Submitted photo Elkins Rotary Club President Tammie Rizzio welcomed Davis & Elkins College President (and Elkins Rotarian) Chris A. Wood as he addressed the Elkins Rotary Club giving the group details on the state of the college.

ELKINS — Davis & Elkins College President Chris A. Wood addressed the Elkins Rotary Club, giving the group details on the state of the college.

In 1871, the Baptists founded Alderson Broaddus College. In 1904, the Presbyterians founded Davis & Elkins College. In 2023, Alderson Broaddus University closed permanently. According to Wood, he is often asked if there is a chance that D&E would also close. “The educational, economic, psychological and the cultural devastation that was brought to Philippi at the close of AB must never be allowed to happen in Elkins,” said Wood.

D&E and AB, while both private liberal arts institutions, had some similarities. However, there are also significant differences. Financial belt tightening fifteen years ago put D&E in a stronger financial position. Philanthropy has been a priority at Davis & Elkins College, culminating in the 2018 Secure the Future Campaign which raised $101.4 million dollars for the institution. According to Wood, “We paid off all of our debt and our endowment at the college is twice what it was just eight years ago.”

The D&E student body has seen a major increase in the number of students from the local area attending since the inception of the Highlands Scholarship in 2013. Currently, 117 Randolph County students attend D&E. Adding the students from the six contiguous counties pushes that number to nearly 200 who are within commuting distance.

“Some people think private colleges are only educating the rich kids. The facts prove that is incorrect,” stated Wood. “PELL grants are federal dollars for students and families that demonstrate financial need. The private colleges in West Virginia on average have 9% more PELL eligible students than the public higher education institutions in West Virginia. The graduation rate for PELL eligible students is 12% higher in the private institutions than the publics within the state. I think that’s a direct result of the kind of support they receive at an institution like Davis & Elkins.”

The make-up of the D&E student body is quite diverse. While 50% of students hail from West Virginia, there are also students from 36 states and 20% of the students come from 45 counties on six continents.

The economic impact of D&E on the local community has been approximately $25 million per year over the past five years. Coupled with $40 million in capital projects, the vast majority of which have been completed by contractors in the region, the total impact of D&E on the local economy over the past five years has been $165 million.

The cultural, athletic, and quality of life impact on the local community is almost immeasurable. “I can give you a quick list here – theatrical performances, musical performances, art exhibits, lectures, seminars, recitals, 20 NCAA Div II athletic teams, the Mountain State Forest Festival’s home is at Davis & Elkins, the historic mansions on the campus, Halliehurst and Graceland, the Myles Center for the Arts, the premiere arts center in our entire region. For children in this community, the Otters and the Rays are in our pool, the high school students are in our pool, on our tennis courts and on our cross-country course. Every single elementary student in this county comes to Harper-McNeely Auditorium for their Christmas shows every year. The Augusta Heritage Center has their summer programs at the college,” said Wood. “What brings diversity to Randolph County? It is Davis & Elkins College. Thirteen percent of our students are African American and 121 of our students are international.”

According to Wood, the College is probably in the strongest financial position during its 120 years or existence. “Don’t confuse a strong financial position with the school accounts overflowing. The margins are extremely tight, and we’ve run budget deficits the past couple of years that we’ve managed to cover through philanthropy. Instead of spending our money on debt services, we’ve chosen to spend our money on student services.” said Wood.

D&E has added some new academic offerings including programs in digital media, communications, cyber security, special education, natural resource management and forestry technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to go along with the existing associate degree. The college is actively looking at additional academic programs to keep its offerings relevant. Beginning in the fall of 2026, D&E will begin offering its first master’s degree programs in the institution’s history.

Another unique program at D&E is the Naylor Learning Center that offers tutoring and writing assistance. D&E has also become known on the East Coast for its program in Supported Learning, offering support for students with specific types of learning challenges such as students on the autism spectrum.

Most recently, the Glory Residence Hall was completed and opened for freshmen. The $18 million building was dedicated on October 12 and is debt free, thanks to many generous donors. This new facility, along with renovated Gribble Hall and Roxanna Booth Hall, will become the Freshman Village at Davis & Elkins College. Major capital investments have also been made to the Myles Center for the Arts and Graceland.

While there is an abundance of good news from D&E, there are also challenges facing the institution. Among the most significant facing most private colleges, Wood detailed: (1) increased competition; (2) COVID which resulted in 1.5 million fewer students pursuing higher education; (3) the significant delay in the required federal financial aid form known as FAFSA which reduced applicants for the 2024-25 academic year; (4) demographic changes that will significantly decrease the pool of traditional aged college students; (5) ever-increasing scholarship aid for students that reduces the net revenue from tuition to an institution; and (6) attitudinal issues toward higher education that is questioning its value.

“In spite of all these challenges and more, Davis & Elkins College remains vital and vibrant as we continue to transform lives of students and graduate leaders for communities and nation,” concluded Wood.

More information about Davis & Elkins College and its various programs and events can be found at www.dewv.edu.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact club president Tammie Rizzio at tammierizzio@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.