THE INSIDER - SPRING 2025

Dr. Fennell went on to identify categorically a few of the areas which he believed as meaningful and cited them as:

Having established an operational direction with the use of strategic planning (four cycles of Strategic Plans have been developed since 2008);

Achieving three cycles of institutional accreditation (we are now addressing the fourth cycle);

Having achieved program accreditation of the Educational Preparation Program (EPP) through the Texas Education Agency (TEA), for eight areas of teacher preparation certification;

Having achieved program accreditation of the Social Work Program through the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE);

Having strengthened many of the academic content areas with Program Reviews that provide students a seamless entry into graduate/professional programs;

Having expanded academic honors recognition while also introducing the Alpha Chi National Honor Society on the campus;

Having operated financially in the “black” consecutively for a 17-year period; with one year being a matter of concern because of an audit issue; not recording accurately, but this did not affect the fiscal condition of the institution;

Having increased the net assets of the institution;

Having increased the physical plant net assets of the institution;

Having operated with significant “cash on hand” that now exceeds $11 million dollars;

Having grown the endowment from less than a million to more than $10 million;

Having completed capitol renovations to the campus that totaled $19 million, with no remaining debt service and loan amounts being unmet;

Having improved Wi-Fi and internet connections and virtual capacities throughout the campus and community which continues to date;

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