Forum features presidents from four Middle Tennessee institutions

by Jessica Howard

The leaders from four Middle Tennessee colleges and universities spoke about the challenges they face at their respective institutions March 27, as part of the Chancellor's University Leadership Forum.

The forum, initiated by Chancellor Gordon Gee in the fall semester of 2000, is a series of informative meetings attended by Vanderbilt's vice chancellors and their senior leaders, the executive committee of the Faculty Senate, and the presidents of the staff councils and presidents of the major student organizations.

Belmont University's Robert C. Fisher, Columbia State Community College's Rebecca Hawkins, Austin Peay State University's Sherry Hoppe and Fisk University's Carolynn Reid-Wallace participated in a panel at the forum. The four presidents spoke briefly about the demographics of their institutions and the communities they serve.

With a student body of 7,200, Austin Peay State University in Clarksville is the smallest university in the Tennessee Board of Regents, said Hoppe. She said the school places a strong emphasis on liberal arts, sciences and educational programs and has a student/teacher ratio of 19 to one. The average age of students is 25 years old, and 18 percent of the population is African American. Hoppe identified challenges as funding and educating the public, stating that only 18 percent of Tennesseans hold a baccalaureate degree.

"We need to invest in higher education," she said.

Founded in 1966, Columbia State Community College -- approximately 50 miles south of Nashville -- is the first of its kind in Tennessee. Serving nine counties, 50 percent of Columbia State's 4,500 students transfer to another institution to earn a baccalaureate or graduate degree, said Hawkins. The average student age is 27 years old; Columbia State has an 11 percent minority population. She identified the greatest strength of Middle Tennessee's institutions is their diversity.

"There is a myriad of opportunities for people within a 50-mile radius," Hawkins said.

Known as a historically black liberal arts institution, Fisk University in Nashville was established 135 years ago and boasts a 95 percent retention rate. Alumni William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, Aaron Douglas and Nikki Giovanni are among the university's distinguished graduates. The 875 students currently enrolled at Fisk represent 47 states and seven countries. The university is currently in the process of bolstering its international student population, Reid-Wallace said, as well as seeking additional funding.

"We are a very small, under-funded and interesting institution," said Reid-Wallace.

Belmont University is a 112-year-old faith-based liberal arts university in Nashville with an enrollment of 3,129 students. Approximately 1,100 students are music majors or music business majors. Fisher identified major issues at Belmont as growth and diversity.