Third straight enrollment increase among 2008 highlights

For the third consecutive year, CSC reported an increase in its enrollment, both in headcount and full-time equivalency. In October, the institution reported a headcount 2,744 students. That's a 3.1 percent increase over the fall 2007 figure of 2,661. In addition, the institution also had a 2.95 percent increase in full-time equivalency over 2007. CSC continued to expand the diversity of its population this fall, reporting that students from 18 countries - believed to be an all-time high -- are enrolled at the institution.

CSC President Janie Park said indicators point to another large incoming class for fall 2009.

August was a big month for CSC, as the institution garnered national recognition on several fronts.

Thanks to its wood-fired heating and cooling system, CSC earned high marks for its efforts to help the environment in a report by the National Wildlife Federation. The study, which was completed in conjunction with Princeton Survey Research Associates, listed CSC as having an exemplary program for its activities for sustainability. CSC was the only institution in Nebraska or South Dakota listed in the report, which was released in late August. Only 36 other educational institutions were on the nationwide list.

Also in August, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson chose the wood-fired facility as a stop on his statewide energy tour and called the system "good common sense."

The U.S. News & World Report in August placed CSC on its list of best baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest. CSC was the only public institution in Nebraska to be named among the nationally circulated publication's top 68 baccalaureate institutions in the Midwest region, an area that encompasses 12 states.

August also was the month that the high-powered CSC football team began play. The Eagles won their third consecutive RMAC championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA II playoffs. The Eagles had an 11-2 record in 2008, including a 10-0 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. This was the first time in the RMAC's 100-year history that a team had gone undefeated in conference play three years straight. The Eagles were ninth in the final American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll.

Many construction projects took place on the CSC campus during the past year, the largest being the $4.8 million renovation of the Administration Building. The building is nearing completion and will be an incredible learning facility when it opens in 2009. Other high profile construction projects included a new parking lot for the residence hall complex, renovation of Crites Hall, window replacements, and new sound systems at the athletic venues.

CSC's teacher education department received high marks from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education after its examination of the programs this fall. The five-person visitation team gave especially high commendations for the program's use of technology. CSC has been continually accredited by NCATE or other accrediting agencies since 1929.

The CSC Students in Free Enterprise team tied for ninth in the nation at the SIFE National Exposition in Chicago, May 13-15. CSC qualified for the national expo by winning its league at the regional competition at Denver in April. A total of 143 SIFE teams qualified for the expo at 16 regional competitions. The University of Arizona won this year's national event, which featured more than 3,200 students.

The Coffee Gallery at CSC's Sandoz Center opened a new exhibit dedicated to women in ranching. In addition, the Coffee Gallery was featured in a documentary about the cattle industry. "Beef State" was co-produced by NET Television and the Nebraska State Historical Society.

A federally funded program at Chadron State College gave students from three high schools in northwest Nebraska a taste of college life in summer 2008. More than 40 students of Chadron, Alliance and Gordon-Rushville high schools completed CSC's Upward Bound six-week summer program, which is designed to help students succeed and put them on the path toward a college degree.

While the Chadron State Foundation continued laying the groundwork for its comprehensive Vision 2011 campaign, a pair of its annual fund-raisers helped provide more scholarships and other campus support. Its fall fund-raising campaign raised $156,582 while its annual student phonathon in the spring brought in $154,000.

CSC's alumni continued making its mark on the world in 2008.

One member of the CSC alumni enjoyed the attention from an award that was presented in late 2007. When a former Vice President Al Gore and an organization devoted to studying climate change were presented with the coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, a Chadron State College graduate was one of those recognized for making it happen. CSC alumnus and Crawford native Dr. Jerry Mahlman of Longmont, Colo., helped organize the International Panel on Climate Change, the organization that shared the award with Gore.

A graduate of both Chadron High School and CSC was selected as the 2008-09 Wyoming High School Principal of the Year by the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals. Dirlene Steffe Wheeler is in her eighth year as principal at Sheridan High School, which has 902 students in grades nine through 12 and 75 full-time teachers.

The CSC athletics program had many successes to report. The football team, of course, raked in numerous postseason honors. One of of the players, placekicker Travis Atter, made the AFCA's All-American team.

Two stalwarts in the CSC defensive line earned Academic All-American honors as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Shaine Odell was placed on the first team and Aaron Ide was elected to the second team.

Another of CSC's highly successful student-athletes was Josh Majerus, who won the 197-pound championship at the NCAA Division II National Tournament and also was conferred first-team academic honors by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association. Odell, who was the heavyweight for the wrestling team, was a second-team academic choice.

Another CSC wrestler, Devlon Webb, placed fifth at the national tournament at 125 pounds to gain All-American laurels.

Three Eagles became All-Americans at national track and field meets. At the indoor meet, Mary Wells was fifth in the shot put and Mike Smith was sixth in the 200 while at the outdoor meet Stacy Girard was fifth in the 1500. Altogether, the Eagles had a dozen national meet qualifiers.

Not all news related to CSC was positive in 2008. The first week of December was especially distressing, when a vehicle accident caused injuries to six members of the Eagles' wrestling team. Later that same week, a student who lived off campus was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his roommate, who had been stabbed more than 50 times.

Also in December, CSC faculty and staff braced for possible budget cuts as a weakened economy was threatening state revenues. The administration has already initiated some cost-saving measures, including not adding new staff and not filling some vacancies.