July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
CONTENTS ANNUAL REPORT 04 Executive Council 06 Rich Academic Opportunities 10 Practical Experiences 14 Global Perspectives 18 By the Numbers
Rockford University’s Annual Report is published by the University Marketing & Communications Office. Project Manager Rita Elliott Lead Writer Bern Sundstedt '77 Graphic Design and Production Paul Hecker
A ROCK SOLID STORY From its very beginning, Rockford Female Seminary was nurtured by the strong leadership of Anna Peck Sill and her equally substantial vision, “To be the best helpers of one another.” In 1892, Seminary gave rise to College, and thereafter realized a succession of advances. On July 1, 2013 our institution took on status as a university. Simultaneous to that celebration we publicly unveiled our Rock Solid brand. Fiscal year 2018 marked the 5th anniversary for both initiatives. It is only right that we highlight the subsequent positive results, while demonstrating our forward direction. Miss Sill’s vision still lives on and is retained in our values-based core. At the heart of our Rock Solid identity is a brand promise statement that was carefully crafted with extensive input from all University stakeholders; it defines characteristics that have remained important for 171 years. Simply stated: President Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D.
Rockford University challenges and supports learners with rich academic opportunities, practical experiences, and global perspectives to develop the knowledge, values and skills that impact their lives and our world. The first three elements of that statement – Rich Academic Opportunities – Practical Experiences – and Global Perspectives are the means by which we accomplish our ends. They are embedded in all we do both in and out of the classroom and will help frame our narrative content in this report.
Rockford University Celebration Day - July 1, 2013
In addition, we will provide normal statistical information that is stock content for these kinds of reports, the nuts and bolts of enrollment, revenues and expenditures. But, those kinds of numeric indicators would not be possible without the people, places and things specific to fiscal year 2018 that make worthwhile all our efforts and stewardship. Thanks so much to all of you who help augment tuition revenue through your steadfast contributions to the university. You help provide many of the opportunities that we can make available to our students in order for them to grow and transform their lives and the lives of others. Your university is at a Rock Solid place in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. I hope you enjoy our report, its contents, its results and the direction of things to come.
Rockford University Campus aerial view
3
Jane Addams Memorial Peace Garden
BFA Graduates at 2018 Commencement Ceremony.
Students enjoying a beautiful day on campus.
PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Michael Mihalyo, Jr., D.M.A, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (June 1, 2017)
Christina Anderson ’05 MBA, Senior Vice President of Business & Chief Financial Officer
Bernard Sundstedt ’77, MFA Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Matthew D. Phillips ’04/’06 MBA, Vice President for Enrollment Management
4
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
Rockford University Board Of Trustees 2017 - 2018 OFFICERS
James Keeling Chairman of the Board Attorney Hinshaw Culbertson Rockford, Ill.
Barbara R. Tanaglia, ’73 Vice Chair of the Board Retired, Mamager Information Center, Thermo Fisher Scientific Rockford, Ill.
R. Ray Wood, ’10 L.H.D. Treasurer of the Board Retired, Chairman, Pres. & CEO Rockford Products Corp. Rockford, Ill.
Elizabeth Donovan Secretary of the Board Director, Global Marketing Operations & Loyalty Marketing, Sales & Service Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Mich.
ACTIVE TRUSTEES
Mr. Charles Box Consultant Rockford, Ill. James H. Clarke, Ph.D., ’67 Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tenn. Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D. President Rockford University Rockford, Ill. Thomas Gendron, MBA ’88 Chairman & CEO Woodward, Inc. Fort Collins, Colo. Dawn R. Hallsten, ’73 Attorney Rockford, Ill. Elizabeth Hegel, ’81 Hegel Holdings, LLC. Rockton, Ill. L. Thomas Heiser, ’84 Heiser Partners Lawrenceville, Ga.
Helen C. Hill, ’70 Owner Helen Hill Communication Rockford, Ill.
Thomas A. Muldowney, ’74 Managing Director Chairman, Savant Capital, LLC Rockford, Ill.
Dennis W. Johnson Retired, President h.c. Johnson Press Rockford, Ill.
