By John Derry
For the past 20 years I”ve saved the annual Christian Standard issue that highlights enrollment statistics and recent developments in the colleges and universities of the Christian church. That file shows me just how much our schools have changed. We”ve expanded programs, added facilities, relocated to new campuses, changed names, and in some cases ceased to exist.
Among the accredited colleges and universities of our fellowship, enrollment has increased more than 70 percent, with some institutions more than doubling in size since 1987. The most recent data for independent Christian church colleges indicates those schools now have almost 10,000 students enrolled, ranging in size from less than 100 to more than 1,000. Twenty years ago, 17 of our schools had fewer than 300 students and only 3 had more than 500. According to the statistics published in this issue, 8 of these accredited schools today have less than 300 and 9 have more than 500.
These are encouraging trends and reflect what has been happening nationwide in Christian higher education. For example, a cappella church of Christ colleges and universities have also grown during that time, and although they have fewer schools, their enrollment has increased about 50 percent to well over 30,000 students.
Generally speaking, the higher education landscape has changed in America. Not long ago, the typical college student was an 18-year-old who moved away from home and into a residence hall on campus to attend classes for four years. And while that is still the case for many, it”s no longer the only way to pursue higher education.
Today, 44 percent of undergraduate students are older than 25. Technology has forever changed the way we approach education. A director of learning resources or librarian can testify to how challenging it has been to keep up with the latest advancements. The growing diversity among students also extends beyond age and economic status. By the year 2020, it is anticipated 46 percent of those in college will be people of color.
What does the future hold for our colleges and universities? Over the past 125 years, we”ve done a pretty good job of meeting the needs of the church. We can point to thousands of outstanding men and women around the world who are successfully leading dynamic churches, mission works, schools, and parachurch organizations. Other graduates have pursued careers that demonstrate how the “priesthood of believers” can impact the world for Christ in places and ways that no one else could. Their education at one of our colleges made it possible. Where would we be now without the visionary foresight of men and women long ago who established schools to prepare the next generation of church leaders?
However, as is the case with investing in the stock market, “past performance is no guarantee of future success.” It may be a source of confidence and encouragement, but we risk becoming ineffective if we fail to plan strategically and innovatively. What factors should we consider as we evaluate the future of the schools in our movement?
Accreditation
For hundreds of years, church leaders were equipped in a variety of ways. Some studied independently. Some learned from a mentor. Some received knowledge at the feet of a master teacher. No one thought much about college accreditation. Individuals who assumed positions of service were affirmed on the basis of what they knew and how well they could perform.
But today in America, college accreditation has become an important issue. Especially among those observing Restoration Movement schools, accreditation has been a matter of ongoing discussion
In many countries accreditation is required of all schools, but in the United States it is voluntary. Colleges can choose to pursue accreditation with one of six regional associations or with a specialized organization that focuses on a particular field of study, such as the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
So if accreditation is not mandatory, why bother with it? Certainly we can prepare for ministry or mission work without limiting educational options to accredited institutions. Is the purpose of accreditation simply to make it easier to transfer academic credit to another school? Do faculty and administrators go through the rigors of accreditation merely for prestige or status?
Accreditation commissions exist for many kinds of organizations, such as hospitals. The process requires meeting certain standards of excellence and providing evidence that the mission is being achieved. If I”m going to receive treatment for a health problem, it is reassuring to know an independent agency objectively confirms the hospital has met specific requirements of quality health care.
When our colleges and universities receive accreditation, it is no small achievement. They are to be commended for attaining that level of excellence and credibility. This stamp of approval says, “This college is accomplishing its mission, and you can be assured you will get a quality education.”
We should applaud our schools and encourage them in the accreditation process. When they achieve this milestone, we all win. It”s not simply recognition, it”s a matter of stewardship and ensuring we”re giving our very best in preparing leaders for the Lord”s church.
Accountability
In A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of Higher Education, the Commission on the Future of Higher Education reported, “U.S. higher education needs to improve in dramatic ways, changing from a system primarily based on reputation to one based on performance.” The pressure is on higher education to provide evidence that the public is getting a good return on its investment. It”s not enough to build a good brand image, become accredited, or produce slick promotional material.
Our colleges and universities are accountable to our churches. These few schools are all we have, and many of them are very fragile, trying to control costs and use scarce resources wisely. There are plenty of other fine Christian universities around the country, but they may not have the same commitment to the teachings and principles that have helped us establish vibrant and growing churches and missions.
A little over a year ago, 10 faculty members at Hope International University prepared a brief study guide that we use in our spiritual formation groups. It”s entitled, “Hope for the Future: The Contemporary Values of the Restoration Movement.” We understand approaches to ministry change over time and that programs in churches are very different than they were a generation ago. But we want to instill within our students an appreciation for values that are timeless and applicable to this generation as well as the next.
Our schools have an obligation to ensure they provide an education balanced between a solid biblical foundation, professional skills, and personal/spiritual maturity. They must be fully committed to serving the churches that created them, while at the same time opening their doors to all who have an appreciation for the qualities that make our schools unique.
Christian colleges and universities are accountable to the constituents who provide financial support, send students, and lift them up in prayer. And our churches have a responsibility to ensure we don”t lose a precious asset that is producing the next generation of leaders. Should the college or university in a particular area not be providing what the constituents think is appropriate, it is in everyone”s best interest to have an open dialogue about specific needs and work together to make necessary adjustments.
Accessibility
We can”t expect to do things in Christian higher education the way we”ve always done them. It is encouraging to see the innovative ways many of our schools are responding to the needs of the church by providing educational opportunities in partnership with local congregations. A few examples include establishing research centers, offering courses online, teaching classes at local congregations, sponsoring conferences on campus, consulting with church leaders, conducting professional development seminars and certificate programs, and implementing degree-completion programs.
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to quit a job, move to a campus, and study for four years or more. We need churches and colleges working together to create partnerships that meet the immediate needs of the local church, provide relevant practical ministry preparation, and deliver knowledge and skills in a manner that is accessible to a broader population.
I envision a future for our schools that will be challenging but promising. Our churches are looking for the best leaders possible, and often where those potential leaders attended college is not a priority consideration. That”s understandable, because each candidate is evaluated based on his or her specific qualifications, and educational background is only one component.
If our colleges lose the characteristics that distinguish them from the broader world of Christian higher education, and if our churches no longer perceive what they offer as being unique, it will be especially difficult to retain that historic connection we enjoy and sometimes fail to appreciate. Together we can think boldly about ways to strengthen these ties and develop leaders who will serve the church and impact the world for Christ.
Dr. John Derry is in his fifth year as president of Hope International University, Fullerton, California. He has also served as president of Dallas Christian College in Texas, as a vice president at Milligan College in Tennessee, and has held church and campus ministries in Illinois. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College, has master”s degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary and Western Illinois University, a doctorate in higher education administration from East Tennessee State University, and an honorary doctor of theology from Seoul Christian University. Dr. Derry has served on the boards of several church-related and community organizations and has presented workshops and seminars throughout the United States and in Korea on topics related to Christian leadership and to higher education.
He is a member of the Fullerton Rotary Club and attends Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton. He and his wife, Jane, have two children and five grandchildren.
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