If
it is true that the past is prologue to the future, then MissouriBaptist
College has a bright future ahead. I feel most fortunate to have come
to the College at a time when it was poised for success. Though we
have faced a number of challenges over the past five years, the pleasure
of serving this dynamic institution is undiminished.
Dr. Bob Agee recently told our trustees that colleges typically go through three stages in development. The first is the survival stage where problems tend to be related to keeping the place going. The second is the success stage where problems of growth and expansion dominate, and the last is the significance stage where the college begins concerning itself with the problems of the larger society and even the world.
Missouri Baptist College is solidly in the second stage. Consider these key indicators.
1. Headcount enrollment has increased 55% since 1994 from 1,913 to 2,974. Full time equivalent (FTE) has increased 45% from 1,069 to 1,545 over the same period.
2. The total revenue budget has grown from $6.9 million to $12.4 million in the past five years.
3. The $10 million Spirit of Excellence Campaign exceeded its goal one year early.
4. A new dormitory has been added, construction on a Chapel/Fine Arts building is underway, all buildings have been improved and upgraded, and over $500,000 has been spent on improving campus technology.
5. Students have consistently ranked MBC higher than national group means on Student Satisfaction Surveys.
These are just a few indicators of the way God has blessed the faculty, staff, students, and trustees over the past few years. Of course, these successes beg the question, "Where do we go from here?"
We have a dynamic strategic plan that guides us in our decision making. It is rooted in the understanding that we are unapologetically and unashamedly Christian and Baptist. We are first and foremost a learning institution, but we are a learning institution under the control of Christ.
One of our highest priorities will be the development of facilities. We need a new dormitory to accommodate the increasing numbers of students from outside the St. Louis area, an indoor stadium and recreation complex to meet the needs of a growing student body and intercollegiate program, and a student center to provide for the extracurricular needs of students.
Another emphasis will be on the development of productive partnerships with businesses and other educational institutions. It is becoming increasingly difficult to go it alone. There are a number of opportunities to expand our offerings to students by partnering with other colleges. There are also ways to enrich the college and student opportunities by partnering with businesses that offer internships as well as facilities. The New Directions Strategic Plan adopted by the Missouri Baptist Convention will give the College the opportunity to be at the forefront of training leadership for our Missouri Baptist churches.
In the days ahead it will be necessary for us to focus more on the delivery of services to our students. This increased orientation to the student-as-customer will require new ways of thinking and operating. In that same vein we will also need to focus more carefully on the continuous improvement of every area of the College.
Ultimately, everything we do must focus on the importance of good teaching. We have a rigorous process in place for hiring and evaluating teachers. We will become even more diligent in recruiting people who have not only a passion for their subject, but are also equally as passionate about teaching under the Lordship of Christ.
The future is indeed bright for Missouri Baptist College. With clarity of mission, a commitment to hard work, the grace of our Loving Father, and an ear to the Spirit, we march confidently into the next century.
