counselor travels to off-campus recruiting events (camps, conferences, high schools, churches, college fairs), gives on-campus tours, assists with on-campus recruiting events, counsels and equips students and parents to make a college decision, and helps to transition the student to life on campus.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and references to Daniel Webster, Director of Enrollment Services, at daniel.webster@welch.edu
These have been challenging times for all of us as we have coped with a global pandemic that had farther-reaching consequences than I ever imagined it would have. Our community has been resilient, however, and has navigated these troubled waters with prudence and with grace.
I was so saddened to have to announce to the Class of 2020 last year that we would have to cancel their normal 2020 Commencement activities. After meeting with the executive council of the Senior Class, we decided that the best way forward was to have Commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 at the same time as that of the Class of 2021.
While there are still many details to be finalized, and while anything could change given the current unpredictable situation with COVID-19, I wanted to announce the date of the Commencement exercises for both the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 so that students and their guests could mark it on their calendars and make travel plans.
All Commencement activities for both classes will take place on Friday, May 7th. The times, locations, and details of the gatherings will be forthcoming. Guest seating will be limited owing to COVID-19 and the need for physically distanced seating. Thus a limited number of free tickets will be provided to each graduate for his or her family and friends.
Neither the graduate breakfast nor a Baccalaureate service will be held. An awards ceremony for the Class of 2021 will be held virtually, similar to what we held last year for the Class of 2020. Also forthcoming will be details regarding hooding for master’s degree recipients.
More details will follow as we finalize them. Thank you for your patience as we work through what will be a very different celebration in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. And continue to pray for us here at Welch as we continue to make key decisions and fulfill our mission in these difficult times.
The forty-member Welch College Choir, under the direction of Dr. James Stevens, completed a three-state tour during spring break covering 1700 miles and ministering in ten locations over seven days, according to according to Todd Parrish, Director of Church Relations.
“Church members in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia worshiped joyfully as the choir sang through the O Praise the Name program,” Parrish said. “The choir did a variety of music, which included anthems, hymn arrangements, spirituals, and contemporary worship songs. Alumni and former choir members stated that this was one of the best Welch choirs in years.”
Choir members spent time with residents at the Governor’s Bend Assisted Living Center in Erwin, TN, as well as with students at Gateway Christian Academy (VA) and Bethel Christian Academy (NC). “One teacher expressed how grateful she was that the college students went out of their way to make her fifth graders feel important,” Parrish said. Over 300 academy students signed up to receive more information about Welch College. From these student information cards, Andrea Sosa (VA) was selected to win a free Apple watch.
The Grand Opening of the Welch College Student Activities Center is scheduled for Friday, November 10, according to President Matt Pinson.
Friends and members of the Welch College community are invited to celebrate with an evening of festivities. A brief grand opening ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. followed by a tailgate party and cookout at 5:00. The Flames basketball team will then play the first game in the brand new gymnasium as they face St. Louis Christian at 7:00.
The Student Activities Center houses the gymnasium, coffee shop, student recreation area, and fitness center. A tour will be given following the 4:00 ceremony.
“We invite all our friends to come celebrate this wonderful occasion of the completion of the Student Activities Center, which also marks the conclusion of phase one of the construction of the new Welch campus,” President Pinson said. “The students have been eagerly anticipating the opening of this new facility that will be at the center of student life. It’s going to be great to have our first Flames basketball game in the new facilities in conjunction with Welcome Days.”
To see photographs of the new campus and get information about giving toward the funding of this effort, visit Buildingonthelegacy.com.
