“It’s also what we believe to be the second largest undergraduate enrollment in our history, with nearly a thousand undergraduate students.” The surge arrives at a time when many private colleges across the United States are facing declining enrollment numbers due to demographic shifts. For Friends, the opposite trend speaks volumes. “We’re seeing that people are looking for traditional values again,” Dr. Carey says. “They want that small college experience where they are known and seen, where families can have trust in the institution.” Diversity and access are at the core of the story. “We’re 47% ethnically diverse, and almost half of our students are Pell eligible,” Dr. Carey adds. “Inclusion is one of our values, and it’s something we’ve lived out for decades.” INNOVATION THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPPORTUNITY Over the past several years, Friends University has undergone significant transformations in both its infrastructure and academic support. “We’ve made at least a $20 million investment in renovating and expanding our facilities,” says Scott Frey, Chief Financial Officer.“That includes the Riney Fine Arts Center, the new engineering and visual arts building, the Cassado Student Center, and the Garvey Athletic Center.” Dr. Carey notes that these investments are not just about aesthetics; they’re strategic. “We’ve also enhanced our business and technology building with a new recording studio, a cybersecurity lab, and a Bloomberg terminal for our student-led investment program.” Scholarship support has also expanded dramatically. “We’ve invested about a million dollars in new scholarships,” Frey adds.“And our new centers, like the Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement, extend those investments beyond the classroom.” That new Center is already making a tangible difference. “It mobilizes groups of students to go out in the community and do service mixed with experiential learning,” Dr. Stoltzfus explains.“Our first 72 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11
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