Bettyann Pappenfus ’81 Alumni Trustee Chair, Department of Performing Arts Professor of Performing Arts Rockford University Rockford, Ill.
Iain D. Johnston, ’87 US Magistrate Judge Northern Illinois District Rockford, Ill. Douglas H Liedberg, J.D, MBA ’89 Sr. VP, General Counsel & Secretary Dana Incorporated Maumee, Ohio Deborah Mogford Faculty Trustee Chair, Dept. of Performing Arts Professor of Performing Arts Rockford, Ill. Joel J. Moore, ’00 Alumni Trustee Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management Chicago, Ill.
Jeffry Potter, ’98 CFO & Treasurer William Charles, LTD Rockford, Ill. Sunil Puri, ’82/’13 L.H.D. President First Midwest Group Rockford, Ill. David R. Rydell, ’63 President Bergstrom Inc. Rockford, Ill.
Patricia Tumilowicz, ’87 Rockford, Ill. Frank E. Walter Executive VP Commercial Sales Heartland Financial USA Rockford, Ill. Jonathan S. Whitlock Private Investor & Director Rockford, Ill. Fred Young, ’65 President Forest City Gear Company Roscoe, Ill. Janet Zelenka, ’80 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Essendant Deerfield, Ill. Emily Bellows Student Trustee
Marci Taets, ’92 Accountant Rock County Human Services South Beloit, Ill.
EMERITI TRUSTEES
Charles L. Colman, ’06 L.H.D. Retired, President The Colman Group Williams Bay, Wis
Charles J. Howard Chairman, William Charles, Ltd. Rockford, Ill.
Georganne Eggers, ’49 Rockford, Ill.
Teresa J. Ingrassia, MBA ’86/’00 L.H.D. Community Leader Rockford, Ill.
Charles P.A. Frankenthal Phelps, Wis. Kenelm A. Groff Retired-V.P. Sundstrand Corporation Rockford, Ill.
Richard M. Schilling, Sr. Retired-Vice Pres Chief Legal Counsel Sundstrand Corporation Rockford, Ill. Louise Sinclaire, ’57 Retired, Docent at Dumbarton Oaks Williamsburg, Va.
Kent A. Mallquist, ’97 L.H.D. Retired -President Alhark Corporation Laguna Vista, Tex.
Stanton K. Smith, Jr. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flon New York, N.Y.
Angelo Spoto Retired First Vice President Kemper Securities, Inc. Rockford, Ill. James S. Whitehead, J.D., ’04 L.H.D.
Retired-Chairman & President Whitehead Realtors, Inc. Rockford, Ill. John B. Whitehead, ’83 L.H.D. Retired-Chairman & President Whitehead Realtors, Inc. Rockford, Ill.
PRESIDENT EMERITI
Robert L. Head, Ph.D.
William A. Shields, Ph.D., ’01H
Honorary Designations L.H.D. – Doctor of Humane Letters LL.D. – Doctor of Laws H – Honorary Alumni
