Whitworth University Prospectus

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: PRESIDENT TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT WHITWORTH 4 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS 7 UNIVERSITY FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS 9 STUDENT LIFE 10 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 10 STRATEGIC PLAN 11 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 11 PRESIDENT’S CABINET 11 LIVING IN SPOKANE 12 LEADERSHIP AGENDA 13 QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES 16 APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS 17 SEARCH PROSPECTUS: President 2 WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY: AN EDUCATION OF MIND & HEART The board of trustees invites inquiries, applications in managing a complex organization. This leader and nominations for the position of president will demonstrate a deep understanding of and of Whitworth University. Located in Spokane, commitment to the culture and distinctive values of Wash., Whitworth University is a nationally ranked, Christ-centered institutions. private Christian liberal arts institution serving undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies The ideal candidate will have excellent leadership students. At the conclusion of President Beck and communication skills, a demonstrated and A. Taylor’s 11-year tenure, student enrollment is ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and stable, the balance sheet is strong, the endowment inclusion, and experience in securing and increasing is at a record level, and major campus building financial resources. The president will build on projects and enhancements have been completed the strengths of the past, including the successful or are underway. The Whitworth presidency offers navigation to date of COVID-19 challenges. The an exceptional opportunity to lead a successful president will also provide leadership as the institution with an outstanding reputation, exciting university embarks on new endeavors aligned with history and promising future. its steadfast commitment to liberal arts residential education while promoting innovation within a The Whitworth community seeks a Christian leader comprehensive university framework. who will embody a commitment to Whitworth’s mission to provide its diverse students an education To help Whitworth find an innovative, dynamic, of mind and heart that enables them “to honor God, student-centered president, the following profile follow Christ and serve humanity.” The next president provides information about the university, will be an engaging and effective leader. The surrounding community, leadership agenda and Whitworth community seeks a leader who manifests desired qualifications for its next leader. The new ethics and integrity, and who will be successful president will take office no later than July 1, 2022. SEARCH PROSPECTUS: President 3 ABOUT WHITWORTH effectively address the complex issues they face in the world. The university works to cultivate an intellectually MISSION STATEMENT vital and inclusive campus culture in which faculty Whitworth University is a private, residential, liberal arts and students engage regularly in civil discourse on institution affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The challenging ideas. To attract and retain high-achieving university’s mission is to provide its diverse student students, Whitworth focuses on providing compelling body an education of the mind and the heart, equipping its graduates to honor God, follow Christ and serve opportunities for advanced collaborative learning, humanity. This mission is carried out by a community of creative expression, in-depth research, cross-cultural Christian scholars committed to excellent teaching and engagement and leadership development. to the integration of faith and learning. In recent years, Whitworth has enjoyed record student Since 1890, Whitworth has held fast to its founding mission in all its endeavors. enrollment and retention, the strongest financial position in the university’s history, and increased external visibility. Recognized as one of the top regional colleges and The university’s 200-acre campus of red-brick buildings universities in the west, Whitworth University enrolls and tall pines offers a beautiful, inviting and secure more than 2,600 undergraduate students and close learning environment. to 400 graduate students. It offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Whitworth has invested heavily in new and improved Undergraduate students come from 33 states and academic facilities, making over $170 million in campus 34 countries (5 percent of the student population is improvements in the last 11 years. Major projects international). Approximately 57 percent of students include the state-of-the-art Robinson Science Hall are female; 32 percent of incoming students are from ($32 million); the Whitworth Athletics Leadership Team underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds; and Center ($13 million), completed in 2020; the renovations 35 percent are first-generation college students. Study and expansions of Cowles Music Center ($13.5 million) abroad opportunities are available in more than 60 and the Beeksma Family Theology Center ($2.8 million); countries. About 86 percent of graduates finish within and the renovations of the Megan E. Thompson four years, and 95 percent of Whitworth graduates are Aquatic Center ($1.5 million) and Cowles Auditorium employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine ($3.2 million). Construction has begun on a new health months of graduation. sciences facility and a new innovation lab that will each Faculty-student interaction is a hallmark of a Whitworth serve a variety of disciplines. Whitworth is accredited by education. Whitworth seeks to equip its students to the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities, a be inquisitive, creative and discerning thinkers who status that was reaffirmed in 2018. SEARCH PROSPECTUS: President 4 ABOUT WHITWORTH (CONT.) FAITH AND LEARNING Holding on to Whitworth’s commitments to Christ and Whitworth is a Christian university focused on Christ Christ’s redemptive work in this world, while at the same that invites students with diverse beliefs and ideas time remaining devoted to the courageous search for to join its learning community. Whitworth is also a truth, is a challenging prospect. But the scenic views highly relational community that seeks to occupy the from the peak offer amazing perspectives on the world intersection between Christian faith and the rigorous and the institution’s place in it. By remaining committed pursuit of knowledge. Whitworth walks on what its to academic excellence and to the integration of presidents have described as the “narrow ridge.” This Christian faith and learning, and by continuing to provide metaphor paints a picture of the institution situated on a welcoming atmosphere that encourages challenging a precarious mountain crest that connects steep and conversations, Whitworth offers its students and faculty dangerous slopes. On the narrow ridge, Whitworth the best opportunities to learn, question and discover. is both fearlessly courageous in our unconstrained commitment to Christ and fearlessly courageous in our Providing structure, substance and symbol to this ethos unconstrained commitment to intellectual inquiry and on campus is the Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian academic freedom. Whitworth elevates ideals that some Faith & Learning. Its mission is to provide resources may pit against one another: mind and heart; curiosity and support for faculty and students in their efforts and conviction; grace and truth; free expression and to integrate faith and learning. The academic center civil discourse; courage and compassion. This kind of has helped shape Whitworth’s culture by facilitating rigorous, thoughtful learning best occurs in the context faculty scholarship, integrating faith and learning in and of caring, steadfast relationships with mentors and out of the classroom, and mentoring students toward peers. The narrow ridge is messy at times, yet that vocations of Christian scholarship and service. is the place to which God has called Whitworth, and Whitworth is a place of fearless intellectual pursuit from this vista, the opportunities for growth in faith and and unconstrained commitment to Christ. It is a place learning are limitless. where answers are not given, but meaning is found. By aspiring to locate itself squarely on the ridge that Chapel is not required but is often standing room only. separates these extremes, Whitworth commits itself Whitworth is a place where renowned scholars conduct to pursuing faith as rigorously as it pursues truth, and research with students and meet them for coffee to talk to pursuing truth as devotedly as it pursues faith. about life. By bringing open minds and hearts together, Whitworth subscribes to the Reformed theological view Whitworth equips students to flourish and serve in a that all truth is God’s truth and we should honor that diverse and evolving world. Former President Beck truth, whether it is revealed through an act of human Taylor very aptly described the distinctive nature of the discovery or divine revelation. Whitworth community by how relationships are shared and how those relationships are bound together through mutual fidelity to our mission. More information on Whitworth’s unique Christian identity can be found here. SEARCH PROSPECTUS: President 5 ABOUT WHITWORTH (CONT.) HISTORY Whitworth has been recognized by both religious and While independent, Whitworth University has been secular organizations for its work related to diversity, affiliated with the Presbyterian church since 1890 equity and inclusion. The university was one of the first and is anchored in the Reformed tradition with strong institutions within the Council

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