Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2021

10 11 SPRING 2021 EDITION SPRING 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD LINDENWOOD NAMED A COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION Lindenwood University was recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by Colleges of Distinction, a seasoned one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, Lindenwood confirms its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction. In addition to placement on the Colleges of Distinction list, Lindenwood was recognized in five additional categories. The Business and Education academic programs received recognition for their faculty engagement and classroom success. Lindenwood was also recognized for a commitment to Equity & Inclusion, Career Development, and Military Support which play a vital role in supporting students. BASKING IN THE LINDENWOOD IN THE NEWS ADDRESSING STUDENT WANTS—PILOT PROGRAM FOR ALCOHOL IN NON-TRADITION HOUSING Lindenwood University recently launched a pilot program to explore a revised Campus Alcohol Policy for non-traditional campus housing. The program took place during the Spring 2021 semester offering registered students of legal drinking age the ability to possess, consume, and be in the presence of approved amounts of alcohol in the Linden Terrace residences. "Our goal is to enhance the campus experience for our upper-class students while keeping all students and campus safe," said Terry Whittum, senior vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Engagement. A decision to continue, modify, or eliminate this program will be based on the Spring 2021 pilot program results. SEEING LOVE CITY WIDE WITH ALUMNI AND 4 HANDS BREWERY CO. Lindenwood alumnus Mitch Bierer’12 is one of five St. Louis hometown artists selected to showcase their artwork on 4 Hands Brewery Company’s City Wide American Pale Ale. Founder and CEO Kevin Lemp chose Bierer and two-time Lindenwood alumnus Zach Smithey to display their artwork on limited-edition can designs in celebration of City Wide’s fifth anniversary. Bierer chose his expressive spray-art piece “Seeing Love” from his current series, which can be found on San Francisco’s streets. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bierer has found himself shifting to a new-age medium, meshing spray/street art with his fine art training, with the hopes of waking people up to see the love. “I’m grateful for the lessons I learned while studying at Lindenwood,” said Bierer. “Grant Hargate, Scott Smith, and John Troy’s voices are still very loud in my mind while approaching works to this day.” City Wide’s April release of the St. Louis artist series is sold in four-packs featuring four of the five artists’ work and can be found throughout the St. Louis metro area for a limited time. Linden BRANCHES LINDENWOOD IN THE COMMUNITY LINDENGIVING, A COMMUNITY OUTREACH ENDEAVOR, SUPPORTS ST. CHARLES Over the last year, the needs of others have been brought to the forefront of news magazines and media stories. In response, Lindenwood University established LindenGiving; a community outreach endeavor focused on meeting the needs of organizations in St. Charles and directly benefitting the city. In November, LindenGiving had a successful first initiative and provided thanksgiving meals to 100 families. Faculty and staff volunteers delivered meals to homes and provided drive-through, contactless delivery to ensure families received their items. As spring ramped up, LindenGiving announced its February initiative to support Five Acres Animal Shelter, serving St. Charles for nearly 50 years. The initiative raised funds to support one month of medical care and vet bills for the animals at Five Acres. Although the pandemic has limited many activities, this initiative allowed the Lindenwood community to give back in a safe and meaningful way. Chaired by Beverly Porter, Lindenwood’s First Lady, who shared, “Although community service is nothing new for Lindenwood University, it’s exciting to bring additional structure and focus to such an important value of the university through LindenGiving.” The committee plans to expand initiatives and continue partnering with nonprofit organizations for future projects. LINDENWOOD HOSTS INAUGURAL DAY OF DIALOGUE Lindenwood University hosted its inaugural Day of Dialogue on March 3. This virtual campus- wide event allowed students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the general public to explore their roles in building a shared community at the university while considering the theme of Civic Engagement and Social Awareness. These concepts that are not often explored as an entire campus collective were examined to create a more inclusive campus for all Lindenwood community members. Dedicated to supporting the university’s educational mission, the conversations started during Day of Dialogue continue to provide a space outside of the classroom to support academic and intellectual inquiry. LINDENWOOD PARTNERS WITH MISSOURI COLLEGES TO PROVIDE BRIDGE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS Lindenwood University recently signed a transfer agreement with both St. Charles Community College (SCC) and Mineral Area College (MAC) welcoming students who complete their associate degree studies to matriculate into Lindenwood University in pursuit of their bachelor’s degree. Providing a bridge from these colleges to Lindenwood University is a notable partnership that allows students the opportunity to continue their education and complete their four-year degree, while saving money and easily transferring course credits. “Lindenwood is proud to provide a pathway for students to complete their bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. John Porter, president of Lindenwood University. “This agreement identifies a bridge to the future for students and this will enrich the campuses in many ways.” Students who have graduated with an associate degree from SCC or MAC and wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Lindenwood, may be eligible for the Bridge Scholarships. Students wishing to partake in the program must enroll to Lindenwood directly from the qualifying college within one academic year. St. Charles Community College’s Spencer Creek Scholarship and Mineral Area College’s Meramec Scholarship are awarded up to $12,000 annually for full-time students who remain in good academic standing. In addition, qualifying students are eligible to receive federal and state funds. The Bridge scholarships are renewable for up to four years. “Seeing Love” by Bierer can be found in San Francisco.