5
2018 Phi Beta Kappa inductee Haley Foster signs the Rockford University register.
RICH ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES
A KEY THAT OPENS MUCH MORE THAN DOORS AT RU February 21, 2018 marked the 65th anniversary of Rockford University being granted a charter in Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate academic honor society, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. The PBK Chapter at Rockford University (Eta of Illinois) was established in 1953 after a daunting 30 year process. Upon his arrival in 1919 as president, William Arthur Maddox, a PBK key holder himself, set about to secure for Rockford College a chapter of PBK. He quickly learned that the lack of depth and relevance in the college's library holdings and antiquated science facilities were two factors that prevented RC from attaining its goal during an early 1920s application process; the Great Depression and the untimely death of Maddox put institutional dreams on hold indefinitely. In 1937, a fresh-faced Mary Ashby Cheek picked up the mantle. A 1936 charter application had fallen just short of approval. Even in the face of a weak economy, the college spearheaded the construction of Sherratt Library, dedicated in 1940. Dr. Cheek set about to bolster the national and international reputation of the university, all topped off with the construction and dedication of the modern Jewett Science
Labs in 1950. By then the Library’s holdings had nearly doubled to 19,000 volumes. With its academic quality always a constant, a 1950 reapplication to PBK finally gained acceptance three years later. The first RC inductee, Judith Sophianopoulos `53, went on to enjoy a rewarding career as an analytical chemist with the Environmental Protection Agency, studying and fighting against groundwater contamination. Outside that concentrated commitment, she still maintains a special interest in Equine Rescue, a concern coincidentally shared by PBK recipient Paul Messenrich `86, who along with his wife, Jodi, is dedicated to that enterprise, having founded Zuma’s Rescue Ranch in Littleton, Colorado. The faces of those who followed in Judith’s steps are a collage of excellence that include pioneering surgeons of the heart and brain, physicians of every ilk, historians across the spectrum, university leaders, a host of attorneys, civil servants, an army of teachers, defenders of those disenfranchised, authors of fiction (and not), even an Emmy award winner, and for good measure a “Jeopardy-champion-directorof-music-professor-of-mathematics-andforeign-language” all rolled into one. All told, keys have been awarded to more than 400 individuals who have positively embodied the spirit that is PBK and Rockford University. And for those of you who wonder what our more recent recipients are up to, try this on for size. Upon graduation in May of 2018 and being inducted into PBK, 7
Noah Neiber had already been accepted into the historical theology program at Marquette University in pursuit of his Ph.D. Shortly thereafter he learned that his submission, “Desire is the Mark of the Creature: The Influence of Platonic Divine Eros upon the Augustinian Theological Construction of Love,” had been selected to appear in the 2018 edition of, Ephemeris - The Journal of Philosophy, a publication of Union College. Who knows what’s next for Noah or many of our near-term graduates?
The first speaker, Rockford College President John A. Howard addressed that year’s theme, “Causes for Optimism,” with his speech entitled, “The Glory, Jest and Riddle of the World.” Dr. Howard was followed by mayor of Indianapolis, Richard Lugar, Poet Laureate of Illinois, Gwendolyn Brooks, microbiologist, René Dubos, theologian, D. Elton Trueblood, political theorist, Martin Diamond, former president of Rockford College, Mary Ashby Cheek, and poet/translator, John Ciardi.
There are 290 chapters of Phi Beta Kappa in the nation, and Rockford University is one of just 11 colleges and universities in Illinois with the distinction of sheltering a chapter; that exclusive distinction is a testament to the individuals who worked so tirelessly to attain that status and to those who maintain Phi Beta Kappa as a beacon to those who aspire to enjoy its enrichment and benefits.
Over the years, the list of individuals who presented their thoughts and ideas reads like a who’s who among thinkers, worldwide. Luminaries such as Joseph Campbell, Shirley Chisolm, Milton Friedman, Abba Eban, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross, Dr. Ernest Boyer and Corrie Ten Boom were a staple of Forum’s early years.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE . . . Since the days of Blanche Walker Burpee in 1895, when students rolled casks of substandard butter into the Rock River in protest, cafeteria food has been a popular topic of grumbles and objections made by undergraduates; and yet, to date no one has expired eating its offerings. Since September 13, 1972, the Forum Series at Rockford University has likewise been viewed by matriculants as if it was a side dish of unsalted, boiled Brussels sprouts accompanying a steak dinner; students know that it is good for them, but it sometimes doesn’t make it any easier going down. The Forum Series was established as an effort to bolster and support the “intellectual food” that had been prescribed in the early 1960s with the general education curriculum; it provided a multi-disciplinary exposure through lectures and performances on a variety of intellectual, social, and cultural matters of general interest, in order to deepen and broaden students’ education at Rockford University. Each year, the Forum Series offered up eight speakers (typically at noon). Attendance by fulltime students at each of the eight presentations was required in order to continue matriculating toward commencement. Furthermore, immediately following each convocation, discussion groups with a maximum of 25 students each, led by select faculty and staff were conducted at locations spread across campus. 8
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
