Archive for category: News & Notes

By Vice President for Administration Steven Thiesfeldt ’74

Meeting of September 24-25, 2015

• Received a report from Director of Finance Carla Hulke and from the auditing agency, which showed that MLC achieved a Department of Education composite financial ratio of 3.0 (on a 3.0 scale).
• Designated $4.95 million in unrestricted net assets to tuition assistance ($1.6 million), program maintenance ($100,000), faculty position funding ($100,000), and the Economic Stabilization Fund ($3.15 million).
• Adopted a 3% increase in student costs, lower than the anticipated 5% increase, bringing tuition, room and board charges to $19,490. Also approved a 5% increase in institutional financial assistance.
• Approved three calls: (1) a man to teach music, give music lessons, and direct a choir (to replace Dr. Wayne Wagner, who is retiring)—subsequently filled by Craig Hirschmann DMLC ’84; (2) a man to teach theology (to replace Prof. Lyle Lange, who is retiring)—subsequently filled by David Scharf WLS ’05; and (3) a man to teach science and PE and coach men’s basketball (pending Synodical Council approval)— subsequently revised to math instead of science, and then filled by Greg Holzhueter MLC ’11.
• Approved one-year sabbaticals for Prof. Thomas Nass, who is writing a commentary for Concordia Publishing House, and Prof. Miles Wurster, who is doing graduate study.
• Approved a Congregational Partner Grant Program for first-year students, in which MLC will match congregational support up to $1000 per student.
• Expanded the MLC Day activity to include an appeal for scholarship funding.
• Approved an annual 4% distribution of the early childhood education scholarship funds raised through the “Let the Children Come” campaign.
• Approved the updated Master Site Plan, which includes the construction of new or upgraded facilities over the next 8-10 years. Also requested a proposal for a capital campaign to address these upgrades.

A CLOSER LOOK: Master Site Plan

Compelled to Speak, the college’s strategic plan, suggested a need to “develop a plan for on-going maintenance, renovation, and expansion of facilities.” In cooperation with the WELS Capital Projects Committee, the college prepared an updated site plan and a prioritized project list that outlines major campus facility needs.
The plan addresses
• student housing,
• athletics (including property acquisition),
• music, and
• HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) needs.

Now that the board has approved this plan, the Mission
Advancement Office will develop a proposal for a capital
campaign to address the new construction (subject to the
approval of the Synodical Council and in cooperation with
the WELS Ministry of Christian Giving).

Meeting of April 7-8, 2016

• Approved a proposal from the Master Projects Committee to address the specific needs and details of the master site plan. The four-phase plan calls for $45 million in improvements to our campus over the next ten years.
• Asked the Mission Advancement Office to develop a plan for a capital campaign to fund the various projects in the Master Site Plan.
• Approved the Master Staffing Plan for the 2017-19 biennium.

A CLOSER LOOK: Master Staffing Plan

At its February 2015 meeting, the governing board asked the administration to develop a comprehensive master staffing plan. Led by Human Resources Manager Andrea Wendland and assisted by Director of Finance Carla Hulke, every college department was invited to propose its staffing needs for the next five to six years.
The data from this study was used to analyze opportunities for improved efficiency and create a list of prioritized needs for both faculty and staff in the 2017-19 biennium.

The plan calls for . . .
• two additional professors (history-social science and mathematics-science)
• three additional administrative assistants (Education, Admissions, and Mission Advancement Offices).
Wendland and Hulke also conducted a staff compensation analysis.

New Ulm’s warm weather is here to stay, and that can only mean one thing—Arbor Day! Last week, the entire student body split into groups to tidy up MLC’s campus, local parks, and the homes of shut-ins and professors. The students were ecstatic to spend some time in the sun and skip a day of classes, but Senior Class President Tom Nicholson (Portage HS / Cross of Christ-Portage WI) reminds us that there’s even more to Arbor Day than that.

“The true purpose of Arbor Day,” Tom says, “is to build community between students and faculty, between upperclassmen and underclassmen, and between MLC and the residents of New Ulm.”

As students worked alongside one another, they were also able to appreciate both MLC’s beautiful campus and God’s amazing creation. Their hard work paid off in the afternoon when they enjoyed activities like volleyball, spikeball, softball, soccer, and disc golf.

Tom concludes, “We hope that the friendships fostered on Arbor Day by working toward a common goal, whether longstanding or brand new friendships, will last a lifetime.”

In Image: Christina Kapellusch (ALA / Paradise Valley-Phoenix AZ), Adam Stevens (FVL / Trinity-Neenah WI), and Alex Lindemann (LPS / St. John-Lewiston MN) worked together on Arbor Day.

A new club has appeared on campus: Art in Ministry, also known as AIM. To introduce themselves to the rest of the student body, AIM recently hosted an event they called “Treats & Tempera.”

Students like John Marquardt (Shoreland / Garden Homes-Milwaukee WI) enjoyed this night of snacking, socializing, and most importantly, painting. “It was a great opportunity for people to have fun and unwind in a creative way,” he says.

AIM’s president Grace Williams (Cyprus Creek HS / Abiding Word-Houston TX) and the other club members were thrilled with how the night went. “Forty-five people showed up, which was great!”

AIM has big plans for the future. “As a club, we want to provide an opportunity for people to use the gifts God gave them and to create works for campus,” says Grace. “We’re also working toward getting an art minor and expanding our artwork to local churches as well.”

 

“Evangelism Day is a day set aside so that the Spirit can fill the hearts of both faculty and students with excitement and gratitude,” says MLC President Mark Zarling.

“Excitement as we learn more about the amazing things the Lord Jesus is doing through the gospel. Gratitude as we think of almost 50 people who come to New Ulm and share with us the good news about the power of the Good News.”

The theme, “Your Kingdom Come,” echoed throughout the day in worship, workshops, and presentations, encouraging all our students.

“I liked hearing my professors talk about their ministries,” says first-year Bob Beaver (LPS / Holy Trinity-Okauchee WI). “They explained how our evangelism plans don’t always work out the way we think they will, but God always gets his work done.”

“When the presenters shared their personal evangelism stories it made me really excited to have similar experiences!” Jessica Friebe (MLS / St. Bartholomew-Kawkawlin MI) adds. “It really hit home with me that there are so many people out there who need to hear the gospel.”

“This day not only motivates us all,” President Zarling concludes, “but it keeps us grounded in our mission as a college and our connection to the Great Commission.”