“Christian higher ed doesn’t have a spending problem. It has an enrollment problem. The sooner it adjusts to resolve that situation, the healthier it will be.” John, is this something you address in your book? Because through cutting the low-number programs (of which mine is always one) and building up ones that are popular at the moment, don’t the universities think they are dealing with the enrollment problem?
That’s what they think. But they fail to consider the loss of trust that goes along with the program cuts. That extends beyond current students to friends, family, alumni, and churches. Also, the chase for new programs is expensive and uncertain. So the institutional identity is weakened, constituents are disillusioned, and the new program gamble is iffy at best. The alternative I present in the book is to expand the potential market beyond white evangelicals while doubling down on core academic mission.
(I’d love to come to CBU to talk about this even though your president wouldn’t me a fan)
Regarding the passage that precedes footnote 3 about the long-term faculty and teaching mostly service courses: Teaching 6 classes this semester (& over 100 students) at my Christian university and not even meeting my required course load with these, I am in this category.
Of course we are left to wonder how much money could be saved from cuts in the administrative department, compared to what will be saved from cuts in faculty positions.
John, your report is not surprising but disheartening. I've served on the Board of two Christian Universities and taught adjunct at SPU for 8 years. As a result I am somewhat familiar with the problem facing these schools. I am the beneficiary of a Christian College education and those years were among my most formative spiritually and intellectually. But that kind of school is now rare. I read your substack because I care about this issue deeply. The whole Christian (especially evangelical) subculture is in a slow motion free fall for a myriad of reasons. Chief among them are the economic drivers that over time have resulted in mission drift to suit "market" needs and trends. I could go on but you know the problems... The Christian Smith study revealing a church that has produced "moralistic, therapeutic deists" confirms to me that we need to go deeper in the "soul healing" ministry to which we are called. I agree with Karl Rahner,"In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic
(one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all.” I wrote and produced my St.Aub series for my own kids and it has gained a much wider following which tells me there are a lot of hungry souls out there. www.dickstaub.com
I served on the board at North Park University, then later at Simpson University. I attended Simpson when it was in San Francisco, primarily because my family had deep roots in the CMA. Regarding Orcas Island many make the pilgrimage here for the sheer beauty. If you’re ever out here, I’d be glad to break bread with you and talk further.😇❤️🙏
“Christian higher ed doesn’t have a spending problem. It has an enrollment problem. The sooner it adjusts to resolve that situation, the healthier it will be.” John, is this something you address in your book? Because through cutting the low-number programs (of which mine is always one) and building up ones that are popular at the moment, don’t the universities think they are dealing with the enrollment problem?
That’s what they think. But they fail to consider the loss of trust that goes along with the program cuts. That extends beyond current students to friends, family, alumni, and churches. Also, the chase for new programs is expensive and uncertain. So the institutional identity is weakened, constituents are disillusioned, and the new program gamble is iffy at best. The alternative I present in the book is to expand the potential market beyond white evangelicals while doubling down on core academic mission.
(I’d love to come to CBU to talk about this even though your president wouldn’t me a fan)
Regarding the passage that precedes footnote 3 about the long-term faculty and teaching mostly service courses: Teaching 6 classes this semester (& over 100 students) at my Christian university and not even meeting my required course load with these, I am in this category.
I’m going to turn footnote 3 into its own post on Monday.
Oof. Just oof.
Of course we are left to wonder how much money could be saved from cuts in the administrative department, compared to what will be saved from cuts in faculty positions.
order placed!
John, your report is not surprising but disheartening. I've served on the Board of two Christian Universities and taught adjunct at SPU for 8 years. As a result I am somewhat familiar with the problem facing these schools. I am the beneficiary of a Christian College education and those years were among my most formative spiritually and intellectually. But that kind of school is now rare. I read your substack because I care about this issue deeply. The whole Christian (especially evangelical) subculture is in a slow motion free fall for a myriad of reasons. Chief among them are the economic drivers that over time have resulted in mission drift to suit "market" needs and trends. I could go on but you know the problems... The Christian Smith study revealing a church that has produced "moralistic, therapeutic deists" confirms to me that we need to go deeper in the "soul healing" ministry to which we are called. I agree with Karl Rahner,"In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic
(one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all.” I wrote and produced my St.Aub series for my own kids and it has gained a much wider following which tells me there are a lot of hungry souls out there. www.dickstaub.com
Where did you go to school and where were you a board member? I hope you like the book. I’d love to come back to Orcas to talk about it sometime!
I served on the board at North Park University, then later at Simpson University. I attended Simpson when it was in San Francisco, primarily because my family had deep roots in the CMA. Regarding Orcas Island many make the pilgrimage here for the sheer beauty. If you’re ever out here, I’d be glad to break bread with you and talk further.😇❤️🙏