The topics covered were just as diverse and farranging – Abortion, the American Revolution, Genetic Engineering, the Bill of Rights, Capital Punishment, Japanese Trade, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Anatomy of the Brain – revolving around themes such as “Against the Odds, “Education at Risk,” and “The Baroque.” In celebration of its 45th anniversary, it is important to note that Forum Series is alive and well. Each year, more than 20 offerings are provided. Attendance is required for four each year. Because of our increasingly age-diverse student body and in an effort to encourage attendance by those in the Rockford community, Forum offerings are offered at a variety of times. In fiscal 2018 alone, topics included the use of mathematical algorithms in the composition of music, honor killings, the true cost of borrowing, bringing civic engagement into the science classroom, the Holocaust, transgender and immigrant rights, and the effects of storytelling on human behavior. While attitudes of students remain largely unchanged through the years, a popular topic among many of those who return for Reunions is the memorable and life-changing effect that Forum has had on Alumni as they continue along their path to life-long-learning and discernment.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara robes for his address for the 2018 Charter Day Convocation on February 26, 2018
Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, Forum Series guest, April 10, 2018
Alumna and best-selling author Jacquelin Michaud '73, Forum Series guest, February 15, 2018
9
Puri School of Business - Bloomberg Business Lab
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES
STOCKS AND BONDS AND BEARS, OH MY!
A
s part of our Rock Solid and Ready
campaign, trustee Sunil Puri '82, made a commitment to establish a business school of sufficient quality to bear his name. Part of that commitment called for the faculty of the Economics, Business and Accounting department to establish the Bloomberg Business Lab, a state-of the art business lab that provides current and historical data for use by our students as they attain practical experiences that they can leverage in the pursuit of careers in finance, economics, accounting and other business fields. Set to begin construction on July 3, 2017, a devastating storm on June 28, 2017 brought with it extensive water damage to the university’s 5100 East State Street building. So, plans were delayed several months until conditions could be set right for the lab’s installation. On February 27, 2018, the University officially opened its Bloomberg Business Lab featuring the Bloomberg Professional service that had kicked-off earlier in the spring semester. The Bloomberg Business Lab features 11 state-of-the-art terminals and is the only lab in the Rockford area offering access to such a broad range of global business resources. Students directly link to the more than 320,000 leading business and financial subscribers worldwide. Orhan Erdem, Ph.D., visiting associate professor in the Puri School of Business explains,
“The Bloomberg Business Lab introduces students to real finance industry that encompass high volatility and enormous risks. Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to convert theoretical information into applicable skills and handson experience, preparing them for a global business environment and a competitive job market.” Bloomberg Professional Services, Bloomberg’s core offering, is a software platform that provides trusted real-time and historical data, market moving news and analytics to help business and financial professionals make informed investment decisions. The service also features execution platforms for every asset class, a library of research content, and a global network to communicate securely and reliably. The Puri School of Business in which the Lab is housed is home to the Department of Economics, Business and Accounting, including the Master of Business Administration, Executive Development and Adult Accelerated Degree Completion programs. The academic programs offered by the department are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
11
"LET US CULTIVATE OUR GARDEN" Those are the words of the title character in Bernstein, Wheeler and Wilber’s musical version of Voltaire’s, Candide. Here in our urban garden our students are periodically presented with opportunities not available at all liberal arts universities. Over the past several years, the performing arts department at Rockford University has worked hard to earn an international reputation for quality and excellence, most notably achieved through its 2016 participation in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, “the single biggest celebration of arts and culture on the planet.” The university was one of only four private liberal arts universities from the United States invited to participate. Enrollment of performing arts majors has nearly doubled; a concentration in theatre design/tech has been added, along with the reinstitution of a dance minor to augment the musical theatre concentration, have among other actions, contributed to the program's growth and positive reputation. The city of Rockford is home to a strong regional orchestra, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO). With the orchestra serving as medium and fertilizer, we planted our seeds, the students of our internationally recognized performing arts program. And like Jack and the Beanstalk the results were dramatic. The university’s mainstage productions number four each year, two of which are musicals. Students have the chance to explore a wide variety of musical theatre genres, most often supported by a typical pit band or small music ensemble. With the selection of the operetta, Candide, performed at Rockford University during a city-wide festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of composer Leonard Bernstein’s birth, not only were Rockford theatre audiences afforded the opportunity to attend a musical theatre production that utilized live orchestral music, performed by the RSO, but students had the chance to work on a much more complex musical score, while learning the intricacies of working with a professional orchestra under the baton of award winning conductor Steven Larsen. This is just one of many examples of ways in which the University seeks out ways in which to provide practical experiences to augment classroom learning. 12
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
The lavish and complex production of 'Candide' ran April 19-22, 2018 on the Maddox Theatre stage.
