Bluffton University news
Civil rights
Dr. Todd Allen, spoke at Forum, pondered the saying “history never repeats itself, but it rhymes.”
Cross-cultural
We will hear from students who traveled to Czech Republic, Southwest Native Nations, and Washington, D.C., in the morning and Guatemala, Kentucky, Korea and South Texas in the evening.
Myers Colloquium
Myers will discuss a new way of analyzing data taken from deuteron Compton scattering. This event is free and open to the public.
Art show
This event will be in the Grace Albrecht Gallery of Sauder Visual Arts Center. The artists will share about their work and answer questions at 10:30 a.m.
Steady enrollment
While the number of first-year, full-time students at Bluffton is slightly down for fall 2022, the number of full-time equivalent students - undergraduate and graduate - is steady at 730.
Endowed chair
An anonymous gift of $1.5 million will fund the M'Della Moon Endowed Chair in Botany and Environmental Science. This chair will manage the Nature Preserve and teaching university classes.
Homecoming
Along with cheering on the Beavers football, golf and soccer teams, the university will host alumni gatherings, campus tours, food trucks, Beaver Tail-Gating and more.
Electoral College
The Electoral College was controversial at the founding of the United States and has continued to be a lightning rod. Insight into this system was provided at the Constitutional Day Forum.
MSW program offered
Classes for a Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate degree with a mental health specialization will begin in the 2023-24 academic year.
Road to Freedom
Dr. Todd Allen, vice-president for diversity affairs at Messiah University, will present the Forum "On the Road to Freedom: Moving the Race Conversation Forward."
The Cuts is open
A new hair salon/barbershop is open in the Multicultural Student Development Center. Stylists from FreshNFaded in Lima will provide hair services by appointment on Sunday afternoons.
Swim coach hired
Dr. Luke Kleman has been named interim head swimming and diving coach.
U.S. News ranking
Bluffton University has once again - for the 25th consecutive year - been named to the top tier of Midwest Regional Colleges in the "U.S. News & World Report" rankings.
An educated person
During her annual State of the University address President Jane Wood called on the campus community to focus on authentic conversations of "responsible citizenship" and "service to all peoples."
"Messiah" rehearsals
Rehearsals for Bluffton's 128th performance of Handel's "Messiah" will begin Sept. 20. Anyone interested in singing, from high school students to adults, is invited to join the chorus.
Anabaptist vision
Dr. Gerald J. Mast, professor of communication, will present the Friday Colloquium, "Recovering True Evangelical Faith: How Menno Corrects the Anabaptist Vision," on Friday, Sept. 16.
Constitution Day
Dr. Rob Alexander, director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University, will present "The Ever-Controversial Electoral College," for Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Lessons from failure
A corporate executive for 18 years, 2006 Bluffton graduate Bethny Ricks spoke at Opening Convocation. Instead of sharing about her success, Ricks shared seven lessons "forged out of my tears."
Media bias
Vanessa Otero, founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media, will present "Navigating the News Media with the Media Bias Chart" during Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Under the lights
Bluffton University's first football game under newly installed stadium lights is scheduled for the Beavers' home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, against Adrian College.
Seeking truth
Dr. Jane Wood, president, will present the State of the University Forum "Authentically Calling In: Seeking Truth with the Ear of the Heart," on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Opening convocation
Bethny Ricks, a speaker, author, leadership expert and 2006 Bluffton graduate, will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, Aug. 30 as Bluffton welcomes the class of 2026 during Opening Convocation.
The ritual of artmaking
"Polishing the Mirror," a collection of works by faculty-artists Andreas Baumgartner '08, Jim Fultz, T.R. Steiner and Philip Sugden, will be displayed Aug. 29-Oct. 15, in Sauder Visual Arts Center.
Stadium guidelines
Stadium lights have been installed at Salzman Stadium. The university has set new outdoor lighting and noise guidelines for the facility as its usage increases.
Award-winning program
The President's Ambassadors Program has been recognized with a 2022 Independent College Advancement Associates (ICAA) Program of Excellence Award.
New ticket process
Bluffton is partnering with HomeTown Ticketing for all university alumni, athletics, music and theatre events where tickets are required.
Cross Country Coach Hired
Bluffton University has named Connor Gulick as head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. Gulick returns to Bluffton following two years of collegiate coaching experience.
BoT Spring Meeting
The board continued its year-long efforts on implementing best practices for engaged boards, met with the university's new co-source fiscal partner, Cliffton, Larson, Allen (CLA) officer and learned about student-retention efforts.
Lion and Lamb Plans
Bluffton University is committed to continuing the important work of the Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center and will build on new experiential learning opportunities in fall 2022.
Alumni Discount
In recognition of the significant contributions Bluffton alumni make to the institution and in their respective communities, Bluffton University is helping graduates continue their education through the Bluffton University Alumni Master's Degree Grant.
College of Distinction
Bluffton University has been recognized for excelling in the areas of student engagement, teaching, community and successful outcomes by Colleges of Distinction.
Marpeck Deans Conference
Faculty from eight Mennonite institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada came together for the Marpeck Deans Conference hosted by Bluffton University.
Presidential Scholars
Zael Coblentz and Ella Meyer, incoming students at Bluffton University, have been awarded the university's full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, valued at nearly $140,000 for four years.
Transfer honor roll
Bluffton was recently named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's 2022 Transfer Honor Roll in recognition of the dynamic pathways the university has created to support transfer students.
Ready to build a life
"We believe that Bluffton graduates are prepared for life as well as vocation, for responsible citizenship, for service to all peoples and, ultimately, for the purposes of God's universal kingdom."