WBC’s Harris Appointed to State Review Committee

Rodney Harris, assistant professor of History at WBC, was appointed by Governor Asa Hutchison to the State Review Committee for Historic Preservation.  Harris was appointed in August and will serve on this committee until the end of his term in 2021.

“My parents were both school teachers and we would travel in the summer. I grew up going to historic sites that gave me a passion for history and historic preservation. I am excited be appointed to the State Review board where I can put that passion to good use,” Harris said.

The State Review Board reviews national register nominations and nomination appeals; reviews and provides advice about the State’s Comprehensive Statewide Historic Preservation Plan and the State’s Annual Historic Preservation Fund Grant; and provides general advice and guidance to the State Historic Preservation Officer.

WBC’s Richards Attends Conference in Scotland

Over the summer, Dr. Josh Richards, assistant professor of English at Williams Baptist College, traveled to Aberdeen, Scotland, for the George MacDonald’s Scotland Conference.  Richards wrote and presented a paper entitled “Neoplatonism and the Incarnation in George MacDonald’s ‘Unspoken Sermons’” at the gathering.

“The paper was quite well received.  George MacDonald is a major Scottish author of the 19th century, particularly in fantasy and children’s literature, and the most important influence on C. S. Lewis. In my paper, I bring his works, including some unusual texts, into my classes from Composition to Adolescent Literature,” explained Richards.

Conference attendees noted that Richards was captivating and presented with an “entertaining, enjoyable, and very interesting” talk on neoplatonism in MacDonald’s “Unspoken Sermons.”

The 3-day conference, held at the University of Aberdeen, was hosted by The Research Institute of Scottish and Irish Studies, The University of Aberdeen, The School of Literature Languages and Visual Culture, and The British Association of Victorian Studies.

“My trip included a dinner with noted author Jane Yolen,” Richards added.  “We read her work in Adolescent Literature, and it was a privilege to meet her and pick her brain on the topic, which I hope to use the next time I teach the course”.

Williams Professor’s Work in Print

Dr. Josh Richards, assistant professor of English at Williams Baptist College, has written an article for the book “Paul and Seneca in Dialogue.”  The book, published last spring by Brill, is part of the company’s Ancient Philosophy and Religion series.

The volume is an edited collection with essays by eminent classical and biblical scholars in which Richards contributed a chapter entitled “The Stoic and the Saint”, which serves as the volume’s epilogue.

At the suggestion of noted author N.T. Wright, the editors of the volume commissioned a narrative depiction of a meeting of Paul and Seneca.  Richards attended a young scholar’s conference at Cambridge a few years ago where he got to know the editor.  Richards states, “I was glad to contribute an essay when Dr. Dodson asked.”

Richard’s father, Dr. Randy Richards, who previously taught at Williams, also contributed an essay.  “It was an honor to work among such incredible scholars. It was a fascinating experience to write the Apostle Paul and imagine his interaction with his contemporary, the stoic philosopher Seneca”, says Richards.

Williams is a Christian, liberal arts college in Walnut Ridge, Ark.  It will become Williams Baptist University in July of 2018.

Ouachita announces $1 million gift; trustees authorize Berry Bible/Horne Center project

Hearing positive reports about Ouachita Baptist University’s recent enrollment and endowment growth, the university’s Board of Trustees addressed a variety of budget, personnel and facility-related issues during their quarterly board meeting held Sept. 21 on Ouachita’s Arkadelphia campus.

Citing Ouachita’s 17.9 percent growth in first-time freshman enrollment for the fall semester and an endowment increase of more than $7 million to a total of $108 million, Ouachita President Ben Sells told trustees, “We are stronger because of enrollment growth and endowment growth.”

Affirming efforts to “grow undergraduate enrollment to capacity” over the next five years, Dr. Sells added, “If we can grow to 1,750 students compared to 1,500 and can do that for 10 years in a row, over those 10 years we would graduate at least 1,000 more students than we otherwise would. More importantly, we will be extending the impact of our mission.”

Among actions taken during the meeting, trustees:

Received a report that fundraising is complete for the $2 million renovation of Berry Bible Building and addition of the Horne Center for Biblical Preaching and authorized beginning the construction project in January 2018.

Reviewed and approved the university’s annual external financial audit report that cited a “clean” audit reflecting increased financial strength for Ouachita.

Approved a 3.5 percent increase for tuition, room and board for the 2018-19 academic year. Ouachita ranks 14thamong 18 peer institutions in average net cost and recently was ranked in the top 5 percent nationally as “Best for the Money” by USA Today/CollegeFactual.com.

Dr. Sells also reported a $1 million gift to the President’s Innovation Fund from a first-time Ouachita donor interested in providing resources to help fund the university’s strategic growth plans. “I believe Ouachita is rising, going from strength to strength, building on our wonderful heritage and history,” Dr. Sells noted.

Trustees also heard reports highlighting Ouachita’s quality and accountability, including receiving an update on the university’s strategic planning efforts, adopting 2017-2018 university priorities and preparing for a Higher Learning Commission accreditation site visit in December.

Ouachita’s new strategic plan, scheduled to be finalized in December, includes such strategic directions as sustaining the university’s Christ-centered identity, supporting committed faculty and staff, ensuring transformative learning experiences, expanding beyond the residential undergraduate model and strengthening partnerships with alumni and friends.

Emphasizing the significance of Christ-centered identify and transformative learning, Dr. Sells said, “Those twin commitments are important and we must excel at both.”

The 20-point university priorities approved by trustees include an expanded focus on high-impact learning opportunities, launching a program to benefit multicultural students, initial preparation for developing a campus master plan and continued emphasis on increasing new student enrollment and retention.

