Students Confirmed for Fall Enrollment Up 43 Percent

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (APRIL 3, 2019)—Leaders at Salem Academy and College are heralding the successes of phase I of the institution’s strategic plan, which included a $10 million campaign called Step Up for Salem. The oldest educational institution for girls and women in the country, Salem has raised $13.1 million date—with three months remaining before the self-imposed deadline of June 30, 2019.

The $13.1 million raised includes a $2 million matching gift from BB&T and is 75 percent more than Salem has raised during any prior year. As a result of the campaign, Salem has reduced its debt by more than $5 million.

On all fronts, Salem’s leadership is calling phase I of the strategic plan, which includes the implementation of an aggressive admissions strategy, a success. As of March 31, applications to Salem College have increased 22 percent over last year, and the number of students who have confirmed their enrollment to the College for the fall is up 43 percent.

Other phase I initiatives included balancing the institution’s annual budget, selling excess outlying properties, and introducing a variety of new programs to help Salem students and faculty excel.

“The Salem team has worked extremely effectively since last summer to execute our short-term plan—which included getting our financial house in order—with multi-dimensional success,” Salem Academy and College President Sandra J. Doran said. “Phase I of our plan is working. We have ‘right sized’ the budget and are going to stay within that budget as we continue with our strategic plan.”

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the record-setting pace of the Step Up for Salem campaign,” she said. “Salem is a much stronger institution today than it was only months ago, and this means that we are in a better position to continue moving full-steam ahead.”

Doran said Salem has experienced a 93 percent increase in total gifts this year and a 92 percent increase over 2018 in the number of donors. More than 2,400 contributors responded to Step Up for Salem’s call with cash gifts. The participation goal of the campaign is 3,000 donors by June 30, and Salem expects that additional contributors this spring will help reach that goal.

“Our work in recent months has paid off in many ways, but one of the best ways is that we have had an opportunity to reconnect with many friends and alumnae and energize support for Salem,” Doran said. “We are particularly pleased that more than 75 percent of contributions to Step Up for Salem came from Salem alumnae, and we are humbled by the outpouring of support from the Winston-Salem community.”

“There are no plans to slow our momentum, and the Step Up for Salem campaign will continue as planned through June 30,” Salem Academy and College Board Chair McDara P. Folan, III said. “Phase II of the strategic plan, which will be developed in a few months, will focus on the long term as Salem prepares our students for the challenges of today and tomorrow. We have big ideas and big plans for the future of Salem Academy and College, and we need continued investment in our mission.”

Doran said the institution will hold Celebrate Salem! weekend on April 26 through 28 to welcome all alumnae back to campus and to celebrate the success of the campaign.

About Salem Academy and College

Salem Academy and College is the oldest educational institution for girls and women in the United States. With more than 18,000 alumnae who serve as entrepreneurs, physicians, researchers, artists, lawyers, teachers, community volunteers, and corporate executives, Salem Academy and Salem College continues to educate the next generation of global leaders. For more information about Salem Academy, please visit salemacademy.com.  For more information about Salem College, please visit salem.edu.