Trustees Approve Budget, Announce $1 Million Gift

At its January 22 meeting, the Cedarville University board of trustees approved the 2021-22 budget, faculty tenure and promotions, and announced a $1 million gift from the Berry Family Foundation.   

Berry Center for Free Enterprise

The pledge by the Berry Family and the Charles D. Berry Foundations of Dayton, Ohio, will aid in the construction of the Lorne C. Scharnberg Business Center on Cedarville’s campus — one of the hallmark facilities planned as part of the university’s 10-year campus master plan — and establish the Berry Center for Free Enterprise within the school of business administration.

“We are delighted to support Cedarville University and all that it represents to our community,” said John W. Berry. “I feel that the establishment of the Berry Center for Free Enterprise is a real tribute to Loren Berry and John Berry, the guiding force of Berry Company. My grandfather was a big believer in free enterprise and supported organizations that perpetuated opportunities for all to achieve.”

The Berry Family supports free enterprise and entrepreneurism and seeks to foster initiatives that improve the quality of life for people in the Dayton area, having contributed more than $100 million to more than 100 local organizations over the past 60 years.

“We are humbled and grateful for the support of the Berry Family Foundation,” commented Thomas White, president of Cedarville University. “Through their generosity, we will continue to develop facilities and programs that transform lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship. We offer our thanks and pray for God’s help in stewarding this gift well.”

The university’s school of business administration, known for leadership in biblical integration across its array of innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, is Cedarville’s third largest academic unit with 441 undergraduate students enrolled in its eight undergraduate majors. The school also offers a fully online Master of Business Administration with five available tracks including cybersecurity management, business analytics, and innovation and entrepreneurship. In 2019, the school established the Beyond Startup Accelerator program that connects rising entrepreneurs with existing organizations, investor funding, and business mentors.

2021-22 Budget

Cedarville’s operating budget for 2021-22 will be $105.2 million. The budget is driven by strong enrollment growth, even with declining national trends among private and public universities and amid a global pandemic. As the university has seen continued growth in its undergraduate and graduate programs, Cedarville has recorded 14 consecutive record enrollments.

Tuition for undergraduate students will increase a modest 2.5% next fall. Students enrolled in the university’s business, nursing, and ministry graduate programs will see no increase in tuition for the second straight year. Students pursuing a professional degree in pharmacy will be charged $38,482, which is the lowest tuition rate among pharmacy programs at Ohio’s private universities and is fourth lowest among all Ohio pharmacy programs.

Prioritizing the importance of the residential experience, the trustees approved a minimal $112 increase for students living in a residence hall and an $86 boost in board charges. The 2021-22 charge for room and board will total $8,120, which remains one of the lowest room and board rates among Ohio’s colleges and universities.

Faculty Tenure and Promotions

The following eight faculty members received tenure:

• Kristin DeWitt, Psy.D, professor of psychology
• Seth Hamman, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science
• Adam Hammett, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics
• Zachary Jenkins, Pharm.D., R.Ph., associate professor of pharmacy practice
• William (Billy) Marsh, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology; director of the M.Div. program
• Michael Shepherd, Ph.D., associate professor of biblical studies
• Rebecca (Becky) Wagner, Ed.D., RN, associate professor of nursing
• Michelle Wood, Ph.D., associate professor of English

The following faculty members received promotions:

• Nicholas Carrington, Ph.D., to associate professor of professional writing
• William (Billy) Marsh, Ph.D., to associate professor of theology
• Mischelle McIntosh, M.A., to associate professor of communication
• Adam Hammett, Ph.D., to professor of mathematics
• Frederick Harmon, Ph.D., to professor of electrical engineering
• Aaron Hutchison, Ph.D., to professor of chemistry
• Michael Shepherd, Ph.D., to professor of biblical studies
• Betty (Ruth) Sylvester, Ph.D., to professor of education
• Michelle Wood, Ph.D., to professor of English
• Sandra Yang, Ph.D., to professor of music history
• George Huff, Jr., M.S.S.A, to senior professor of social work

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.