3:30 p.m. May 28, 2015 UPDATE:
Bluefield College President David Olive has chosen to stay with the institution just days after he announced his intention to resign. Dr. David Olive announced on Thursday, May 28, 2015 that the decision to stay came after “prayer, contemplation and the influence of a persuasive Board chair.”
BLUEFIELD Va. – The President of Bluefield College has announced his resignation effective July 31.
Dr. David Olive will step down to become the executive vice president at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, according to a press release by Bluefield College.
“My family and I have greatly enjoyed living in Bluefield, and I have been richly blessed with the opportunity to serve alongside the faculty and staff of Bluefield College,” Olive said. “They are truly amazing people, and there is no question of their love for this place and the commitment they have to the mission of this fine college. Together, we have accomplished much over the past eight years, and there still is much more potential that awaits the college.”
The Bluefield College Board of Trustees will meet this week to determine an interim president until the school’s 10th president can be found.
Olive has been the president of Bluefield College since 2007.
You can read the full press release below:
Citing Ecclesiastes and the recognition of the seasons that God has made part of creation and a part of our lives, in formal announcements to the Board of Trustees and to the employees of Bluefield College on May 26, Dr. Olive spoke of the end of his season at Bluefield and the beginning of a new one as he shared “with mixed emotion” his intentions to step down as president to accept a new opportunity of leadership. In sharing the news, he spoke not of his success, but of the passion of those he worked alongside.
“My family and I have greatly enjoyed living in Bluefield, and I have been richly blessed with the opportunity to serve alongside the faculty and staff of Bluefield College,” said Dr. Olive. “They are truly amazing people, and there is no question of their love for this place and the commitment they have to the mission of this fine college. Together, we have accomplished much over the past eight years, and there still is much more potential that awaits the college.”
Dr. Olive came to Bluefield in July of 2007 from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he had served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. A onetime attorney and pastor, he began his presidency with BC by crafting a bold new vision, mission, and corresponding Strategic Plan. And, despite an era of higher education and economic turmoil that saw many private colleges struggle, decline and even fail to survive, Dr. Olive fulfilled his objectives as demonstrated by the significant growth seen over the past eight years in BC’s academic, athletic and physical areas.
In fact, under Dr. Olive’s presidency, the college launched a number of new academic programs from 2007 to 2015, including opportunities in instrumental music, forensic science, graphic communication, special education, and nursing (RN-to-BSN), the school’s first-ever health science program. And, in what might be considered the most significant academic accomplishment since becoming a four-year college in 1975, BC began offering master’s degrees in 2013, beginning first with a master of arts in education (MAEd) and following with a master of science in nursing (MSN) and a master of business administration (MBA) in 2016.
In other academic developments, Dr. Olive spearheaded the transition of all of the school’s non-traditional degree-completion programs to the online environment. In addition to moving majors in management and leadership, criminal justice, and human services completely online, the college added new online degrees in e-business and entrepreneurship, nursing (RN-to-BSN), and early childhood education.
“None of these accomplishments would have been possible without God’s guidance and blessings, support of the Board of Trustees, alumni and donors, and the hard work of all of the employees,” said Dr. Olive. “I will treasure these year’s here at Bluefield College and the relationships that have been forged.”
In the athletic arena, Dr. Olive guided yet another historic achievement for the college – the return of Rams football. After an extensive four-year-long feasibility study and a tremendous show of support from alumni and friends, BC revived its intercollegiate football program in 2012 after a more than 70-year hiatus. Dr. Olive also led the creation of five other new BC sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s volleyball.
In regard to physical facilities, Dr. Olive’s most significant strides were made in the area of residence life, first in 2009 with the construction of East River Hall, a $4.3 million traditional residence structure that houses 100 students and the school’s first new residence facility in 30 years at that time. Just five years later, in an effort to continue to meet the growing demand for modern on-campus living, Dr. Olive spearheaded the opening of Bluestone Commons, a $4.5 million apartment complex featuring two buildings with 12 apartments in each structure for a total of 24 apartments, but most of all some of the most contemporary, independent student housing arrangements you’ll find on a college campus.
“Dr. Olive’s visionary leadership brought Bluefield College into the 21st Century,” said Dr. David Bailey, chair of the BC Board of Trustees, “and has positioned us for even more greatness in the future.”
Additional physical improvements on campus during Dr. Olive’s tenure include major renovations to Harman Chapel, Lansdell Hall (the administration building), guest cottages, the Student Activities Center, the dining hall, and Rish and Cruise residence halls, and the opening of a new Center for Service, Missions and Ministry, as well as a new Academic Center for Excellence.
Under Dr. Olive’s leadership, in 2014 the college also celebrated its highest student enrollment since 1998 and the second highest student population in the history of the school. The school also enjoyed its most successful fundraising year in history in 2011-2012 and again in 2013-2014.
Other achievements include the creation of a New Opportunity School for Women in 2013 for the purpose of providing professional and personal development opportunities to under-educated, low-income women of Appalachia; the development of academic articulation agreements with the Virginia Community College System, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Appalachian School of Law, Appalachian College of Pharmacy, the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VA), Christian Leaders Link, and The Network for Theological Education; and the creation of academic exchange programs with Jiangsu Second Normal University in China, Federal University of Para in Brazil and Mahidol University in Thailand.
In addition, during Dr. Olive’s presidency the college earned national recognition with an “A” rating from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni for its “superior general education core.” The school also received six consecutive distinctions as a Top Tier College in the South by U.S. News and World Report, five consecutive placements on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and eight consecutive merits as a Champions of Character Five Star Institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
“All of these accomplishments have been the work of God in our midst at Bluefield College,” said Dr. Olive. “I am grateful to all who contributed, particularly the faculty and staff who have worked alongside me. It is everyone’s sacrificial efforts that have sustained this institution’s mission and – I believe – will sustain her mission for years to come.”
Dr. Olive’s last day as president of Bluefield College will be July 31. He will be leaving Bluefield to become the executive vice president at Charleston Southern University, a sister Baptist institution in South Carolina.
“The opportunity to serve as executive vice president at an excellent faith-based university at this time in my career will be exciting and challenging,” said Dr. Olive. “This new opportunity provides me the ability to offer my leadership and experience as Charleston Southern pursues an aggressive and compelling strategic focus for excellence and growth in its academic programs.”
In addition to the university, Charleston, South Carolina, is well known for its tourism and in recent years has attracted major industries to the city, including Boeing, Volvo and a variety of technology companies.
“Charleston Southern University is an ever-expanding university within a rapidly growing economic region of South Carolina,” said Dr. Olive, “and I look forward to assisting Dr. Jairy Hunter and the CSU campus community in resource development to accomplish the university’s strategic initiatives, including a new Health Sciences building and a 3,500-seat athletic arena.”
The Bluefield College Board of Trustees will meet this week to determine an interim president to lead the college during the transition and until the appointment of the school’s 10th president.
“Losing our president can be compared to a sports team losing a coach, manager and general manager all at once, and we will certainly miss Dr. Olive,” said Dr. Bailey. “Fortunately for Bluefield College, our loss comes after great leadership. Our Board of Trustees will secure a strong interim president who will keep us moving forward. Our outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni deserve no less.”
Leave a Reply