Va. Intermont off probation, looks to future

BRISTOL -- Jubilation has given way to determination a week after Virginia Intermont College officials learned the school's two-year probation has been lifted.

The June 25 notification that accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges remains intact gives Virginia Intermont a new lease on life, and plans are in the works to shore up the school's future, President Michael Puglisi said.

"We are clearly a much stronger institution than two years ago. Being on probation, in the long run, has been good for the college," Puglisi said. "It's made us look at things -- not just our finances -- but our planning and assessment, and the way we do business."

A loss of accreditation would have been disastrous, Puglisi said. It also could have closed the school forever.

Over the past two years, school officials have raised millions of dollars to keep it open. Puglisi said the focus now is on using improved business practices to expand enrollment while continuing to raise money.

"A college can't depend on extraordinary fundraising just to operate. Fundraising should be to do capital projects, build an endowment, that sort of thing," Puglisi said. "In the situation we've faced the last couple of years, we've had to increase our fundraising just to operate."

Virginia Intermont had about 550 students in fall 2008, and enrollment is expected to reach 600 for the upcoming fall semester. The incoming class is now at 185 -- compared with 85 last year -- and expected to reach 205 before classes resume.

"We're already over 90 percent of our goal. Last year, we were at 40 percent and didn't even reach our goal," Puglisi said. "I think we'll see retention and recruitment enhanced, being off probation."

Those students can expect to pay a 5 percent increase in tuition costs, compared with the 15 percent increase last year.

Like other businesses, the school has adopted a more frugal philosophy in tough economic times, Puglisi said.

"We have to be a leaner, more focused institution. We have to look at our curriculum and do a cost analysis of our academic programs," he said.

There are no plans to eliminate programs. During the past two years, school officials deleted some academic and athletic programs to reduce expenses. Officials are, however, looking to add programs -- possibly as soon as 2010-11.

The college board of trustees has approved a tentative pay increase for current employees that will be finalized in September, after final enrollment numbers have been computed. The school's employees got no pay raise last year. There also are no plans to eliminate any faculty or staff positions.

Puglisi said some campus buildings will be renovated, but only when money is available.

"We're also looking to develop a new campus master plan," he said.

Fundraising efforts will continue and might actually get easier now that the probation has been lifted, Puglisi said. In recent months, some potential donors based their giving on the school getting off probation.

Mayor Jim Rector, a retired educator, said Bristol leaders expect that the college has a bright future.

"It's a real plus for the city, having a small, liberal arts college here," Rector said.

A study shows the college, which employs more than 200, has an annual financial impact on the community of $30 million.
David McGee is a staff writer for the Herald Courier in Bristol.