Rockford Symphony Orchestra members in the pit for "Candide"
13
Center - Greg Mortensen and film-maker Jennifer Jordan (to his left) at the screening of "3000 Cups of Tea: The Mission and the Madness"
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
PEACE IN ALL TIMES
R
ockford University has long been connected to the study and advancement of peace, inclusivity, and equality. The most widely celebrated moment came with the recognition of alumna Jane Addams as the Nobel Laureate of Peace in 1931. Throughout the years following, that commitment has manifested itself in a variety of ways as world situations and sentiment allowed or demanded.
advocate, Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
Most recently the university has actively celebrated International Day of Peace along with the Rock River Valley Peace Coalition, an organization whose work is driven by Immediate Past Chair of the Rockford University Trustees, Jim Keeling. Locally, the Peace Coalition and Rockford University organize a number of Connect2Peace events to engage our community on this important topic.
The 2017-18 year marked the 10th anniversary of our university’s most recent annual commitment. The September 2017 event featured author, filmmaker and screenwriter Jennifer Jordan, who screened her new documentary, 3000 Cups of Tea: The Mission and the Madness, which addresses allegations made against philanthropist Greg Mortensen, who had been accused of misappropriating charitable funds stemming from his Pennies for Peace project. President Eric W. Fulcomer moderated a Q&A-style interview with Jordan after the viewing. Attending the event and making himself available for questions and discussion with the audience, as a last minute surprise and in a rare public appearance, Greg Mortensen decided to join Jordan in Rockford.
Initiated in 2008 with a concerted support of Pennies for Peace, a grassroots fundraising effort to build schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the university first engaged in a formal way in the fall of 2009 with the community-wide appearance of humanitarian, Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea, founder of the Central Asia Institute, and creator of Pennies for Peace. During the years that followed, the university has played host to the likes of Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary) for the elocution of Operation Respect, an endeavor that focuses on creating safe, caring, bullyfree environments for children around the world. 2014 saw an appearance from peace
In 2015, in the wake or the Ferguson, Missouri tragedy and following close on the heels of the church shooting in Charleston, SC, we convened individuals with intimate knowledge of both incidents for a panel discussion on race relations and how we, as a community, walk the line between justice, protest and violence.
In all, this ongoing commitment is a wonderful opportunity for our students to augment their classroom learning while providing members of the Rockford Community a chance to expand their own minds and strengthen our university’s relationship to “Town and Gown.”
15
AN INTERSECTION OF LIVES The university’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program is a vibrant element of our international footprint. Students come to Rockford University for short-term study of the English language. Upon the completion of their individual program, some students move on to pursue studies at other colleges and universities, while others stay here to complete their bachelor or master degrees. Of the 120 international students enrolled at the university, 49 are enrolled in ESL. One of the University’s distinguishing characteristics has always been its low student to teacher ratio; it allows for intimate and spirited discourse led one-on-one by our faculty, no matter what discipline a student pursues. By its nature the psychology department is committed to fostering an understanding of the human mind in general, particularly as it relates to the root elements of cognition. A course-offering in the University’s undergraduate program, Cross-Cultural Interaction, PSYCH 280, serves as a perfect agar for the cultivation and growth of understanding and acceptance across cultures while providing individuals with some insight into their own perceptions and values. In 2017-18, each Friday, the cross-cultural psychology class started to meet with an ESL class to interface in a unique way while opening the door for wideranging discussions. Students are given the freedom to discuss cultural differences in a controlled environment that allows for the free exchange of ideas and perceptions. A simple question like, “Why are you here at Rockford University?,” suddenly becomes for each student, no matter what their geographic origin, a more profound topic for thoughtful contemplation, that oftentimes 20-year olds are not given to think about. In some cases, students hail from countries that do not always see eye-to-eye with decisions made by the United States, and vice versa. In this setting those boundaries are easier to bridge, given the genuine curiosity of the human spirit to understand and co-exist. Students are afforded the opportunity to dive in and are encouraged to remain vulnerable and honest with their classmates and themselves – to understand and not to fear. An ancillary benefit of the class is the creation of new friendships that might not have happened naturally in a social setting, but that are created in the classroom and extended across campus. 16
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
The Multicultural club hosts several events throughout the year, including 50-minutes Around the World, and pictured below, the annual popular campus and community event, the International Food Festival.
