Report 22

Huntington College (3)

1. Academics | 2. Finances/Enrollment/Student Life | 3. Major Issues/Strategic Plans

G. Blair Dowden
Director of Education

Part II -- Major Issues

University Status

The Huntington College Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the institution to Huntington University. The change will take place on June 1, 2005.

I enthusiastically welcome the Trustees' decision to change our name to Huntington University. The change reflects what we have already become and what we yet will be. The new name celebrates our heritage and positions us well for the future.

Huntington will continue to be an institution that stresses the liberal arts and the Christian faith as foundational for our educational program. Our name may change; our mission will not.

This decision was made after a year-long study and careful deliberation. In October 2003, the Board of Trustees appointed a task force to explore the possibility of a change from college to university status. Dr. Jerry Smith, a professor and administrator at the College since 1967, was appointed chair of the task force. Other members included trustees Gary Dilley and Kelly Savage, communication professor Dr. Lance Clark, Student Senate president Joanna Shenk, Alumni Board member Janet Clark, and community representative Steve Zahn.

Throughout the past year, the task force surveyed current students, faculty, staff, parents, prospective students, and representatives of the regional community. Most constituents were supportive of the change, some enthusiastically so.

The task force also examined trends in higher education and studied the experiences of other similar institutions which had recently transitioned from college to university.

A similar study was undertaken by Huntington College in 1995. At that time, trustees decided against a move to university status. However, since that earlier study, the institution has expanded its enrollment and added new graduate and professional programs.

With the addition of several new academic programs (see Part I), Huntington College has increased its academic offerings to over 70 undergraduate and graduate degrees and concentrations. The strength and diversity of the Huntington curriculum warranted the change to university status.

During its research, the task force found that there is a nationwide trend of colleges changing to university. Since 1980, 94 members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools have adopted university status. Other regional institutions that have adopted university status in the recent past include Saint Francis, Spring Arbor, Bluffton, Anderson, Findlay, Tri-State, and Indiana Wesleyan. With several peer institutions changing to university status in recent years, some felt it was time for Huntington to consider the change, as well.

The task force noted that of the top 20 institutions with which Huntington College competes for students, 17 are universities. The task force discovered that many prospective students, their parents, and the general public perceived universities to be more prestigious and comprehensive than colleges.

The task force surveyed various constituent groups and learned that some were in favor (some strongly in favor) of the proposal to become a university. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the Alumni Board, Huntington College Foundation Board, Parents Council, and President's Advisory Council on Excellence all endorsed the change.

Of course, this change does not mark the first time the institution has changed its name. The campus opened in 1897 as Central College, named for its central geographic location within the various conferences of the United Brethren Church. It was not until 1917 that the institution changed its name to Huntington College.

Task force members indicated that as the campus continues to grow and develop, it will remain focused on its heritage and mission.

"We're taking a step forward," Lance Clark said. "We're not going to sacrifice our traditional Christian heritage, our liberal-arts curriculum, or the close relationship between students and faculty. This will still be a very tight community with evangelical Christian values and traditions."

"It's important that we continue to emphasize that we are a Christian liberal-arts institution," said Dr. Jerry Smith, who served as academic dean for 16 years. "The name is less important than the mission, and our purpose continues to be to provide Christ-centered education."

Theological Controversy

This quadrennium has been characterized by significant discussions between the denomination and the College concerning two theological positions espoused by a member of the Huntington faculty, Dr. John Sanders. Larger issues of institutional mission, educational philosophy, and academic freedom were also debated.

During its winter business meeting, the Huntington College Board of Trustees conditionally granted Dr. John Sanders, research professor of Bible and Religion, a one-year sabbatical with full salary and benefits for 2005-2006, with the understanding that this will be his last year of association with the College.

Controversy has surrounded Dr. Sanders since his initial appointment at Huntington College in 1998. Concerns were raised by some constituents over Sanders' views on Open Theism and Inclusivism, which were presented in several books published by InterVarsity Press, including The God Who Risks, What About Those Who Have Never Heard?, and The Openness of God (co-authored with Dr. William Hasker, Huntington College Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, and others).

Sanders' views drew criticism from some members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, as well as other evangelical groups. The Evangelical Theological Society debated removing Sanders from membership when some members charged that Sanders' views on open theism violated the organization's doctrinal stance on scriptural inerrancy. Ultimately, the charges were not sustained and Sanders retained his membership.

Throughout the controversy, Sanders received much scrutiny. In 2001, a special review panel found that Sanders' views did not specifically violate the Huntington College Statement of Faith, and the following spring, students named Sanders "Professor of the Year." But the National Board of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ ruled in 2002 that Sanders' "'openness' view of God's foreknowledge is contrary to our denomination's historic understanding."

When Sanders became eligible for tenure at Huntington College in 2003, the Board of Trustees attempted to resolve the situation by granting Sanders a three-year "rolling contract" as research professor of philosophy and religion. (See related article, Summer 2003.) Sanders agreed to teach courses other than systematic theology. The contract postponed consideration of tenure and specified that either Dr. Sanders or the Board of Trustees could terminate the contract at any time. The Board chose to exercise that option in January 2005.

