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LIFE VOL. XXXI, NO. 3 JULY 2001 Mission Accomplished George Fox’s degree-completion program serves the needs of working adults while staying true to the University’s purpose eginning next spring, George Fox University’s degree-completion Bprogram will offer a new major to a new audience: those in the helping pro- fessions. The applied behavioral studies major comes at a time when the University is reassessing the market and asking how it can meet the needs of adult learners. It also comes at a time when questions are being raised as to whether such programs fit the mission of a Christian college. It was 15 years ago when George Fox first established a program to serve non- traditional students. After three years of declining enrollments, budget reduc- tions, and no increases in salaries, then President Edward Stevens made a bold move: Under his leadership, George Fox consulted with National College of Edu- cation, a leader in innovative adult learn- ing programs, and purchased the concept and curriculum for a major in human resources management. “He was looking for opportunities to infuse some growth as well as financial stability for the institution,” explains Andrea Cook, vice president for enroll- ment services. “It was a new opportunity to serve a broader population.” CHIJO TAKEDA The degree-completion program ful- Beth Smith, a customer service supervisor for Portland General Electric, is among nearly 2,000 students who have earned a college degree through the George Fox degree-completion program. Now enrolled in the University’s filled both goals. After bottoming out at M.B.A. program, she is enthusiastic about her undergraduate experience. “I loved it. It was the best thing I ever did.” 549 students, total enrollment at George Fox grew 28 percent the next year, years was contributing more than Winston, a former affiliate fellow at the issue of the Chronicle of Higher Educa- thanks in large part to the addition of 129 $400,000 toward the University’s 1989- Center for the Study of Religion at tion, Winston warns Christian colleges adult learners. Within three years, the 90 annual budget of $10 million. It now Princeton University. While at the center, that these “cash cows” are “actually program consistently had more than 200 provides a net gain of $200,000 to she studied the impact of such programs more akin to the Trojan horse.” She con- students enrolled. $300,000 annually. on religious colleges and the students cedes programs for nontraditional stu- Financially, the program was prof- It’s the profitable nature of adult- who attend them. dents have helped colleges financially, itable in its second year, and within three learner programs that concerns Diane In an article in the Nov. 20, 2000, allowing them to survive and even thrive, but she charges they also bring “a variety of secularizing trends.” Too often, she writes, Christian col- University Exceeds Campaign Goal leges downplay their faith-based identity Funding is still needed for the Stevens Center construction and Wood-Mar Hall renovation to attract and accommodate adult stu- dents. They exchange an education that eorge Fox University has reached its $22 tion of Wood-Mar Hall. The Stevens Center integrates faith and learning for a prag- Gmillion goal for the Legacy Campaign and funding is nearing completion, as is the matic, market-driven curriculum. Worse raised the most money in its history, but the building itself — a dedication is planned for yet, they fail to make a difference in adult celebration can’t start just yet. Sept. 20. Approximately $650,000 remains to students’ beliefs. As Dana Miller, vice president for universi- be raised. She calls it “educational schizophrenia ty advancement, puts it, with about $22.5 mil- Wood-Mar Hall, meanwhile, still needs — a two-tier system, with one component lion in gifts and pledges, “the campaign goal is another $500,000, which Miller expects to unrelated to the core identity.” exceeded but not completed.” raise as he and his staff seek funding for the No one would disagree that George “We’re obviously very pleased and excited engineering program, which will move into the Fox University’s degree-completion pro- about surpassing the $22 million goal; howev- building’s remodeled first and second floors. gram is pragmatic. The first three majors er, we’re still very much focused on completing each priority,” With the Stevens Center, George Fox has until Dec. 31 to it offered all focus on management: as it he says. complete funding for the $7 million building. Hanging in the relates to human resources, organizational The two areas of the campaign that still have a balance balance is a $500,000 challenge grant from the Kresge remaining are construction of the Stevens Center and renova- continued on page 6 continued on page 2 2 Mission: Curriculum, format encourage faith-based discussions continued from page 1 leadership, and incorporating instruction agement and organiza- There’s no attempt to down- They come with a little bit of fear and in information technology. But the pro- tional leadership. The six- trembling, but once they’re in the pro- gram also has both a curriculum and a for- week Christian Faith and play the University’s identity to gram, they find it’s a safe environment.” mat that encourages the integration of Thought course, she says, attract or accommodate adult Cole Chatterton, a client account faith and learning. involved reading from manager for the Xerox Corporation in Efforts to ensure the degree-comple- such sources as the Bible learners, says Mark Ocker, Portland, talks about getting “the full tion program fits the University’s mis- and C.S. Lewis, as well as director of the department of package” when he explains why he chose sion began when the curriculum was theological discussions professional studies. “We let the George Fox degree-completion pro- acquired back in 1986. and papers she called her gram. Important to him were the Univer- Unlike other programs that require “most difficult and most our students know right up sity’s national ranking, cutting-edge working adults to finish their degrees by rewarding.” front that we are a Christian major in management and information taking traditional courses at nontradi- “There is so much technology, and religious foundation. tional times, the George Fox degree- interaction between the institution and that we are He remembers a professor telling him, completion program operates on a cohort members throughout the Christians ourselves. We say “If you’re coming to George Fox just to model — the first of its kind in the months, and the courses get a degree and make more money, you region. Students with two to three years are structured to encour- that unashamedly.” might not want to come. If you’re coming of college credit progress through a spe- age dialogue in a manner for a life-learning experience and trans- cific sequence of courses together with which causes us to talk not only about cle. “We let our students know right up formation, then come to George Fox.” the same group of 15 to 20 classmates, how we would implement what we are front that we are a Christian institution “It was the most poignant thing I ever guided by a primary instructor. learning in our management courses, but and that we are Christians ourselves. We heard,” Chatterton says. “That actually Right from the start, the University also why we make the decisions we do,” say that unashamedly.” capsulizes George Fox. They’re not there made the innovative program its own. she says. “This type of dialogue often- Susan McNaught, an assistant profes- to make you rich and famous. They’re “We added courses that were unique to times would lead to discussions which sor of management in the program, agrees. there to make you a better person.” us,” says Cook. “Christian Faith and were very much faith-based.” “They all know this is a Christian While values are important to adult Thought very specifically addresses the Because the course is taught at the end school and that we are serious about it,” learners, students invest their time, effort, Christian faith and how it informs our cul- of the program, she says, “a level of trust she says. “They also find that this is a and finances in a George Fox degree ture and how it informs us as individuals. has been developed between the cohort safe place to explore their faith. I have because of the education they receive. We also added a business ethics course members which makes it possible to help had students dedicate or rededicate their They choose the degree-completion pro- that brings into the classroom the perspec- each other with the difficult task of lives to Christ. I have also had students gram because of the University’s strong tive of Christian ethics in the workplace.” objectively looking at worldviews and who, on the surface, were not touched by academic reputation and — once en- Also added were a handful of Satur- respectfully responding to each other’s our witness. I know that my job is to rolled — find it is well deserved. day seminars that allow the University to personal beliefs.” open the door. God does the rest of the Beth Smith, of Molalla, Ore., a super- give more of a liberal arts component to Those worldviews can be numerous. work, and I have faith in his timing.” visor in customer service for Portland the curriculum and to explore the influ- Mark Ocker, who has taught adult learn- The faith-based nature of the degree- General Electric (PGE) heard from sever- ence of the Friends church.

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