Bluffton University news

Nursing classroom under tutelage of Dr. Sherri Winegardner.

$2 million estate gift

Nursing students will benefit from a new scholarship funded by an estate gift from the trust of Hazel Robinson.


Madison Brunswick will receive a full-tuition and paid graduate assistantship as the 10th Beaver-Falcon MAcc Scholarship recipient.

Beaver-Falcon award

Madison Brunswick, a senior from St. Henry, Ohio, is Bluffton's 10th recipient of a full scholarship to Bowling Green State University's Master of Accountancy program.


Head Football Coach Matthew Nardo

Nardo named head football coach

Bluffton University has named Matthew Nardo as its next head football coach.


Soloists for Messiah Performance

Soloists for Messiah Performance

Bluffton's music department has announced the soloists for its 126th performance of Handel's "Messiah".


Nutrition and dietetics major Haley Gill

Haley Gill

Haley Gill '23, a nutrition and dietetics major, knew she needed to make the most of her summer when she received the Bluffton Summer Discovery Grant.


2021 Bluffton University Board of Trustees

Board member welcomed

The Board of Trustees welcomed Azra Nakicevic, a 1998 Bluffton business administration graduate, as its newest member during the fall meeting. She is a tax partner at GBQ Partners in Columbus, Ohio.


President Jane Wood picks up her meal at the 2020 Harvest Dinner.

Homemade meal to go

Prepared and served by the Bluffton University Nutrition Association, the annual Harvest Dinner returns as a drive-thru, prepaid event benefiting local charities.


All cross cultural experiences include a service component. Students in the San Antonio/South Texas experience volunteered with the San Antonio Human Rights Center.

Eyes opened

Students share stories of challenges, beauty and culture following cross cultural experiences to Kentucky/Appalachia, San Antonio/South Texas, the U.S. Southwest/Hopi, Navajo and Zuni people, and Guatemala.


Construction begins

The two-story, nearly 20,000 square foot Austin E. Knowlton Science Center will feature six labs, faculty offices and interactive collaborative space for students.


Complete coursework toward an ODE intervention specialist license in just three months.

Intervention specialist pathway

Teachers seeking new opportunities in the field of education now have an accelerated summer option to complete coursework for an Ohio Department of Education intervention specialist license.


Bluffton’s first-year class includes 242 students which is the largest first-year class since the 2011 class of 250.

Enrollment grows

A large first-year class combined with successful retention efforts and growth in adult and graduate studies enrollments account for a 49-student increase.


Brandon Freytag '08 inspires Bluffton students to turn their passion into a profession.

Passion into Profession

How do you turn your passion into your profession? Brandon Freytag '08, cofounder and president of talent at Loaded, did just that.


Beaver Tail-Gating

Homecoming and Alumni Weekend

Homecoming and Alumni Weekend events on Oct. 1-2 will include cheering for the football and volleyball teams, alumni and affinity gatherings, campus tours, food trucks, Beaver Tail-Gating and inflatables.


Knowlton Science Center renderings

Groundbreaking

Join us for the groundbreaking of the Austin E. Knowlton Science Center. Located in the heart of campus, the groundbreaking will take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.


Micaela C. Deming

Constitution Day

Micaela C. Deming, of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, presented Bluffton's annual Constitution Day Forum, "The Constitution Versus Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors: The Inherent Conflicts Keeping Women in Danger."


President Jane Wood presents the 2021 State of the University address.

State of the University

During the annual state of the university address, President Jane Wood shared information including updates on the university's fiscal health, enrollment and graduation outcomes, and strategic planning initiatives.


Bluffton has ranked in the top tier of Midwest colleges for 24 consecutive years.

U.S. News & World Report

Bluffton University has again been recognized by the "U.S. News & World Report" as a Top Performer in Social Mobility, Best Value School and in the top tier of Midwest "regional colleges."


Designing Your Life coach Marathana Prothro

Design Your Life coach

As a Designing Your Life certified coach, Marathana Prothro, assistant professor of communication, can work with individuals and small groups seeking to design joy-filled lives.


Transfer consortium

Bluffton has joined an initiative to streamline the transfer process for community college students to earn bachelor's degrees in English, psychology or biology.


Scott Black has been named as the next head cross country and track and field coach.

Black named XC coach

Scott Black has been named as the next head cross country and track and field coach.


Tobias Buckel

Tobias Buckel

New York Times Bestselling author and World Fantasy Award winner Tobias Buckell is joining the Bluffton University English department this fall. Buckell will serve as an instructor of English.


Retiring trustee Lawrence E. Milan ’73, retiring vice president for advancement Dr. Hans Houshower, President Dr. Jane Woods and retiring trustee James T. Sommer ’68.

Dr. Wood reappointed

The Bluffton Board of Trustees reappointed Dr. Jane Wood as president; reviewed plans for the Knowlton Science Center; and completed diversity, equity and inclusion training.


Strength and conditioning

Strength and conditioning

Bluffton University's strength and conditioning program is now an approved and recognized program through the National Strength & Conditioning Association's (NSCA) Education Recognition Program (ERP).


Members of Bluffton's first Digital Music class

Digital music album

"B-Verb" features 13 tracks from 13 student composers from Bluffton's first Digital Music class. "We are really excited about this album. There's a song for everybody on it."


Five faculty and staff members completed the Building Cultural Competencies within Organizations certification program

Cultural competency training

Five faculty and staff members completed the Building Cultural Competencies within Organizations certification program. The program is designed to strengthen awareness and understanding about diversity and inclusion.


Five nursing students graduated from Northwest State Community College and are ready to begin BSN courses at Bluffton.

Nursing students

Five Bluffton nursing students graduated from Northwest State Community College with associate degrees. As a dual-degree program, nursing majors must complete foundational nursing classes before completing their BSN at Bluffton.


Faculty Members

Faculty Grants

Faculty members were recognized at an academic year-end event honoring faculty who have been awarded grants, sabbaticals and other scholarly endeavors.


Five corporate and church partnerships have been established since January 2021.

Bluffton develops partnerships

Bluffton continues to grow its network of Corporate Partnerships. The university has entered into 3-year agreements with four new Corporate Partners since January.


Service to students recognized

Service to students recognized

Long-serving employees were recognized for their commitment to students during a faculty and staff recognition luncheon. Employees, reaching five-year to 35-year milestones, were celebrated.


Emily Dienstberger and Meredith Myers

Scholarships

Emily Dienstberger and Meredith Myers have been awarded the full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, valued at nearly $140,000 for four years.


New business administration concentrations are available in two growing and in-demand fields; project management and supply chain management.

New concentrations

New business administration concentrations are available in two growing and in-demand fields; project management and supply chain management.


Profit into peace

Profit into peace

Olivia Tennefoss '21 won the annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest with a speech celebrating the way small-town entrepreneurship builds peace and well-being.


2021 graduates process into Salzman Stadium

2021 Commencement

"It's not your responsibility to solve all of the world's problems, but neither can you ignore them," challenged 2021 Commencement speaker Lawrence E. Milan '73.


Bluffton's new degree-completion program for its nationally accredited social work major is designed for working adults.

Degree completion

Bluffton's nationally accredited social work major is now available through a degree-completion program designed for working adults. Classes will begin Aug. 4, 2021.


Academic excellence

Academic excellence

Bluffton University recognized many of its top students for their academic achievements at the 2021 Academic Awards and Honors Forum.


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