Spire Summer 2020

VCOM Family of Schools Bluefield College Joins

A lmost as a prologue to the Trustees set the stage for the next 100 years with a major decision to join the educational consortium of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) schools. VCOM is legally held by an educational foundation, the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation (Foundation) and will do so for Bluefield College. President David Olive joined Bluefield College Board of Trustees Chairman Gordon Grimes (’94) and VCOM Board of Directors Chairman-Treasurer-Foundation Chair John Rocovich in the Chandler Boardroom to announce the historic decision on March 19. A small crowd of members of the media and essential staff gathered, while a larger audience of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College streamed the live event during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The landscape across higher education is rapidly changing,” Grimes began as he brought opening remarks to the press conference. He continued on highlighting external factors that have raised concern for several years to the Board of Trustees and College leadership, beginning with the cost of college. The rising cost of an education, which for some may lead to large levels of student debt, balanced against the benefit of certain college degrees leads many families, students, and pundits, such as Dave Ramsey, to question the fiscal responsibility of attaining certain degrees at certain institutions. “Free tuition” options now available at several community colleges, nearby public colleges, and at schools, like the University of Virginia at Wise, compound this issue when serving high numbers of first generational college students and families with demonstrated need as Bluefield College does. Grimes cited frequent closures and/ or mergers occurring between colleges and universities as an alarm of distress for certain models of higher education. Closures at sister institutions of Hiwassee College and Cincinnati Christian University and a near closure of Sweet writing of the next centennial of Bluefield College, the Board of

Brier College, were stark reminders to the Board of Trustees of the essential work of maintaining and growing enrollment, offering market-ready degrees, remaining soundly accredited, and staying financially viable in recent years. Enrollment has shown to be a challenge for many colleges across the nation with the competition for traditional-aged students becoming more intense each enrollment cycle. The forecast of future students also cited the college-going population dropping up to 15% between 2025- 2029 with continued declines thereafter with population shifts and changes in the region and nation according to the Hechinger Report. He further highlighted the change in higher education towards alternative milestones in education as students seek badges, credentials, certificate programs, and boot camps for needed training and skill development. “Being aware of the changing landscape for several years the Board of Trustees has considered a proactive way to ensure Bluefield College’s future,” said Grimes. “We believe this is the right thing and the best thing that we can do to ensure a bright future for Bluefield College.” As Mr. Rocovich took to the podium, listeners of the press conference came to learn more about the beginnings and foundational values of Bluefield College’s new family. VCOM was founded by Rocovich alongside his wife, Dr. Sue Ellen Rocovich, and others with the intent to bring the finest medical care and medical education to southwest Virginia in the early 2000s. After reviewing reports and statistics on the coming shortages in primary care to the southwest and southside regions of the Commonwealth, they, as lifetime residents of southwest Virginia, desired the best for their region and its people. VCOM was founded as a four-year osteopathic medical school offering the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. VCOM’s mission is to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health. Osteopathic physicians are licensed in every state to practice

the full scope of medicine including examining patients, diagnosing illness, writing prescriptions, performing surgery, as well as providing musculoskeletal manipulation. Osteopathic physicians enter every field of medicine from family practice to neurosurgery, however the majority of osteopathic physicians choose to practice primary care. Approximately one-fourth of the profession provides care in small communities and rural areas. The school has four campuses in: Blacksburg, Virginia; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama; and Monroe, Louisiana. Further, VCOM is committed to medical outreach and proudly boasts it is the only medical school in the nation to offer a dedicated medical mission opportunity to Central American countries, according to Rocovich. “The mission of VCOM and Bluefield College align very closely,” said Rocovich. “The collaboration and partnership possibilities are endless as one family of schools.” Rocovich celebrated how these similar values and mission are what made joining together a good marriage for the future. As a Baptist himself, he was vigorous in his expressed desire to maintain the strong Christian tradition of Bluefield College, saying it will be essential to the long term goals of the College. Along with maximizing the impact of current programs, development of new programs, with a primary focus on healthcare, will be the central task in this new endeavor. He cited that almost 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product is in the healthcare industry, yet only one in ten graduates enter the healthcare field. Bluefield College will now have available the VCOM network of hospitals and partners. Understanding their needs, and realizing the needs of the region and nation, will drive the development of new badges, certificates, and degree programs. Assuring the Bluefield College family of alumni and friends that the essence of Bluefield College will continue on as it was envisioned at its founding was the scope of closing remarks by Dr. Olive.

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