Starting July 1, a Crete address will mean a financial benefit for faculty members of Doane's residential campus in Crete.
Called the Crete Community Initiative, the project seeks to encourage faculty members who do not currently reside in Crete to choose Crete as their home, strengthening connections to both the campus and larger community.
With the initiative's approval, Doane will offer new permanent faculty members $5,000 above their agreed-upon compensation toward a down payment for property located in Crete or its two-mile zoning jurisdiction. The property must serve as their primary residence.
Doane will also cover reasonable moving costs for any current permanent faculty member who wishes to relocate to Crete.
In addition to benefiting Doane, having faculty live near the main campus can also contribute to the growth, development and economy of Crete.
"The College is committed to being a strong community citizen and this initiative is a result of that commitment. The long-term success of Doane and Crete is wrapped up with the other's success," Doane President Jonathan Brand said.
Doane will also make college-owned four-to-six-person apartment units available to faculty at a reduced monthly rate. The initiative calls for the apartment to be rented for up to two years as faculty seek permanent housing.
According to Dr. Maureen Franklin, dean of faculty, Doane realizes many factors determine where families choose to make their home, but has always encouraged faculty to live near the college.
"This is a residential college. Activities and events go on each day, evening and weekend. We like to have faculty presence at activities because it makes for a livelier academic atmosphere," she said. "We now have a financial means to reward their choice to live near campus and take a fresh look at living in Crete."
Franklin expects the initiative to benefit both Doane and its Saline County home.
"Generally, (faculty) will participate in both academic and community life," she said.
Doane employs 72 full-time appointed faculty members for its main campus. Currently, about 40 percent live in Crete and 60 percent elsewhere.
Doane Board of Trustee chair and 42-year Crete resident Jake Dering has seen firsthand the ways faculty and staff can enrich Crete with their leadership and service.
"To have (faculty and staff) here is just a blessing," Dering said.
For students, he said, it increases opportunities for faculty to impact their lives.
"We have faculty who live in Lincoln who do a wonderful job of interacting with students...but the odds are better for them to enrich students' lives if they live here," he said.
And as a "mainstreet person" and longtime Crete pharmacist, he said, having faculty in Crete helps the retail community.
If one looks at some of Doane's biggest names -- legendary names among students, such as professors Rossman, Buell and Peterson -- they enriched the Crete community with their service as well, Dering said.
Faculty members who receive the bonus from the initiative must purchase the property in Crete within three years of joining the Doane faculty in the permanent position.