ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University Interim President George W. Hynd delivered a State of the University address which was shared via e-mail with the campus community on May 3, 2022, exactly two years and two months since he joined the Winthrop community as interim president.
Hynd reported on recent achievements of the university; shared highlights of the recent administrative review of the university’s strategic plan, called the Winthrop Plan; and discussed the status of other initiatives that he intended to complete during his time at Winthrop.
As the semester winds down and three Commencement ceremonies are later this week, Hynd said there are many positives to share since his virtual State of the University in November 2020. “A Bridge to Tomorrow has been the theme of the time my wife, Alison, and I have spent at Winthrop since our arrival in March 2020,” he said. “My goal has been to fulfill the expectations of the Board of Trustees when they hired me in January of that year, and I am proud of all that we as a Winthrop family have accomplished despite a pandemic.”
Among the highlights of the address:
Hynd commended the campus community for their hard work and diligence throughout the SACSCOC reaffirmation review process that recently concluded.
He shared that administrative review of the Winthrop Plan’s five years found that the university fared best on Goal Five, “Ensure financial stability and sustainability,” with 65 percent of goal targets achieved.
Examples of targets met most of the time by the plan were scholarships provided by the Winthrop University Foundation, lower debt ratio, the number of new/redesigned programs, number of hybrid/online programs and number of classrooms with upgraded technology.
Hynd noted that the institution only met 40 percent of targets for Goal One which touched on enrollment growth and retention improvement, areas that will be vital to the institution moving forward under President Elect Edward A. Serna.
Hynd said the solid financial foundation that the institution sought when he came to Winthrop is close at hand, thanks to efforts across campus and the leadership of the finance and business team.
He said that next steps in the Academic Master Plan process will have consultants further analyze our academic offerings, including the possibility of professional doctorates, in light of market analysis, student demand, and higher education trends.
Hynd noted the facilities Campus Master Plan is on schedule to wrap up with a final presentation to be shared with the Trustees, campus leadership and others this summer.
He was particularly proud of the work of all of those involved with the Campus Beautification Initiative, called Revitalizing Winthrop, which has been very successful in terms of private funds raised, participation by constituents and volunteer hours devoted to beautification projects.
Hynd noted that coming off some important successes in the fund raising area, the university will soon launch a search for a permanent vice president for University Advancement.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail longshawj@winthrop.edu.
