UM President Reports on Strategic Plan Initiatives; Board of Trustees Approves Ingram Dining Hall Expansion, New Officers Elected

University of Mobile President Dr. Mark Foley reported to the Board of Trustees that a 4-year-old strategic initiative to strengthen the private Christian university is paying off, and an aggressive enrollment campaign is spreading the word to prospective students.

Also during the spring meeting on Tuesday, April 22, Trustees approved a $20.9 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09 and a $2.4 million expansion of Ingram Dining Hall.

And, trustees elected officers: James Massey of Citronelle, owner of Massey Chevrolet, was elected chairman; Lindsey Boney of Daphne, chief financial officer of The Mitchell Company, was elected vice chair; and Gabi Constantine of Saraland, president of PCMAC Company, was elected secretary. Officers are elected to one-year terms from July 1-June 30.

Following the private board meeting, Foley said year-to-date applications are ahead of schedule and indications are the university will have an increase in new students.

“We have launched an aggressive enrollment campaign over a wide geographic region, reaching throughout Alabama and beyond,” he said. “We are getting the word out that the University of Mobile produces highly capable, faith-confident graduates able to exercise respected Christian leadership in the marketplace.”

Foley said the long-term strategy that began four years ago was designed to strengthen the emphasis on Christian faith and practice, raise academic standards, reposition tuition pricing in the independent college market, expand residential facilities, and recruit academically talented students.

He said the transition resulted in a dip in enrollment, particularly as tuition was adjusted to be more competitive with other private universities in the region. With the adjustment in place, the rate of tuition increase has slowed and interest in the university among academically talented students has increased.

“We are producing the intended graduate, and we are now recognized among the top academic schools in the South,” he said, referring to the university’s recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.”

In other action, Trustees:

• Approved a $20.9 million operating budget for 2008-09, up from $19.8 million.

• Approved the expansion of Ingram Cafeteria, to include a multi-purpose room capable of seating 450 people. The expansion will add 7,800 square feet to the current 5,900-square-foot building. The expansion will provide additional dining spaces, room for student activities, and the ability to seat up to 450 people for events and M-Fuge summer camp. Construction will begin in June and will be funded through a construction loan.