news-record.com

BY NIDO QUBEIN

By any standard of performance, the past three years at High Point University have been remarkable.

Freshman enrollment is up 280 percent, applications are up 321 percent, student campus visits are up 400 percent, and SAT scores are up 70 points on average.

Add to that soaring retention rates, enhanced academic programs, stellar faculty and vibrant student life and you have what U.S. News & World Report claims to be the No. 1 "Up & Coming College" and No. 5 university among all comprehensive colleges in the South. Forbes places HPU in the top 6 percent of all institutions of higher education in the nation.

Gosh, all this sounds almost too good to be true. Except it's all for real. All you have to do is drive through our campus to feel the energy, to sense the momentum, to experience the "wow" factor. HPU is an internationally respected academy where every student receives an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people. Students access top-notch study-abroad opportunities, prestigious internships and experiential learning programs. They enter HPU's hallowed hallways to learn. They exit campus gateways to serve.

Consider that in 36 months we secured more than $300 million to construct 1 million square feet in 15 brand-new academic buildings, residence halls, athletic facilities and student activity centers. We invested $35 million in state-of-the-art technology and renovated every building, every residential room, every classroom. Our campus grew from 90 acres to 180 acres. Our brand nationally has skyrocketed among school counselors, students and parents. There is "buzz" about HPU, deserved and on merit.

We've been aggressive in our efforts, progressive in our plans and faithful in our actions. Thanks to forward-thinking trustees, generous supporters, loyal alumni, engaged faculty, supportive parents, phenomenal students and a wonderful town-and-gown relationship with the city of High Point, we are positioned to keep climbing with zest and purpose.

I'm often asked, by intelligent and experienced leaders, how we got so much done in such little time. How we charged forth on so many fronts at the same time. How we nurtured our infrastructure to manage the growth with sensible maturity.

My first answer: God's hand is in this work. We are so grateful. This school, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is blessed indeed.

Much of what we do is guided by four fundamentals. Each one is helpful. The four together are powerful.

First, our team crafted a clear vision for the future of High Point University. Who we are and what we can become.

Secondly, we devised a solid strategy -- directing our efforts singularly and collectively, checking and re-checking our progress methodically along the way.

Thirdly, we resolved to employ only practical systems. No pie in the sky. No wishful thinking. No day-dreaming. Just highly focused, well-thought-through steps that propel us along the path of meaningful achievement.

Finally, our family of faculty and staff are doggedly determined to execute consistently. Get the job done. No whining. No giving up. No fear of the difficult.

Obviously, we raised a lot of money. Quickly. In large sums. From generous benefactors who believed in the vision and trusted us to deliver on the promise. We designed, created and delivered on a high-level value proposition. Parents and students readily see that HPU does not exist in an ocean of "sameness." We are different. We aim to be distinctive. Where there is value, people are willing to pay for it. So we raised our fees to be able to attract 50 new professors and to arm them with all the resources needed for the ideal classroom experience. But we also made available ample scholarships to those who earn them, based on scholastics and academics.

I believe that young people are like airplanes. You only hear about the ones that crash. In reality, our youth do wonderful things every day. They deserve our support. At HPU, I teach the President's Seminar on Life Skills. From my 35 years of experience as a poor immigrant, a budding entrepreneur, a business owner and a proud American, I teach 1,100 students each semester about fiscal literacy, time management, relational capital, and effective communication. They get some ideas from the class. I am inspired by their aspirations, and I get a fullness of satisfaction from the privilege of leading my undergraduate alma mater as its seventh president, and ensuring its existence as a powerful contributor to the vitality of my hometown.

Like you, I'm open-minded about most subjects but firmly grounded on things that truly matter: values, beliefs, mores. And I'm absolutely sure that the future is laden with promise for those who will travel the path, believe in the "art of the possible" and resist giving up when the going gets tough.

We lay no claim of knowing how to administer universities. We just do our best every day to manage the work of High Point University. And we do it while respecting the protocol of the academy, honoring its rich legacy and always protecting the best interests of our people.

We've come a long way. In a very short time. But we've only just begun. The best is yet to be. Together, with the other colleges and universities in our neighborhood, we will contribute measurably to the betterment of our region.

Meanwhile, the HPU welcome mat is always out.

The writer is president of High Point University.