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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 5, 2006

Chaminade enjoyed record-setting '05

By Loren Moreno
Advertiser Staff Writer

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Chaminade University of Honolulu has reported another record year, capping a decade of dramatic growth that has seen net assets and enrollment reach their highest levels ever.

Chaminade officials reported this week that the university's net assets are more than $31 million, up from $19 million in fiscal year 2004 — a 63 percent increase. Undergraduate enrollment rose only slightly last year but has climbed nearly 85 percent since 1995, said Brother Bernie Ploeger, executive vice president and provost at Chaminade.

The university's success mirrors the tenure of President Sue Wesselkamper, who took over in 1995 and resuscitated the small Marianist college, which was nearly $1 million in the red at the time.

Wesselkamper's leadership and ability to bring financial contributions to the university should be directly credited for Chaminade's success, said Ralph Wolff, executive director of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

"President Wesselkamper, with the leadership of the board (of regents), I think has done a really good job of stabilizing the financial capacity as well as the physical plant of the campus," Wolff said by phone yesterday from California.

He said Chaminade's success is similar to that seen at smaller institutions nationwide recently but only those that have had strong leadership and strategic planning.

Ploeger was recently named acting president as Wesselkamper recovers from cancer surgery. Wesselkamper was released from the hospital on Dec. 23, but last week was readmitted after experiencing complications.

The university received a number of financial gifts last year, including $1 million from John and Mary Lou Brogan to help fund a building to house the university's Teacher Education program. There also have been a number of renovations and new facilities, including a $3 million student center. The university also has received a $10 million pledge to build a new library.

Ploeger said the university's net assets have increased so dramatically because "we were very successful in fundraising." He credited Wesselkamper's ability to bring in gifts and pledges.

"She is extremely effective in making the case for the university to people who are in positions to make major contributions," Ploeger said.

The university also has seen an increase in enrollment since Wesselkamper took over. Ploeger partially credited more recruiting in California and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands, such as Guam and Samoa, for the increase in enrollment. He also said the fall 2005 class was 10 percent larger than previous classes.

Increases in military enrollment can be directly tied to troops being back in Hawai'i from deployment, Ploeger said. He also attributed the doubling of graduate education hours with the increase in students enrolled in master's programs.

But there's a downside to dramatic success.

"It is going to be hard to put together another year like last year," Ploeger said. "It will be a tough year to beat or even to duplicate."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.