It’s hard to not get excited about Missouri Western and what’s happening on campus when you talk to President Robert Vartabedian. His enthusiasm for the University’s accomplishments and his outlook for the future are contagious.

At the December 2012 Board of Governors meeting, the board approved a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2018 for the president, so we recently sat down with him to reflect on his first five years at Missouri Western and look forward to the next five.

Looking Back

Since he began his tenure at Missouri Western in 2008, the Remington-Agenstein halls renovation and construction project was completed, and the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex, the Spring Sports Complex and Griffon Hall were built.

The campus also gained new building signs, fountains for three campus ponds, almost 200 evergreen trees, a permanent University sign at the Faraon Street entrance and several sculptures. Additionally, the Kansas City Chiefs began holding their summer training camp on campus in 2010.

When you ask Dr. Vartabedian what makes him most proud about the University, make sure you have a lot of time, because his answer won’t be short.

One of the first items on his list is the student and faculty achievements in several academic departments and the high quality of Missouri Western’s academic programs. Dr. Vartabedian noted that two recent program accreditation visits garnered overwhelmingly positive comments. In fact, in the last five years, all programs that were up for re-accreditation have received uniformly positive accreditation outcomes.

The partnership with Steve Craig, where graduating seniors and alumni have the opportunity to own and operate a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory or Aspen Leaf Yogurt store, as well as other franchises, is also a source of pride, especially because it is such a unique program and because of its national significance. The program began in 2009 and currently, Craig School of Business graduates own and operate 15 franchises in 10 states.

“This university transforms lives, and nowhere is that more direct than in its entrepreneurship initiative,” Dr. Vartabedian said.

The president is also proud of the athletics programs. This past academic year brought two conference championships in football and baseball, two coaches being named Conference
Coach of the Year and several shattered school and conference records, along
with a very successful softball season. Additionally, he proudly noted that the
athletes’ average GPA was one of the highest on record this past year.

Since his arrival on campus, Dr. Vartabedian has made the visual and performing arts programs one of his focuses. In the past five years, the visual arts have flourished, an Arts Society was founded in 2011 and has more than 250 members, an opera program was formed, a dance minor was created, and there are now two musicals performed each academic year.

This past July, the Western Playhouse  performed the musical, “Miss Saigon,” which Dr. Vartabedian called a pivotal moment in the arts for Missouri Western and the region.

“We are at the point where we can pull off something like this successfully,” he said of the production. “I am very excited.”

Because of his arts focus, one of Dr. Vartabedian’s goals was to create a School of Fine Arts with its own dean, and that has also come to fruition. The School has 25 full-time faculty members and approximately 500 students. It offers a range of undergraduate programs in art, music, theatre, cinema and dance, and a Master of Applied Arts program in
Digital Arts.

Dr. Bob Willenbrink was hired as the founding dean of the School of Fine Arts and
began his duties last month.

Another one of Dr. Vartabedian’s projects – a Walter Cronkite Memorial to honor and remember St. Joseph-born and longtime CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite – is another point of pride. The permanent memorial, which will be in the Spratt Hall atrium, will feature both personal and professional highlights of Cronkite’s life and will be dedicated Nov. 4, Cronkite’s date of birth. Dr. Vartabedian believes it has potential for national and
international recognition for Missouri Western.

“He was one of the most widely respected figures in the 20th century and early in the 21st century and was known as the ‘most trusted man in America,’” Dr. Vartabedian said of Cronkite. “As I look to the future, the implications for the University and the region
are huge.”

 Looking Forward

     And looking to the future, Dr. Vartabedian said he plans to continue building on the success of his initiatives in his first five years.

One initiative he started was to increase the number of international students on campus. Toward this goal, an international student office was created and an international student services director was hired shortly after Dr. Vartabedian arrived. In the fall of 2008, there were just seven international students, but by spring 2013, there were 64. The president wants to continue to increase recruitment efforts for international students in the
future.

Dr. Vartabedian also plans to continue to grow the number of online courses offered at Missouri Western. When he arrived, there were 29 online courses, and he coordinated
several initiatives that increased the number today to more than 200.

The president is also excited about an upcoming capital campaign for the University. Although the priorities have not been fully determined, arts and athletic facilities will be a major focus. “Missouri Western’s arts programs are flourishing, and I believe we are at a critical juncture in our history,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “The University has always had
great co mmunity support throughout its history, and I am confident that the
community and region will support the goals of the next capital campaign.”

Along with the five-year contract extension, the Board of Governors also approved a salary increase for the president at its December 2012 meeting. He and his wife, Laurel, agreed to give the net pay adjustment back to the University for the next three years to be
used for special projects.

“I’m extremely grateful to the Board of Governors for their generosity and I certainly recognize that the position should have a more competitive salary,” Dr. Vartabedian said about the salary increase. “But I’m not comfortable personally gaining during these times of
financial difficulties.”

One possible use of the funds, Dr. Vartabedian said, is the development of a parliamentary debate program, which would offer scholarships to debaters. “This would benefit the University for years to come; I am very excited about it,” he said. Along with current
students, he is interested in recruiting debate students from DEBATE-Kansas
City, an Urban Debate League in the inner city. Dr. Vartabedian noted that he
started his career as a debate coach.

The president said he is also looking forward to the University’s centennial celebration, “100 Years of Transforming Lives,” in 2015. An entire year of events is being planned.

“We are building upon the momentum of all the things that were accomplished in the past five years as we look forward to the next five years,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “Missouri Western is an exciting
place to be.”