Newman University is among 18 Kansas institutions that will celebrate Kansas Private College Week, April 17 – 23. The week was recently declared by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who called on “all citizens to join in this observance by recognizing the important contributions of private colleges in the state.”
In the proclamation, Brownback noted that “Kansas private colleges promote civic engagement and leadership development of student[s] through extensive community service and internship/work study programs, and provide educational programming and campus culture that places a priority on the development of personal character and ethical practice.” Brownback further noted that Kansas private colleges enrich the communities they serve “with an array of cultural and community education events, contributing significantly to the quality of life.”
“Private colleges and universities do play a very important role in the development of young people and communities across the state of Kansas,” said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. “Our mission is to empower our students and graduates to transform society. To do that, we strive to give students the skills, knowledge, perspective and moral grounding they need to live a successful and purposeful life, and to make positive and meaningful contributions to their communities.”
Newman University is one of 18 institutions that make up the Kansas Independent College Association (KICA). In addition to Newman, the KICA includes Baker University; Benedictine College; Bethany College; Bethel College; Central Christian College; Donnelly College; Friends University; Hesston College; Kansas Wesleyan University; Manhattan Christian College; McPherson College; MidAmerica Nazarene University; Ottawa University; Southwestern College; Sterling College; Tabor College, and University of Saint Mary.
Carrocci currently serves as KICA treasurer.
KICA President Doug Penner noted in a prepared statement that private colleges and universities “occupy a special, vital niche in the Kansas higher education landscape, offering personalized, customized educational experiences built especially on student involvement and extensive, high quality interaction between students and senior faculty. While there is considerable diversity of program offerings among these colleges, they share a commitment to educating students in ways that prepare them with the key competencies required to be able to adapt as the work world changes.”
Penner added that Kansas private institutions are very affordable, for several reasons.
“First, tuition levels at Kansas independent colleges are below the national average,” Penner said, “and second, institutional financial aid, combined with federal and state aid to high need students, makes these colleges much more affordable than many would have assumed.”
Kansas private colleges and universities serve an average of 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. There are currently more than 200,000 living alumni of Kansas private institutions – half of whom live and work in the state – including many important civic, business and cultural leaders. Approximately 20 percent of the state’s bachelor’s degrees and 29 percent of the state’s master’s degrees are awarded by private colleges and universities each year.
Kansas private institutions also offer generous financial aid, awarding more than $120 million in institutional grants and scholarships to students every year. In recent years, more than 95 percent of first-time full-time students at Newman University received financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants or work-study.
For more information on Newman University, visit www.newmanu.edu, or call 316-942-4291, ext. 2144, or Toll-Free 1-877-NEWMANU (639-6268), ext. 2144. For more information on Kansas private colleges or on Kansas Private College Week, contact Mark Millikan at 785-235-9877 or visit the KICA website at www.kscolleges.org. KICA has also created another website, www.Proud2BPrivate.com, which includes information about all KICA schools, as well as details on campus visits, financial aid, finding the right institution and other topics.
