Aug. 18, 2010
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, will be the first chapel speaker for the fall 2010 semester at Campbellsville University.

He will address students, faculty, staff and coaches at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville. The public is invited to attend.

Carter is in his 12th year as president of Campbellsville University. CU was recently announced as being ranked 25th in U.S.News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” and third in “up-and-coming” schools.

Carter completed his first decade of presidential leadership Aug. 1, 2009. That leadership has produced significant growth in student enrollment and number and quality of academic programs, fundraising success and enhanced campus facilities and aesthetics.

During Carter's leadership, characterized by a “students are always first” mantra, enrollment

has grown from 1,600 in the fall of 1998 to an expected near 3,100 in the fall of 2010 likely resulting in 21 consecutive semesters of record-setting growth.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 23, but students can still enroll.

A string of new facilities on campus have alumni and friends “wishing that had been here when I was a student there.” The new buildings include the Ransdell Chapel, which has become the focal point of the campus' transformation and spiritual life; the Technology Training Center, which has trained over 10,000 individuals since 2000;
the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex (including the Winters Dining Hall and Davenport Student Commons); Hawkins Athletic Center, Gosser Gymnasium, Bennett-Smith School of Nursing Building, Carter Hall addition, School of Education building, Indoor Practice Center, Joan White Howell Education Center and Pavilion - both at Clay Hill Memorial Forest, Art Building and additional phases of the Village residential units, including two new men's residence halls which are open for 90 students.

Major renovations and improvements have been completed on the following: Badgett Academic Support Center (formerly Student Union Building), Banquet Hall, University Theater, Montgomery Library, J.K. Powell Athletic Center and the natatorium, baseball field, Ron Finley Football Stadium and HIG Football Field. A number of residence halls and offices have been upgraded.
Several new academic programs have been added with CU now offering 45 options at the baccalaureate level, 16 master's degrees and five post-graduate specializations.

New regional sites have been opened with classes being offered in Louisville, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Radcliff, northern Kentucky, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and Somerset.

National program accreditation has been secured for the School of Business and Economics, School of Education and Carver School of Social Work. The School of Music has continued its national accreditation.

Campus aesthetics have been improved with fountains, benches and swings, landscaping and new trees. The university recently received the first Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award.

Also, during Carter's leadership, he has emphasized servant leadership as exemplified with the founding of the Kentucky Heartland Outreach ministry that provides housing improvements for deserving families and establishment of the FIRST CLASS freshman year program with emphasis on character, servant leadership and stewardship.

Carter has served as president of Campbellsville University since 1999.He was provost and vice president for academic affairs, as well as professor of sociology, at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., from 1985 until he became president of CU.

Carter is a 1976 graduate of Marshall University where he received his bachelor of arts degree. In 1979, he received his master of arts degree, also from Marshall. He did additional graduate study at Andover-Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass.
He received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1984. His dissertation was on “Extent and Direction of Rural Community Change: A Social Impact Assessment of Reservoir Development.”

In addition to his success as a higher education administrator, Carter is author of several book chapters and journal articles ranging from Higher Education (Mission and Service) to Religion & Life in Appalachia, Rural Youth Drug Abuse and Community Change.

Carter has taught some sociology classes at CU also.

Carter is married to Debbie Carter, assistant professor of social work at CU. They have three children: Dr. Eric Carter, who is chair of the sociology department at Georgetown College; Alicia Carter, a special education teacher in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Wesley Carter, a student at California Baptist University. He is a member of and deacon at Campbellsville Baptist Church.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 45 undergraduate programs, 16 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.