The Disappearing Middle Class in Christian Higher Education, Part 2
Read Part 1.
Three Categories of Christian Higher Education Institutions: EUC, EMC, ELC
Despite continually rising costs of accredited college education, the number of full-time ministry roles are decreasing, and financial compensation for those roles is decreasing (relative to other vocations). Many Bible colleges are seeing decreased demand for their programs due to these simple market principles. This decline manifests itself in lack of sustained revenue growth on both the tuition and advancements side: there is less money to spend on tuition for education in this sector, and there is less money being given to support this sector.
For those schools that have predominantly relied on tuition revenue, the decline is, in many cases, catastrophic. The failure in revenue growth begets a failure to reinvest for future growth and infrastructure, contributing to already inefficient cost structures. The ultimate result for these schools is a visible and measurable decline that motivates even more prospective students to either choose larger colleges who have demonstrably greater resources and stability, or to abandon ministry majors altogether.
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The Disappearing Middle Class in Christian Higher Education, Part 1
According to ABHE’s 2015 statistical report,1 out of roughly 140 universities and colleges who have any official reported status with ABHE, there are only 5 non-denominational Bible colleges with attendance over 3202 students (including undergraduate and graduate studies): Columbia Bible College (407), College of Biblical Studies (423), Grace Bible College (883), Lancaster Bible College (1892), and Moody Bible Institute (3907).
According to ABHE’s 2011 statistical report,3 out of roughly 135 universities and colleges who have any official reported status with ABHE, there were 8 non-denominational Bible colleges with attendance over 320 students: Grace Bible College (324), Master’s College and Seminary (340), God’s Bible School and College (353), Columbia Bible College (493), College of Biblical Studies (493), Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary (501), Lancaster Bible College (1189), and Moody Bible Institute (3501).
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Ideological Odd Couple Robby George, Cornel West Fight Campus Intolerance
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“Intellectual intolerance is such a plague on American universities that both conservative and liberal academics are speaking out. Even together.”
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What Happened to the Biblical Generalist?
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“There are benefits as well as problems with the modern educational model. On the problematic side, I think we suffer from the lack of biblical generalists in our day.”
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Wheaton: What We Learned from ‘Same God’ Controversy with Larycia Hawkins
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“In a 15-page Trustee Community Report released today ‘with a spirit of both lament and gratitude,’ trustees reflect on a task force’s final findings of what went wrong and who bears responsibility. They also offer nine recommendations for how the Illinois school can improve, as well as eight prayers.”
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CCCU board considers membership requirements
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“The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board of directors is considering recommendations for new membership and affiliate guidelines during meetings this week, amid differences over same-sex marriage hiring policies.” BPNews
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It's Official: "Clarks Summit University"
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“The unanticipated name adjustment process was in response to the threat of legal action from a religious organization in Montana. Trustees and university leadership worked through attorneys to come to an amicable agreement to modify the name and satisfy trademark requirements.” GARBC.org
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A Look at Today’s Secular College Campus
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“On a secular college campus, the danger of spiritual failure is far greater than the danger of academic failure.”
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Canada: Court blocks accreditation of Christian law school for its alleged anti-LGBT policy
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The culprit is an “alleged anti-LGBT policy barring students from engaging in sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and a woman.” Christian Today
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