wfn.org | 3 financially strapped PC(USA)-related colleges continue to struggle

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Note #6197 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

23-September-2000
00336

3 financially strapped PC(USA)-related colleges continue to struggle but
find hope for the future

Sheldon Jackson College on less shaky ground after last year's debate to
close

by Evan Silverstein

MONTREAT, N.C. -- While three of eight Presbyterian-related racial-ethnic
colleges continue grappling with crucial financial concerns, the
institutions are successfully finding ways to keep their doors open as they
retool for the future.

	That was the report heard Thursday by members of the National Ministries
Division (NMD) Committee at the Montreat Conference Center. The most
critically  strapped of the schools is Mary Holmes College in West Point,
Mississippi.

	I wouldn't call Mary Holmes "stable and secure but at least we've righted
the ship, but we're still in the storm," said Duncan Ferguson, coordinator
for the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s office of higher education, as committee
members gathered here for the fall meeting of the General Assembly Council
(GAC).

	The school's new acting President Nathaniel Jackson and members of his
staff recently met with a representative from Growth Design Corp., a
consulting firm that specializes in assisting small private institutions in
crisis. The group is assisting the college in rebuilding its infrastructure.

	"The major focus will be in the areas of fiscal development, funds
development and recruitment," said a report updating the committee on Mary
Holmes.

	The consulting firm was to have an assessment to Jackson and school
trustees by the end of last month. The institution's fall enrollment is
anticipated to be between 350 to 400 students and the report said Jackson
"feels confident that Mary Holmes will overcome the challenge it currently
faces."

	Additionally, the college has signed and returned a contract that fulfills
requirements established by the GAC allowing Mary Holmes to borrow $460,000
from the Council to pay a debt owed to the U.S. Department of Education for
student financial aid.

	Meanwhile, there are positive signs taking place on the campus of Knoxville
College, another school that has struggled in recent years with financial
and accreditation woes.

	Under new leadership the Knoxville, Tenn., institution has seen a
significant increase in student enrollment the past two years, which is
expected to be 300 this fall. School officials hope to apply for
re-accreditation of its academic programs by year's end, which would qualify
the school for federal student financial aid and likely help to expand
enrollment.

	Despite financial problems, Knoxville College continues finding ways to
negotiate alternate means of raising funds. For example, the school and a
national corporation have reached a tentative agreement for a joint venture,
which entails the company building a convenience store that would be managed
by students from the college. Both parties would share in the profits.
	At Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, the institution continues
making progress in redeveloping its infrastructure, the report said. That's
good news for a school which just last December trustees debated closing due
to financial problems. Despite a cash flow situation that remains
constricted by delays in two anticipated land sales that make up $2 million
of the school's 2001 fiscal year budget, Alaska's oldest college has been
current and timely in satisfying all long-term debt payroll, payroll taxes,
insurance, permits and other expenses.

	An additional land sale about to be closed for $250,000 is expected to
provide short-term financial relief. Student enrollment is expected to be
110 this fall.

	In other action, the NMD committee:

* approved revisions to recommendations pertaining to the Workgroup on the
Role and Status of Christian Educators in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The
workgroup was formed in 1996 by actions of the National Ministries and
Congregational Ministries divisions and asked to study and respond to issues
pertaining to the role and status of Christian Educators. However, the
General Assembly in Long Beach in June heard the report, sending it back for
more clarity on points about ordination.

* recommended a response to a commissioner's resolution approved by the
General Assembly in Long Beach, calling for a review of policies adopted by
General Assemblies since 1970 regarding women, and for an evaluation of the
extent to which those policies have been implemented.

	After a discussion of who should conduct that review the committee agreed
to recommend that the response to the commissioner's resolution be to ask
that the staff leadership team reassign the evaluation responsibilities from
the Women's Ministry Program Area "to a more appropriate place with broader
relationships in the church" --  meaning possibly a specially-created task
force or even an outside consultant.

* approved recommending to the GAC that the Hispanic Comprehensive Strategy
Report be submitted to the 214th General Assembly (2002) rather than the
213th General Assembly (2001) as currently required. More time is needed to
meet a strong demand for more Hispanics to participate in revising the
report. Also more time is needed for the revision and to process additional
input. Meanwhile, the report must be translated from Spanish, requiring more
time as well.

* heard a report on the Mustard Seed Fund, a $1 million fund approved by the
GAC in February to allow presbyteries to apply for funds to support
innovative work done by local churches. A committee has completed a review
of more than 80 Mustard Seed applications and is ready to ask the GAC to
fund specific projects. The plan originally was for $1 million to fund about
40 projects up to a maximum of $25,000 each.
 
* approved endorsing the Interfaith Vigils Against Hate Violence on Oct. 5.
The vigils were spawned by recent hate-related killings around the nation
and are being sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance Foundation (TIAF) and the
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR).

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