In a statement issued January 22, 2005, the Board of Trustees expressed that it "is committed to maintaining the College's earned reputation and historic identity, rather than being identified by theological controversy or becoming known as a center for a theological position inconsistent with our past."

The Board also expressed concern for the welfare and future of Dr. John Sanders and his family. "We…trust that God will lead him to use his considerable intellectual and pedagogical skills in another institution of higher education," the Board said.

The statement acknowledged the deep divisions and concerns expressed by constituents on all sides of the controversy. "We remain committed to support academic freedom as an institution of Christian higher education," the Board said. "As a Christian community, we must rely on God's grace and trust Him to provide healing and recovery of a sense of trust, shared values, and community."

The full statement is reproduced here.

Church/College Relationship

In early December 2004, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ announced the results of its national referendum on a proposal to join the Missionary Church, USA. The proposal received only 44% of the vote, less than needed to place the issue on the agenda of the denomination's National Conference in 2005. The "join-and-receive" proposal will not be given further consideration at this time.

As I indicated to the campus community in December, this is a time for Huntington College to affirm its commitment to the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and to pledge our assistance as the denomination's leadership considers next steps. The denomination will continue to face many challenges. We deeply desire to see our parent church grow and prosper as a healthy, effective ministry.

Our joint Church/College Structure Task Force, which had been appointed to study the implications of possible affiliation with the Missionary Church or non-denominational status, immediately redirected its efforts toward strengthening relationships between Huntington College and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

In January 2005, the task force brought several recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding amendments to the College's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Several key changes were made by the Board to protect, preserve, and strengthen the institution's Christ-centered, evangelical character. These amendments included inserting the College's Statement of Faith, Philosophy of Education, and Mission Statement into the Articles and Bylaws. The historic and ongoing relationship between Huntington College and the United Brethren Church was also affirmed. Pertinent sections are included at here.

We believe these amendments reflect the institution's Christian commitments. The responsibility to preserve the mission and Christ-centered focus of Huntington College rests with each generation of campus leaders. Trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff all play a role in steering the institution. These amended sections of the Articles and Bylaws will form a spiritual rudder that will help keep the institution on course.

Part III -- Strategic Plans

Current Initiatives

I firmly believe that Huntington College's best days are still ahead. Reaching our institutional goals, however, will not happen by accident. It will require bold action. Last fall, we identified a number of priority issues. Our initiatives in these areas will help address challenges and move the College forward. Current priorities include:

• Increase enrollment and retention.
• Implement university status recommendation.
• Continue to develop newly approved academic programs.
• Explore a potential nursing major and additional programs, degrees, and locations for EXCEL.
• Develop a plan to address faculty/staff salary issues.
• Explore developing a seamless spiritual formation program.
• Continue to develop the new Enterprise Resource Center (ERC).
• Follow up from Higher Learning Commission visit and prepare for NCATE review.
• Begin new strategic planning process

Planning for the Future

Over the past two decades, Huntington College has developed a campus culture of strategic planning. To the best of our ability, we seek to anticipate changes in the higher education marketplace and prepare Huntington College to address the challenges of an increasingly competitive environment.

Our campus has just concluded its 2000-2005 Strategic Long-Range Plan. This five-year plan outlined some ambitious objectives:

• Develop a rich learning environment where faith integration, academic inquiry, and program innovation are central.
• Manage growth in ways that value the individual and build community.
• Promote opportunities, behaviors, and values that will enhance the intercultural perspective of students, faculty, and staff.
• Enhance our mission by providing appropriate financial, technological and physical resources.
• Pursue enrollment growth to 1300 (1150 FTE) by 2005.

Over the past five years, Huntington College has accomplished much in these areas. Some of our advances have been outlined in this report. Additional details may be found on our web site at www.huntington.edu/slrp.

In other areas, we have not yet achieved our objectives. As described above, enrollment has been a particular challenge since our peak in 2002.

As we look to the future, we will reassess these initiatives and recommit ourselves to the growth and development of Huntington University. A Strategic Planning Committee has been formed with representatives of our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and student body. Over the next year, this team will work with a consultant and with the entire campus community to outline goals for the future.

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I am thankful for the people who make Huntington College an exceptional institution of Christ-centered higher learning. Our partnership with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ strengthens our mission. Working together, we will continue "to educate men and women to impact our world for Christ."

In pursuit of this mission, we rely on the denomination in many ways. We depend upon the Church to provide:

• prayer support for the administration, faculty, staff, and student body.
• trustees and other volunteer leaders.
• promotion of Huntington College to prospective students.
• support for and participation in College events, programs and other services.
• dialogue on important social, moral, theological, and ethical issues.
• individual and corporate financial support generated by the denomination.
• ministry opportunities for our students.

Huntington College highly values its nurturing relationship with the denomination. We are grateful for the ongoing engagement of our Church constituency.

And I am grateful for the Lord's blessing upon Huntington College in these challenging times. The words of Psalm 127 ring true: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."