seasons

From the President
Samford Makes Amazing Progress in 36 Months
The reports in this issue of Seasons continue to chronicle Samford’s growth and development since the institution moved to Homewood and
achieved university status more than 50 years ago.
Consider our progress in only the past 36 months: expansion of the campus by 40 acres and the addition of more than 400,000 square
feet of space for academic units; completion of three new residence halls; the addition of more than 1,200 parking spaces; investment of
more than $10 million in infrastructure and technology upgrades; an increase of total enrollment by more than 9 percent; and inclusion of
48 new academic programs.
Across the coming academic year, Samford will complete three university-wide projects. First, we will submit a lengthy report to the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The report will mark the beginning of a six-month
period of institutional review, culminating in March 2017 with a site visit to the campus by SACSCOC representatives. These are the
necessary steps to gain approval for a 10-year reaffirmation of our accreditation status.
Second, an updated campus master plan will be submitted to our trustees for consideration. Finally, we will receive a report from the
work that is led by Provost Mike Hardin and others to establish academic program priorities, including decisions for reallocating space that
will be vacated following the relocation of programs later this summer.
Amidst all of these changes, I hope that we will cherish the legacy we have received, resulting from sacrifices made across 175 years. As I
say so often, we sit in the shade of trees we did not plant.
As always, please keep Samford in your prayers.
Andrew Westmoreland
President
2 • Seasons • Summer 2016