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Bellarmine Magazine_Fall2012

QueSTioN & ANSWer IF you’Ve sPenT Any TIme ARounD bellARmIne In The PAsT 25 yeARs, you’ve probably had occasion to bask in the friendly glow of Tim Sturgeon ’87, dean of admission. “i came to Bellarmine as a student and never really left,” he said. “After graduation, i started as an admission counselor, and i am about to complete my 25th year in the Admission office. My wife, Allyson, is also a Bellarmine grad, so Bu is in our blood. our oldest daughter is enrolling as a freshman this fall.” Here’s a fun fact: in his first year on staff, Bellarmine had 278 freshmen. This year, Bellarmine welcomed a whopping 609 freshmen to campus. Tim Sturgeon took a moment to complete our grueling application: What exactly does thedean of want to just talk about it, but really were very uptight and more concerned admission do? show them the community Bellarmine with the “Catholic morals” taught on i oversee the recruitment of under- is lucky to be a part of. campus than with seeing the campus. graduate freshmen and transfer Here i was giving this description of students. The job has always been What are some of the bells and our Catholic traditions, and we walked rewarding and challenging. i get to whistles that universities are using into the art gallery. i didn’t know, but develop direct-mail campaigns, to lure students and what might they had changed the show from the work on advertising and marketing we add here? day before and it now contained a strategies, interview students and universities have gone on a spending professional artist’s show of nudes – parents and lead a great team to and building spree to attract students. nude paintings, nude photos, nude spread Bellarmine’s name. you don’t build a rec center; you build everything. Before i could say anything, a center with pools and rock-climbing the two moms were hyperventilating What’s the most common reason walls. you don’t build a library, but a and running toward the exit. high school students choose to Learning Center with a Starbucks in- come tobellarmine? side. Student Centers now have name- What’s the most audacious request it is amazing that the reasons i chose brand food retailers, movie theaters you’ve gotten from students or Bellarmine are the same reasons i and bowling alleys. Bellarmine has parents? hear over and over from students: been very deliberate in building a res- i actually had a mom ask me to wake Bellarmine’s academic reputation idential campus. our new residence her son up every day so he wouldn’t and the personal attention you get. halls are some of the best i have seen. be late for class. She always woke him i believe our biggest needs are additional up and fixed his breakfast, and she What’s the most common reason classrooms, a lifetime rec center, and was worried he couldn’t do it. high school students choose to a larger student center. go elsewhere? according to our anonymous Tough economic times and incredible What’s the biggest misperception sources, you eat lunch at the same competition for students. We lose high school students have about time and place every day, you more students over costs or the bellarmine? shop only at Jos.a.bank and you perceived cost to attend a private it depends on where you live. Too vacation only indestin,fla.is this school. Bellarmine is very generous many local students think it is mostly assessment accurate? in its financial awards, but too many a commuter school with students from Are you saying i’m a creature of habit? students look at the price tag and not the Catholic high schools. in reality, we There are a few things i know. There the real cost. For many students, we have become a residential campus with is always a great sale at Jos. A. Bank, are able to get their cost at or below students from the broader region and and the best deal on campus is the the cost of a public institution. the world, and a majority of students all-you-can-eat meals at the university come from public high schools. Some Dining Hall. The Destin thing is more bellarmine has a new trolley for people think it is a school for rich kids. personal. My mom and dad bought a showing prospective students around over 40 percent of our freshmen are place in Destin for the family to thehighlands. What’s the thinking? first-generation college students. vacation. My kids loved the time they We want to create an experience for spent with my mom at “Nanny’s prospective students and make their What’s the funniest story from your Condo.” Although she passed away tour of Bellarmine a memorable one. days in admission? three years ago, they still look forward Louisville and the Highlands are When i was fairly new, i took a group to going and talking about their great assets for Bellarmine. We don’t on a tour of the campus. The parents memories of Nanny. fall 2012 21


Bellarmine Magazine_Fall2012
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