The Secret is Out

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Those familiar with Gardner-Webb University have often affectionately called I the “nation’s best kept secret.” But after the string of prestigious national honors Gardner-Webb has won in 2011, it is clear that the University’s unique commitment to academic excellence, Christian faith, and community service is not so secret after all.

Gardner-Webb is one of the nation’s best colleges to work for, according to a new survey released by the Chronicle of Higher Education on Monday, July 25. The results, released in the Chronicle’s fourth annual report on the academic workplace, are based on a survey of nearly 44,000 employees at 310 colleges and universities. In all, only 111 of the 310 institutions achieved “Great Colleges to Work For” recognition. Gardner-Webb won honors in two specific categories this year: “Confidence in Senior Leadership,” and “Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship.”

But the Chronicle’s “Great Colleges” designation is only the latest national honor. For exhibiting what it calls “institutionalized community engagement,” the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected Gardner-Webb for the Community Engagement Classification. Of the thousands of institutions nationwide, Gardner-Webb is now among only 311 schools to have earned the distinction since the Classification’s inception in 2006.

Gardner-Webb was also named, for the fourth consecutive year, to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. Said GWU Associate Provost Dr. Gayle Price, the Carnegie Classification and the President’s Honor Roll together signal that service “isn’t just an attachment to our mission at Gardner-Webb, but it is organically integrated into all aspects of our University’s identity.”

Finally, Gardner-Webb is one of the nation’s top 10 schools for mobilizing student missionaries through the North American Mission Board (NAMB). For that distinction, NAMB awarded GWU its distinguished Courts Redford Award for Excellence in Student Mobilization. In 2010, one in every 15 residential students participated in University mission trips to places like Eastern Tennessee, Guatemala, and Northern Ireland.

“Because Gardner-Webb has sent significant numbers of students to serve in evangelism and church planting projects, new churches have been started and people have heard the Good News of Jesus for the first time,” said NAMB spokesperson Van Simmons. Added Dr. Tracy Jessup, Vice President for Christian Life and Service, “Our students have a great desire to serve. They embrace not just a passive faith that is more intellectual and emotional, but an active faith that incorporates the heart, head and hands. That is part of who they are—it’s a lifestyle we should all emulate.”

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