Reinhardt University sponsored the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce’s “Good Morning Cherokee” September breakfast to kick-off an exciting Fall for the Reinhardt Community.
Dr. Mark A. Roberts, PhD
President, Reinhardt University
President Mark A. Roberts, Ph.D., delivered a message that reflected on Reinhardt University’s initial impact on Cherokee County and how he uses this as his inspiration moving forward.
“When Reinhardt was founded in the late 19th century, a writer by the name of Joel Chandler Harris with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, remarked that Reinhardt was ‘widening of the fields of endeavor’ for North Georgia,” shared Roberts. “In fact, it is this phrase that is driving me through the next year – to widen the fields of endeavor – for the University. When we do that, we widen the scope and opportunities for our students.”
Investments for campus improvements for student activities, athletics and community entertainment are some recent updates towards this goal. This included the summer of 2020’s Blue Grass Festival as a way for Reinhardt to reconnect to its roots as a mountain culture.
Finding a way to positively impact the community and, more importantly, the students to attend Reinhardt, Roberts pointed out that $14 million a year goes to student scholarships. Reinhardt’s financial aid staff work with students, who may not think they can afford college, to find a way to attend Reinhardt.
The student experience is a key to student success, as Dr. Roberts described.
“We get a number of our students through their college education in a particular kind of way – the Reinhardt Way, which focuses on the individual student. One of the things we do well is we put students in close proximity with professors that care about their students in the classroom. They don’t just care about them, they also challenge them and give them opportunities to excel.”
Roberts continued to share the impact of the close faculty-to-student relationship at Reinhardt – a relationship that allows for faculty to know their students and support them through all kinds of challenges to great outcomes.
“One example of an outcome from this holistic approach is our Cauble School of Nursing & Health Sciences and the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX exam,” shared Roberts. “This exam is required to become a nurse. Eighty-six percent of nurses pass this exam in the United States, 88% of nurses pass in the state of Georgia, 95% of Reinhardt University nurses pass that exam. Isn’t that a great outcome?”
As part of the program, Cherokee Scholar Daniela Herrera spoke on her gratitude to Cherokee County and Reinhardt University for her ability to attend college through the scholarship program and the dreams of her future.
Reinhardt University School of Performing Arts students, Chase Sumner and Anna Snider, performed two songs for the crowd.
Roberts ended his presentation with a reminder of the good work Cherokee County is doing for the community.
“The real work – the work that has meaning for people that has meaning in their lives. Work that Cherokee County does well and work that we do at Reinhardt University. We move onward in the real work despite the pandemic, despite the obstacles and whatever the circumstances – don’t let those circumstances predict your outcomes.”
Onward in the real work.
