2018 Education

2018 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2018 Page 47 The college also recently announced a move to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which will bring four-year athletics. Last year the college purchased and renovated what were privately owned apartment buildings located along the college’s north edge. The Lynx Village was opened this fall as student housing, offering single room suites with living rooms. Having been gifted the old St. Clara’s Manor, the college will provide off- campus apartments for upper classmen when remodeling is completed. A shuttle bus will operate to get students from the new housing to campus and back. The college already runs a shuttle bus around town for students to shop and go to the movie theater. Gerlach said Lincoln College is working to engage with the community. The school is hoping there will be more internships in businesses in the community. Currently, students are doing community service. Last fall, one group raked leaves for residents surrounding the campus and a group of athletes helped Guzzardo’s deliver Thanksgiving meals to families. Others are volunteering at the Humane Society and nursing homes. A community member at the college update meeting said she noticed a positive turnaround in how the community feels about Lincoln College. This year, the college has experienced an enrollment growth of 21 percent at the Lincoln campus and 27 percent for the Accelerated Bridge Education program. Gerlach said master’s degrees may be offered in a year or two, and doctorate degrees may possibly be offered within 10 years. Gerlach said the need to transform into a baccalaureate campus and expand the mission is a must for the college to be able to thrive. The future looks bright and the school will continue to grow. Gerlach said it is the renaissance of Lincoln University started many years ago by Abraham Lincoln’s friends. [Angela Reiners/Jim Youngquist]