17
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Library Holdings
622,639 Total assets in Rockford University Library in 2018
Accreditations: The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools 230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL, 60604-1413 Phone - 800-621-7440 https://www.hlcommission.org/ Accredited and Approved Programs Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, Georgia 30326 Phone - 404-975-5000 . Fax- 404-975-5020 www.acenursing.org American Chemical Society 1155 Sixteenth St. NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone - 800-227-5558 www.acs.org
20
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
Illinois State Board of Education Professional Preparation and Recruitment 100 N. First St. Springfield, IL 62777 Phone - 217-782-4321 www.isbe.net International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education P.O. Box 3960 Olathe, KS 66063 Phone - 913-631-3009 www.iacbe.org
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Most Popular Programs - Bachelors Degrees Conferred
Study Abroad Partner Institutions
Rockford University has 18 student-driven and run registered clubs and organizations?
China • Capital University of Economics and Business • Shanghai University’s SILC Business School • Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange – IGEC University Network • Jiangsu Technological University
England - Regent’s University, London Japan – Kobe College Spain – University of Santiago de Compostela Sweden – University of Skövde
21
BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS Endowment Trusts
Revenues
3,196,098
1,716,371 2,017,296
11%
7%
6%
Total Revenues
5%
$29.6
21,303,700
72
%
(in Millions)
1,412,090
Expenses 1,713,333 7%
8%
2
7,220,788
Total Expenses
3 8%
$25.9 7%
(in Millions)
1,900,474
21%
9,806,929
22
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
5,323,319
BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS
Total Liabilities 15000000
Rockford University’s Total Liabilities for FY18:
12000000
$12.4 Million
9000000 6000000 3000000 0
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
FY14
FY15
FY16
FY17
FY18
Total Net Assets Rockford University’s Total Net Assets for FY18:
$38.2 Million
23
BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS Statement of Financial Position As of June 30, 2018 and 2017
2018
2017
$5,983,951
$4,642,389
1,236,332
1,117,448
152,033
191,638
Governmental loan receivables
1,971,342
2,036,968
Student loans and other grants receivables
1,340,649
3,393,974
Inventories, prepaid expenses and other assets
343,580
276,184
Irrevocable trust receivable, net
538,982
542,704
Investments
140,399
137,405
Endowment investments
8,667,248
8,000,153
Property, plant and equipment, net
18,323,674
16,419,188
Beneficial interest in trust held by others
11,941,125
11,464,403
$50,639,315
$48,222,454
Accounts payable
$898,215
$916,132
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes
1,116,018
1,402,411
152,018
124,010
Other deferred income and liabilities
1,194,278
1,679,180
Leases and other obligations
3,276,112
3,300,231
218,484
208,080
Bonds payable
4,196,866
4,379,800
Government loans payable
1,392,702
1,698,700
$12,444,693
$13,708,544
Unrestricted (deficit)
(762,973)
(3,129,055)
Temporarily restricted
17,766,232
16,875,131
Permanently restricted
21,191,363
20,767,834
38,194,622
34,513,910
$50,639,315
$48,222,454
ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Notes and accounts receivable, net Promises to contribute, net
TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS LIABILITIES
Other claims payable
Asset retirement obligation
TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS
TOTAL NET ASSETS
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
24
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS Statement of Activities For the Year Ended June 30, 2018
2018
2017
Unrestricted
Temporarily Restricted
Permanently Restricted
Total
2016 Total
Student tuition and fees
$30,262,952
$-
$-
$30,262,952
$31,180,667
Less: student financial aid
(10,647,333)
-
-
(10,647,333)
(10,767,439)
Other enrollment revenue
1,688,081
-
1,688,081
1,930,287
Net Tuition Revenue
21,303,700
-
-
21,303,700
22,343,515
Auxiliary enterprises
1,412,090
-
-
1,412,090
1,598,239
Gifts, grants, and bequests
1,698,223
1,378,316
119,559
3,196,098
7,633,326
Endowment income
-
728,734
-
728,734
1,073,481
Investment income
(8,986)
9,276
-
290
19,211
Change in investment market value
177,041
352,190
-
529,231
422,933
Change in value of derivative instruments
154,146
-
-
154,146
279,525
-
-
303,970
303,970
516,065
Miscellaneous
1,985,457
31,839
-
2,017,296
19,981
Net assets released from restrictions
1,609,254
(1,609,254)
-
-
-
28,330,925
891,101
423,529
29,645,555
33,906,276
Instruction
7,220,788
-
-
7,220,788
7,457,922
Academic support
1,900,474
-
-
1,900,474
2,182,124
Student services
5,323,319
-
-
5,323,319
5,226,743
Institutional support
9,806,929
-
-
9,806,929
9,835,093
Auxiliary enterprises
1,713,333
-
-
1,713,333
1,752,911
25,964,843
-
-
25,964,843
26,454,793
2,366,082
891,101
423,529
3,680,712
7,451,483
(3,129,055)
16,875,131
20,767,834
34,513,910
27,062,427
$(762,973)
$17,766,232
REVENUES AND OTHER SUPPORT Education and General Revenues
Change in value of funds held in trust by others
Total Revenues and Other Support EXPENSES
Total Expenses Change in net assets NET ASSETS (DEFICIT), Beginning of Year NET ASSETS (DEFICIT), END OF YEAR
$21,191,363 $38,194,622 $34,513,910
25
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
5 Year Enrollment Summary
24% Of students in graduating classes identify as
1262
non-caucasion
5 Year International Student Growth
Total International Students
16
93
68
Diverse Population 49
437 students report being over the age of 25
26
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Fall 2017 Census Registration Summary
898
914
664
654
628 549
465
26% of Full-Time Undergraduate
400
students compete in one or more 15 NCAA Division III 120
120
intercollegiate sports teams
27
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Donor Categories for FY18 Giving
Campaign Categories
4.5%
2
Seaver/ Event
9%
4% 35
%
23
Acad. Enhan.
7%
6%
%
65%
Charter FY14-18
$17.3
Opp. Expend
2 2%
(in Millions)
(in Millions)
Total Goal
$3.1
Opp. Endow
Total Donations
%
Starr Science
6
States with the highest number of alumni, parents, and friends Wisconsin
845
Minnesota
201
WA 126 MT 17
OR 64
ID 26
NV 39
SD 15
VT 11
IA 122
CO 220
IN 140
KS 27
NM 57
OK 21
MO 111
MS 17
Arizona
263
WV 8
NJ 46
WV 117
MD 60 DC 11
NC 144
TN 73 AL 33
ME 24
PA 73
OH 131 KY 46
AR 26
NH 12
NY 141
MI 150
NE 31 UT 22
9,937
ND 7
WY 10
California
434
Illinois
GA 139
SC 66
LA 23
Texas
258 HI 21
28
Annual Report
AK 9
Rockford University 2017–2018
Florida
424
MA 92 RI 13 CT 55 DE 8
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Online Giving Number of Gifts and Dollar Amount Given
FY18
FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18
29
OUR YEAR
IN REVIEW CAMPAIGN CORNER
REGGIE GETS SOME TEETH
Subsequent to its public announcement on October 8, 2015, Rock Solid and Ready: the Campaign for Rockford University has made incremental progress. What follows are a few snapshots of accomplishments made against the goals of the campaign.
