Senate Resolution 106 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 106 BY ANDERSON A Resolution honoring the service of Briar Cliff 1 University President Bev Wharton. 2 WHEREAS, spring 2016 marks the culmination of 3 Bev Wharton’s 15-year tenure as president of Briar 4 Cliff University, the longest among presidents in the 5 university’s storied history; and 6 WHEREAS, under President Wharton’s tenure, the 7 university’s endowment increased by nearly one-third, 8 while the university’s net assets have grown from $18.6 9 million to nearly $30 million; and 10 WHEREAS, in President Wharton’s 15 years, Briar 11 Cliff has raised its academic status from that of a 12 college to that of a university, has twice been awarded 13 reaccreditation for the maximum 10 years, and has 14 launched several new graduate programs, including the 15 first and only doctoral degrees offered in northwest 16 Iowa —— a doctor of nursing practice and a doctor of 17 physical therapy; and 18 WHEREAS, in that period, Briar Cliff University 19 established an online degree completion program and saw 20 its graduate enrollment expand eightfold; and 21 WHEREAS, in the past 15 years, the university has 22 earned national recognition for academic excellence, 23 including continuing distinction as a best regional 24 college, a top military-friendly school, and a STEM 25 jobs-approved college; and 26 WHEREAS, during President Wharton’s tenure, student 27 experiential learning and service opportunities 28 -1- LSB 5749XS (3) 86 aw/nh 1/ 3
S.R. 106 expanded locally, nationally, and abroad, further 1 globalizing the student experience with the initiation 2 of regular mission trips to Honduras and Guatemala and 3 the initiation of an exchange program with the Catholic 4 University of Korea; and 5 WHEREAS, on campus during this period, the 6 university has undertaken major renovations, 7 established student learning communities, fostered 8 the highest level of student achievement in 9 entrepreneurship, and expanded student cocurricular 10 opportunities, including the addition of football, 11 dance, cheer, and men’s volleyball programs; and 12 WHEREAS, President Wharton’s service has extended 13 beyond the boundaries of the campus, having been 14 appointed by the Governor of Iowa to the Rebuild Iowa 15 Advisory Commission and having served as the first 16 woman chair of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, as 17 co-chair of the committee that led to Sioux City’s 18 designation as one of three “Great Places in Iowa”, 19 as chair of the United Way of Siouxland, as interim 20 development director for the Catholic Schools of 21 Sioux City, as co-coordinator of the Sioux City 22 census project, as an advisory board member for the 23 Sioux City Growth Organization, and as chair of the 24 Council of Presidents for the Great Plains Athletic 25 Conference, and currently chairing the board of 26 directors for the Association of Franciscan Colleges 27 and Universities; and 28 WHEREAS, most importantly, President Wharton —— 29 known by students simply as “Bev” —— is known as the 30 -2- LSB 5749XS (3) 86 aw/nh 2/ 3
S.R. 106 students’ president, as evidenced by her familiarity 1 with everyone on campus, her preference to eat lunch 2 with students, her ardent support of and appearances at 3 nearly every Briar Cliff University Charger athletic 4 or fine arts event, her extravagant Halloween costumes 5 (which have included the likes of Cher and Lady Gaga), 6 and even her willingness to stop and take “selfies” 7 with students, truly embodying the university’s 8 motto —— “service, caring, and openness to all”; NOW 9 THEREFORE, 10 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate honors 11 Briar Cliff University President Bev Wharton for her 15 12 years of dedicated service to Briar Cliff University, 13 to the greater Sioux City region, and to the people of 14 Iowa, and wishes her an active, joyful, and engaging 15 retirement. 16 -3- LSB 5749XS (3) 86 aw/nh 3/ 3