HOPE FOR TOMORROW

When a place is called Hope, getting mired in pessimism just wouldn’t be right.

And so, while the college faces the challenges resulting from the most significant global economic crisis since the Great Depression, Hope is also looking ahead with a longer view, its focus on how best to continue to do what it has always done. It is, in fact, what the college’s mission statement, grounded in nearly 150 years of history, calls Hope to do: “educate students for lives of leadership and service in a global society through academic and co-curricular programs of recognized excellence in the liberal arts and in the context of the historic Christian faith.” read more of the October 2009, News from Hope College article

PRESIDENT JAMES E. BULTMAN

Dr. James E. Bultman has served as the 11th president of Hope College since July, 1999. A 1963 graduate of Hope College, Dr. Bultman returned to his alma mater with an extensive background in higher education leadership.

His emphasis as president has been in assuring that Hope provides students with an exceptional educational experience in a vibrant and caring Christian environment.

Under his leadership, Hope continues to consistently rank at the top among national liberal arts colleges for its emphasis on research-based learning. In the initial U.S. News and World Report ranking for undergraduate research and creative activity, Hope ranked fourth in the country. Faculty perform as teachers and scholars in exceptional ways. Academic programs are recognized as among the best.

Several academic and co-curricular programs have received distinction through a variety of external measures in recent years. The college’s Van Wylen Library received the “Excellence in Academic Libraries Award” from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) as the single best college division library in the country. The college's student-run social activities program received the “Excellence in Programming Award” from the Mid-America region of the National Association of Campus Activities. Several faculty members have been honored by professional organizations for scholarship and service.

Under Dr. Bultman’s leadership, Hope completed a highly successful fund raising campaign that has allowed the most ambitious campus development program in college history. Campaign commitments of nearly $140 million have funded more than $80 million in new facility construction projects. During this same time period, an additional $20 million was given to the annual Hope fund. read the the president's biography / photos and more