In 1962 the intercollegiate athletic teams at Rockford University took the name of Regents as their moniker, with no particular personification or “animal-ification” ever taking hold. Not until 1983, with the artistic rendering of Reggie the Regent Lion by Donna Addison `84 did the Regents have a mascot image upon which it could build and prosper. On October 7, 2016 a modern manifestation of Reggie came to life courtesy of a rendering provided by alumnus Rich Pine `76. His light and lively Reggie came to life in a sophisticated costume that really took hold of our collective consciousness.
A STARR RISING Rock Solid and Ready called for $1.2 million to be earmarked for the renovation of main floor classrooms and public spaces in the Starr Science Building along with the acquisition of select scientific equipment. Constructed in 1967, Starr was one of the last classroom buildings to have been touched with modern advancements. An October 7, 2017 celebration marked the grand reveal and public acknowledgement of the project’s donors and supporters.
RAISING THE BARRE The fall of 2017 saw the unveiling of a newly renovated dance studio in Clark Arts Center. Constructed in 1968, the original hard surface, along with its lighting and sound systems, reflective glass, and dance barres were no longer suited to meet the highest standards of what the 21st century should provide. A new interlocking system of sprung floor panels now helps prevent injuries and counter fatigue. A reversible, interwoven vinyl floor is hard-wearing and slip resistant. The room now embodies all of what the university seeks as it strives to set new standards for all our classroom spaces and provide for the best in student experience.
CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING Rock Solid & Ready has made available $100,000 each year to support co-curricular activities that range from our students’ participation in or attendance at educational conferences and seminars to travel abroad for crosscultural enlightenment. Such was the case in January of 2018. Dr. Sharon Bartlett, Associate Professor of French; Department Chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and Director of Gender Studies escorted a group of students to France. They purposefully lived in a very diverse neighborhood, off the beaten path, so they got to see a very realistic side of Paris, while visiting the most famous attractions and really sharpening their knowledge of the French-speaking world. Each student took turns navigating the group from place to place, suggesting restaurants, shopping for food and supplies, etc. They had ample opportunities to apply their language and culture skills. This blog gives a taste of some of the experiences the students had. https://ruinfrancejan2018.blogspot.com/
30
Annual Report
Rockford University 2017–2018
As many colleges and universities have done in the recent past, RU then set about the business of creating a “Rough and Ready Reggie” for use in its print and electronic communications. This juxtaposition allows for more flexibility in the graphic representation of Reggie and the Regents. RU Athletics worked with nationally known and recognized design firm Rickabaugh Graphics to create the Regents’ new sleek and modern identity. Rickabaugh Graphics has created branded materials for other high-profile institutions such as: The Ohio State University, Texas A&M University, The University of Iowa, the NFL, the NBA and many more. As seen in accompanying photos, October 25, 2017 marked the official unveiling of the logos.
HANGING OF THE GREENS On November 29, 2017, thanks to the drive and energy of alumni Tom `85 and Linda Ploenzke Sandquist `85, there was revived a tradition that dates back to December 10, 1943, the annual Hanging of the Greens. For many of those 74 years students of both the old and new campus would plan, organize and adorn public spaces across campus with festive greens in recognition of the coming Christmas holiday. Over the years the tradition took on many faces, oftentimes coupled with a celebration that featured the raising of enormous trees that were decorated with ornaments donated by RU Alumni from around the world. In an event held at the Johnson Alumni Center, current students and alumni from five decades came together for an evening of wassail, caroling by the Vocal Collective, and celebration. “Veteran Greens Hangers” from days gone by traded war stories of their fun and frivolity in touching tales that went a long way to connecting generations of all RU revelers.
Introducing the new athletic logo suite, October 2017
Emcee Bern Sundstedt '77, Gala 2018 -"Ready. Set. Go! A Race to the Finish
Hanging of the Greens, December 2017
Set production for 'Xanadu' - October 5-9, 2017
31
Institutional Advancement 5050 E. State St. Rockford, IL 61108 815.394.5041 • rockford.edu