Ben Brakes )left) discusses UC development with Rotarian James McKee (AXA Advisors) and Don Broyles (Calvin Broyles Jewelers). Looking on is Hanna R. Johnson, UC's Annual Fund Director.

Ben Beakes

February 3, 2009

The University of Charleston is the top baccalaureate college in the state, Ben Beakes told Putnam Rotarians today. That ranking comes from U. S. News & World Report in its higher ed ratings for 2009, and the accolade is no surprise to UC's new director of development.

"When you leave the University," said Beakes, "you have more than just a degree. You have life experience ready to go into the real world to start on day one."

There is a strong focus on the first year at UC, says Beakes, and UC is a national model for its foundation program.

"We are able to do it because we are small," he said. At UC "every new student has a senior student and a faculty member to mentor them through the first year and keep them on track."

Retention is high. "We are placing graduates in the jobs at higher levels than any other institution in West Virginia." he told the group, "a 97 percent placement rate within six months over the past three years.

"We don't want to limit our people to classroom experience," he said. "We want them to get out of the classroom. If you want to be a teacher, we have relationships with Putnam County, with Kanawha County Schools, with Boone County Schools to give mentorships to learn what is going on in the classroom -- real teaching experience."

Beakes' wife who now teaches language arts at Putnam's Winfield High had mentored in eight different classrooms before early graduation from the University.

Over a third of UC undergraduates last year completed degree requirements in less than four years. If a student shows adequate proficiency, they are allowed to skip the standard required courses. "Why take English 101 if you already have strong communication skills?"

Beakes himself majored in political science. "At the end of my freshman year, I had an internship with the Republican Party. My sophomore year, I worked with political campaigns. My junior year, I served as clerk to the Senate Education Committee. Two months before I graduated, I had a job as political director for the state Republican Party. Out of that, I became Chief of Staff for [Secretary of State] Betty Ireland."

The present enrollment at UC of 1,431 is the largest in thirty-five years, and represents a sixty percent increase in the past three years alone.

Six of the ten main buildings on campus have been built in the last ten years.

A Graduate School of Business has opened in downtown Charleston.

The new School of Pharmacy will graduate its first class in 2010.

"We have a thousand applicants for the pharmacy program, many of them from out-of-state," said Beakes. "We only accept 80."

'the bright light across the river'

A new residence hall and parking facility will accommodate "apartment-style" living on campus.

Fundraising is now underway for a new sports and fitness center. The University is providing $12 million a year in scholarships and financial assistance to its students.

With a staff of some 300 people, the University also represents a $75 million boost each year to the local economy.

"They say, 'When the outlook is dim in Charleston, we can look across the river at UC and see the bright light.'

"We're not letting the economy stop us. We're moving on because people are excited.

"UC is drawing students from other states. Because of the interests they have, the relationships they enter, they are staying in West Virginia. They are buying homes; they are a part of the community."

Of the present enrollment, 867 of the students are from West Virginia, about sixty percent. About 73 percent of the graduates remain in the state after completing their baccalaureate.