Blog Posts by Westmont

Westmont has joined nearly 300 other institutions in launching the nation’s first prepaid tuition plan for private colleges and universities: the Independent 529 Plan.

The plan is similar to state-sponsored “529” prepaid tuition plans, but is unique in that it can be used at independent institutions throughout the nation. The program allows families to pay today’s tuition for certificates that will be redeemable years from now at any of the member institutions.

Photographer David Holt, painter Karin Young and art collector Nancy Wood have joined the Westmont Art Council.

As a vital link between the professional art world, the college and the community, Art Council members assist in establishing networks among these groups.

Holt, Young and Wood bring varied backgrounds and experiences to the council.

Dr. Edward Birch, who retired as executive vice president of Westmont in 2001, and Roy Goble of Pleasanton have joined the college’s board of trustees.

“I know the rest of the trustees join me in heartily welcoming Edward Birch and Roy Goble to the board,” Chairman David Eaton said. “We are delighted to have two people with such outstanding backgrounds willing to share their time, expertise and experiences with us.”

Westmont is listed among the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, which were released today.

The college, which has been on the magazine’s list of top national liberal arts colleges since the late 1980s, moved from the third tier (ranked roughly between 110th and 160th out of 217 colleges) to the second tier (ranked 97th ).

Award-winning filmmaker and professor Elizabeth Morgan will present “Veiled Truth: Reading Assia Djebar from the Outside” 3:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in Hieronymus Lounge in Westmont’s Kerrwood Hall.

The lecture, rescheduled from last spring, is free and open to the public.

Morgan is professor of literature and women in development at Eastern University. She is also a founding member of the Oregon Extension Gender Studies Mayterm and a popular lecturer on her home campus.

An exhibit of the emotionally charged and thought-provoking paintings of Chicago artist Tim Lowly, inspired by his severely developmentally disabled daughter, opens the fall season at Westmont’s Reynolds Gallery. “Trouble the Water” runs Aug. 20-Oct. 19.

Lowly will speak about his life and work during a Westmont chapel service 10:30 a.m. Oct. 18 in Murchison Gymnasium. A closing reception will be 4-6 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Westmont Art Center. All events are free and open to the public.