Lowry issues students challenge at Convocation to continue growth, innovation

President L. Randolph Lowry welcomed the Lipscomb University community back to the energy and excitement of another record-breaking year on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the annual Convocation ceremony in Allen Arena. The school year begins with the fourth year of enrollment growth and an “up-and-coming” designation by U.S. News & World Reports, Lowry announced.

 

“Our very best days as an academic community are ahead,” Lowry said. “We will be intentional about our faith. We will be courageous in our faith. We will be gracious in our faith, as we define this university our way.”

 

 “We are Lipscomb,” Lowry declared to the Lipscomb community as he challenged it to be as innovative and creative in the coming school year as it has been over the past four years. He cited numerous examples of recent success including honors for sustainable practice and service-learning, $36 million in construction upgrades and new academic and financial aid programs designed to increase access to higher education for more people.

 

“Four years ago we embarked on a plan to make a 21^st century campus for 21^st century learning,” Lowry said. “We have invested more than $1 million a month for the last 36 months, and you can see the beauty and function that has been accomplished.”

 

The result of these new programs and innovations has been a 35 percent enrollment boost over the past four years, including an 11.6 percent increase in the past year, a tough economic time when many private universities were expecting only one percent enrollment growth.

 

This year’s record enrollment includes more community college transfers than ever before, the first Teach for America Nashville Corps students, a military veteran population that has more than doubled to 40 and a new class of 75 student pharmacists selected from more than 800 applications, Lowry said.

 

In addition to Lowry’s address, Convocation included a charge to the students by the university’s newest dean, Norma Burgess, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and a presentation to His Excellency Jocelyn Radifera, Ambassador of Madagascar, who visited the 26 Malagasy students beginning their sophomore year at Lipscomb.

 

Burgess warned students that Lipscomb faculty have high expectations for them this year. “We expect you to do your best to the power and glory of God,” she said.

 

Radifera spoke words of encouragement to Lipscomb’s Malagasy students, whose future was in jeopardy earlier this year when the Malagasy government fell to a coup and the future funding of their education was uncertain. Through a combination of locally donated funds and a payment from the new Malagasy government, the students are now assured of a second year of study at the university.

 

“Not only did Lipscomb open its heart and hands to welcome every one of you, but it also is providing an education, that along with Christian faith, gives you a strong foundation for the rest of your life,” Radifera said.

 

Lowry presented Radifera with The Spirit Award, in honor of his commitment to fight for the funding to keep the Malagasy students at Lipscomb.

 

More than 4,000 members of the Lipscomb community attended this year’s event.