Trustee Update, May 2007
Over the past few months, a great deal has been happening at Puget Sound Christian College. I want to give you a brief update of what has transpired, and then share some of the Board's conclusions.
In June 2006, several former Trustees and a few others were asked to come alongside the current Trustees in an advisory capacity to help us think through the best way to proceed forward. Out of that June meeting, Steve Edwards was asked to serve as Transitional Director, a kind of interim President, particularly for cultivating relationships with supporters of the college. He agreed and has served in that capacity for the last nine months. The months of September '06 through February '07 were especially fruitful. The Board established benchmarks and a timeline by which we could assess the health of the school through the year.
At the 2007 January Board meeting, the Trustees decided to keep moving forward, believing that some of the financial issues facing the college were finally being resolved. Momentum seemed to be growing. We looked to outside advice to help us formulate a fundraising plan and encouraged recruitment to push hard, so that our enrollment in the fall would not dip. It was our goal to combine these efforts to pay down debt and end the fiscal year as healthy as we had been in a long, long time.
In February, 2007, Dr. Krause and Steve Edwards went to Florida to attend the annual ABHE Accreditation meeting, where they learned that our accreditation was being removed. We were given the opportunity to appeal, but the news changed everything for fundraising and recruiting. It put an immediate roadblock in what we could or couldn't say. Continuing without accreditation was not an option, because without it, there is no federal student financial aid.
It was at this time that we approached Hope International University to inquire about a partnership between our two schools. Steve shared the ABHE news with Dr. John Derry, President of HIU and discussed with him some partnership possibilities. Since we were sister schools, out of the same non-denominational heritage, we believed that coming together would not severely impact our constituency, and might actually be a lift for PSCC; because HIU brought regional accreditation to the table.
The HIU Team came to PSCC and met with our Administration and set forth a few partnership options. At the same time we appealed the ABHE decision regarding our accreditation.
HIU was not able to move with us in pursuing a partnership that would accommodate our current program for our students. We want to thank Dr. Derry and the HIU leadership for the gracious effort that they have made on our behalf. Since this partnership was not a viable option and our accreditation was in serious jeopardy, the Trustees were asked to evaluate our status. Due to the mounting liabilities, the loss of recruitment and the slow down of fundraising -
The decision of the Trustees on Friday, April 27, 2007, was to move toward closure of PSCC.
In preservation of our heritage in and honor of those who have gone before us; I am asking you for help. We must do everything that we can to finish well. We need to pay every bill owed. We bring honor to Jesus by the way we close. Let me say it again - Puget Sound Christian College needs to finish well. We need to close with dignity, for the Kingdom's sake. We want nothing less than the name of Jesus to be honored in how we handle this difficult time.
Friends, the key to closing at this juncture is to bring honor to God. We are asking all alumni, all who have been associated with the school, all who have been beneficiaries of the college's legacy, all who have been supportive of the PSCC mission, all who love the Kingdom, to take one more opportunity to be financially generous toward Puget Sound Christian College. When someone dies, particularly a Christian, we grieve the death but we celebrate the life. I am asking you to join us - we need your help now more than ever - in celebrating the 57 years of life that God has graciously given to PSCC.
Can you help us do this? Please consider sending a financial gift to the college so we can close memorializing our heritage and leave a lasting mark on our community that honors the Lord.
On Behalf of the Board of Trustees of Puget Sound Christian College,In June 2006, several former Trustees and a few others were asked to come alongside the current Trustees in an advisory capacity to help us think through the best way to proceed forward. Out of that June meeting, Steve Edwards was asked to serve as Transitional Director, a kind of interim President, particularly for cultivating relationships with supporters of the college. He agreed and has served in that capacity for the last nine months. The months of September '06 through February '07 were especially fruitful. The Board established benchmarks and a timeline by which we could assess the health of the school through the year.
At the 2007 January Board meeting, the Trustees decided to keep moving forward, believing that some of the financial issues facing the college were finally being resolved. Momentum seemed to be growing. We looked to outside advice to help us formulate a fundraising plan and encouraged recruitment to push hard, so that our enrollment in the fall would not dip. It was our goal to combine these efforts to pay down debt and end the fiscal year as healthy as we had been in a long, long time.
In February, 2007, Dr. Krause and Steve Edwards went to Florida to attend the annual ABHE Accreditation meeting, where they learned that our accreditation was being removed. We were given the opportunity to appeal, but the news changed everything for fundraising and recruiting. It put an immediate roadblock in what we could or couldn't say. Continuing without accreditation was not an option, because without it, there is no federal student financial aid.
It was at this time that we approached Hope International University to inquire about a partnership between our two schools. Steve shared the ABHE news with Dr. John Derry, President of HIU and discussed with him some partnership possibilities. Since we were sister schools, out of the same non-denominational heritage, we believed that coming together would not severely impact our constituency, and might actually be a lift for PSCC; because HIU brought regional accreditation to the table.
The HIU Team came to PSCC and met with our Administration and set forth a few partnership options. At the same time we appealed the ABHE decision regarding our accreditation.
HIU was not able to move with us in pursuing a partnership that would accommodate our current program for our students. We want to thank Dr. Derry and the HIU leadership for the gracious effort that they have made on our behalf. Since this partnership was not a viable option and our accreditation was in serious jeopardy, the Trustees were asked to evaluate our status. Due to the mounting liabilities, the loss of recruitment and the slow down of fundraising -
The decision of the Trustees on Friday, April 27, 2007, was to move toward closure of PSCC.
In preservation of our heritage in and honor of those who have gone before us; I am asking you for help. We must do everything that we can to finish well. We need to pay every bill owed. We bring honor to Jesus by the way we close. Let me say it again - Puget Sound Christian College needs to finish well. We need to close with dignity, for the Kingdom's sake. We want nothing less than the name of Jesus to be honored in how we handle this difficult time.
Friends, the key to closing at this juncture is to bring honor to God. We are asking all alumni, all who have been associated with the school, all who have been beneficiaries of the college's legacy, all who have been supportive of the PSCC mission, all who love the Kingdom, to take one more opportunity to be financially generous toward Puget Sound Christian College. When someone dies, particularly a Christian, we grieve the death but we celebrate the life. I am asking you to join us - we need your help now more than ever - in celebrating the 57 years of life that God has graciously given to PSCC.
Can you help us do this? Please consider sending a financial gift to the college so we can close memorializing our heritage and leave a lasting mark on our community that honors the Lord.
David G. Ladd, Chairman