51Æ·²èÔ¼ÅÚ

Dr. Donna Hedgepath, President of 51Æ·²èÔ¼ÅÚ Baptist University, has spent the semester meeting with students, faculty, alumni, and trustees to share and discuss the new RISE strategic plan. Yet many may still wonder which part of the plan she finds most meaningful.

The RISE plan focuses on technology, facilities, and mission. Dr. Hedgepath shared that the area she is most excited about is the improvements to facilities. 51Æ·²èÔ¼ÅÚ had several buildings, both on and off campus, that needed to be replaced. Under the new plan, four of those buildings have been torn down to make way for brand-new facilities. Gates Hall is also scheduled for several upgrades.

She noted that she is excited about the other elements of the plan as well. The technology side of campus is receiving significant updates, and the online campus is being redesigned to make classes more accessible and easier to navigate.

External campuses are also included in these improvements. They are receiving the same upgrades and attention as the main Plainview campus. “Not everything will be upgraded at the same time, but the goal is to give all of our campuses the necessary upgrades they need to thrive,” Dr. Hedgepath said.

When asked what her favorite change has been this semester, Dr. Hedgepath highlighted the removal of four condemned duplex buildings. “We hired a Texas-based planner from JDMA, a firm in Lubbock, to design new buildings and landscape for us,” she said. Students can expect new facilities within the next few years as part of this ongoing transformation.

Dr. Hedgepath also wanted students to know that tuition was lowered by 9.5% for the next academic year, a change intended to help students complete their degrees and move successfully through all four years of college.

Students, faculty, and alumni alike have much to look forward to as this vision unfolds. Dr. Hedgepath is leading the effort to make 51Æ·²èÔ¼ÅÚ a stronger, more supportive environment for everyone who studies and works here.

“In my position, I try to be approachable,” she said. “I try to talk to as many students as I can and am always happy to have a conversation with them.” She emphasized that the strategic plan is designed with students at its center. As 51Æ·²èÔ¼ÅÚ looks toward the future, she hopes students will continue sharing their ideas, concerns, and hopes as the university grows.