[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        TRIBUTE TO LYLE ROELOFS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, when President Lyle Roelofs joined 
Berea College in 2012, the school faced threats from many directions. 
It had fallen behind its peer institutions in infrastructure and 
student programming. Its endowment soon came under threat from partisan 
efforts that could have forced Berea to renege on its promise of 
providing a high-quality, tuition-free education to more than 1,600 
students. But because of the work of President Roelofs, the school is 
now thriving like never before. Today, in light of President Roelofs's 
announcement that he will retire in 2023, I would like to pay tribute 
to one of the most generous and hard-working champions of higher 
education in Kentucky.
  It is easy for outsiders to overlook Berea College. But nestled 
between the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains and the Bluegrass 
plains is one of the most significant institutions of higher learning 
in the entire United States. Founded by abolitionists before the Civil 
War, Berea College was the first racially integrated and coeducational 
college in the entire American South. Berea fostered inclusion and 
diversity at a time when it was difficult--even dangerous--to do so.
  That grand history made the threats to Berea's tuition-free model 
even more worrisome. In many ways, the school embodies the unique 
values that make America special; it is an institution where anyone, of 
any background, has a chance to compete, learn new skills, and succeed. 
To some observers, though, Berea's work college system seemed outdated 
in an era when schools offer increasingly flashy amenities for ever-
increasing tuition rates.
  Roelofs, however, was firmly committed to Berea's foundational 
principles. He quickly got to work to defend the school's legacy and 
protect its students. Nearly a decade later, the fruits of his hard 
work are apparent. Berea has updated its residence halls, developed new 
educational programs, restored its surrounding forest ecosystem, and 
steadily climbed college ranking lists. Most importantly, Berea College 
is better equipped than ever to remain true to its tuition-free 
commitment.
  I had the opportunity to get to know Lyle when we worked together to 
protect his school from an unintended tax penalty that arose when 
partisan lawmakers targeted the ability of schools like Berea to use 
the returns on their endowments to provide tuition-free education to 
low-income students. If these legislators had been successful, they 
would have forced Berea College to abandon its tuition-free promise and 
turn its back on its students, whose families make, on average, less 
than $30,000 per year. But because of the work of Berea College 
President Lyle Roelofs and his tireless advocacy efforts in Congress, 
we were able to work together to ward off these tax hikes and protect 
Berea College for years to come.
  President Roelofs's leadership and care are astounding, and his 
commitment to Berea College is heroic. I know that each student who 
attends Berea is profoundly grateful for his work. On behalf of the 
Senate, I would like to congratulate President Roelofs on his well-
earned retirement and thank him for his service to the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky.

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