Huntington opens as a University on September 1
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington College will officially re-open as Huntington University with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special chapel service on Thursday, September 1. While the name change process began in June, the school will officially mark this milestone in its history with a ceremony at the beginning of the school year. The ribbon-cutting will take place at the campus' main entrance at the intersection of Guilford Street and Merillat Boulevard at 9:30 a.m. on September 1.
Miss Indiana Susan Guilkey, a 2005 Huntington University graduate in communication studies, will be on hand to cut the ribbon along with President Blair Dowden and other local dignitaries. The public is cordially invited to attend.
The ceremony will be followed by a special chapel service at 10:00 a.m., in Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts. President Dowden will be joined by Huntington alumni, current students and personnel to celebrate the heritage and future of the Christian liberal arts institution.
"Huntington's growth "in size, complexity and prestige "makes the move to university status the natural next step in the institution's development," President Dowden said. "Over the past 10 years, Huntington's student body has grown by more than 53 percent. In the same time period, we have begun to offer associate and bachelor degrees specifically designed for adult students, and we have developed new master's degrees in ministry and education, and additional programs could be on the horizon. A feasibility study for a bachelor's program in nursing is currently underway."
"While the name of the institution will soon change, many things will stay the same," Dowden added. "For example, Huntington will always be an institution that stresses the Christian faith and the liberal arts as the foundations of its educational program. We will always challenge students to integrate faith, learning and service. Similarly, we never want to lose the warm and friendly character of our campus community. While our student body has grown significantly over the past few years - and will continue to grow - we will remain a caring, student-focused campus. Students here will never be just a number. In short, our name may change, but our mission will not."
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