On Friday, Oct. 25, Milligan President Bill Greer announced the college will be changing its name from Milligan College to Milligan University. The official name change will take effect on June 1, 2020.
With this change, there comes some worry and concern. I sat down with President Greer and asked him some student questions and concerns about the change to Milligan University.
Are there any plans to upgrade or build new dorms?
Yes. Our campus master plan, for a while, has included finishing out the Village. There is room for seven more buildings up there. Additionally, building similar buildings down the hill from Williams, over the top of Webb. Webb is not part of the long-range campus master plan; it will be replaced with other housing.
That all is in the plan. It is a very long-range plan because it takes private donations to make that happen. We also want to make sure that our enrollment is trending positively over the long term, to make sure that the investment is wise, but our plan is certainly to add more housing.
Along with that, are there plans to renovate current buildings to match the new student center?
The rendering is one concept and we really haven’t spent a lot of time talking about the finishing touches. However, I think the building needs to stand out a little bit as a student center. I don’t want it to look like a library or an academic classroom building, but I also want it to be in keeping with the aesthetic of the campus. I do want it to look a little different because I want people to look at that building and say, “That must be the student center.”
Does this include more sports facilities, like a track and field stadium for home meets?
The campus master plan does include plans for a track and field stadium. The track and field would go behind the field house. It’s just, again, awaiting funding. We are always looking out for donors who might have an interest in doing that. That’s in the master plan, but we are private. We don’t have state funding or grants like that to build buildings. We are dependent on the generosity of our alumni and friends who give.
How long will the rebranding process take?
How many Milligan College signs are on campus? There is one. We’ve branded ourselves as Milligan for quite a while, in anticipation of ultimately this transition happening. All of our vans and busses, even our clothing in the bookstore just have Milligan on them. It was a subtle but deliberate thing to do, to make the transition as smooth and as seamless as possible.
Is there any worry that the change to Milligan University will take away from the “small college” appeal of Milligan?
Changing the name doesn’t change the school. There are lots of smaller universities than Milligan; so, I don’t think it will change that feel. We intend to continue to be a small, but growing, institution. It’s important for a college’s/university’s health to have a little bit of growth over time.
How do you feel about the name change, personally?
I have mixed feelings about it, because I’m an alum. I’m one of four generations in my family who went here. My grandfather went here in 1915, my mom went here in the 50s, I met my wife here, our sons graduated from here. Milligan College is very much part of our family fabric. I love this institution, and I have a long history here. This is my 26th year working here, add four years going to school here, and I’ve been on this campus for 30 years. So if I can embrace the change, anybody can.
I have an emotional attachment to this institution, but I also have a commitment to making sure it stays healthy and vibrant going forward. I think this is a change that is necessary to ensure that. If I want to protect this institution, I need to embrace and be on board with this kind of change. I think in the long haul this will be far the best thing for Milligan than not changing.
Headline photo: President Bill Greer talks about the change to Milligan University.