In personnel-related actions, new coaches and staff members approved by trustees include:

Kevin Crutchmer, head wrestling coach. A graduate of Northeastern State University, he previously was head wresting coach and an instructor in criminal justice at Union Public Schools in Tulsa, Okla.

Kevin Wewers, assistant football coach. He holds three degrees from Arkansas Tech University and previously served as residential dean, teacher and coach at Subiaco Academy.

Brooke Huber, resident director for Maddox Hall. A 2015 Ouachita graduate, she previously served at the Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center in Hillsboro, Ohio.

David Miller, resident director for Anthony Hall. A graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University, he previously was campus life coordinator at Erskine College in Due West, S.C.

JBU Sends Team to Enactus World Cup in London

What: JBU will send off the JBU Enactus team to the Enactus World Cup in London. When: Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
Where: Simmons Great Hall B (Park in the Simmons Great Hall parking lot.)
Why: For the first time in university history, JBU’s Enactus team will compete against 35 countries at the Enactus World Cup Sept. 26 – 28 in London, England. JBU Enactus was named the 2017 Enactus United States National Champions in Kansas City, Missouri this May, defeating over 200 universities and colleges from around the nation. The Enactus team will perform their World Cup presentation at the sendoff ceremony on Saturday.

JBU’s Enactus team consists of 64 students from 22 states and nine countries. In the final round of the 2017 Enactus United States National Championship, four JBU students gave a 17-minute presentation highlighting the team’s most notable entrepreneurial projects — Yellow Crate, a mobile app that alerts grocery store customers of food pantry needs; the Guatemala Water Project, an initiative to implement a water purification system, and provide health and hygiene education throughout Guatemala; and Shredify, a local document destruction service that certifies eight Siloam Springs Adult Development Center employees. JBU’s Enactus program has placed in the top four at the U.S. National Expo five times since 2003.

WBC to Become Williams Baptist University

There is a new U coming to Arkansas.  Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge announced Wednesday that, starting next fall, it will be known as Williams Baptist University.

“This is a monumental day in the history of this institution, reflecting a major step forward.  Williams has provided an outstanding, Christian higher education for the past 76 years, and being known as Williams Baptist University will help us to advance our programs even further,” said WBC President Dr. Tom Jones.

Jones made the announcement in WBC’s Manley Chapel, before students, faculty and staff.  Standing alongside him were elected officials, denominational leaders and Williams trustees, as well as WBC cheerleaders.

“The name Williams Baptist University captures the academic excellence and diversity that have long been a part of Williams,” Jones commented.

Williams has three academic divisions, more than 25 bachelor’s degree majors, and launched its first graduate degree, a Master of Arts in Teaching, last spring.  All of those attributes fit the generally held definition of a university, he said.

In addition, the president said being known as a university will help Williams to move beyond some stubborn misconceptions it has faced.

“Although we became a four-year institution in 1984, there is a lingering perception of Williams as a junior college.  And while we are very proud of our truly outstanding Christian ministries program, many fail to perceive that 94 percent of our students are majoring in other areas and preparing for careers in medicine, business, education and other fields,” he noted.

The change to Williams Baptist University has been actively considered for more than two years, according to Jones.  The move was formally approved on Friday by WBC’s Board of Trustees.

“The board was excited to see Williams making such progress and honored to be a part of this momentous occasion.  We believe the name Williams Baptist University truly captures the great work done by this institution,” said Board Chair J.R. Cox of Walnut Ridge.

Jones noted there are no regulatory or accreditation criteria for a college to meet in order to change its name to university.

On the timetable for the transition, the president said, “For the remainder of this school year, we will be known as Williams Baptist College.  Over the next several months, you will see a gradual transition to WBU, with the change complete on July 1, 2018.  In August, we will celebrate the final conversion during a special ceremony at our fall convocation.”

Williams was founded in 1941, and it was known as Southern Baptist College at the time.  It operated as a junior college in its early years, but it moved to four-year status in 1984.

Its name was changed to Williams Baptist College, in honor of founder Dr. H.E. Williams, on the college’s 50th anniversary in 1991.  The move to Williams Baptist University is only the second name change in the school’s 76-year history.

Williams is a Christian, liberal arts college.  It is owned and operated by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

WBC to Become Williams Baptist University

There is a new U coming to Arkansas. Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge announced Wednesday that, starting next fall, it will be known as Williams Baptist University.

“This is a monumental day in the history of this institution, reflecting a major step forward. Williams has provided an outstanding, Christian higher education for the past 76 years, and being known as Williams Baptist University will help us to advance our programs even further,” said WBC President Dr. Tom Jones.

Jones made the announcement in WBC’s Manley Chapel, before students, faculty and staff. Standing alongside him were elected officials, denominational leaders and Williams trustees, as well as WBC cheerleaders.

“The name Williams Baptist University captures the academic excellence and diversity that have long been a part of Williams,” Jones commented.

Williams has three academic divisions, more than 25 bachelor’s degree majors, and launched its first graduate degree, the Master of Arts in Teaching, last spring. All of those attributes fit the generally held definition of a university, he said.

In addition, the president said being known as a university will help Williams to move beyond some stubborn misconceptions it has faced.

“Although we became a four-year institution in 1984, there is a lingering perception of Williams as a junior college. And while we are very proud of our truly outstanding Christian ministries program, many fail to perceive that 94 percent of our students are majoring in other areas and preparing for careers in medicine, business, education and other fields,” he noted.

The change to Williams Baptist University has been actively considered for more than two years, according to Jones. The move was formally approved on Friday by WBC’s Board of Trustees.

“The board was excited to see Williams making such progress and honored to be a part of this momentous occasion. We believe the name Williams Baptist University truly captures the great work done by this institution,” said Board Chair J.R. Cox of Walnut Ridge.

Jones noted there are no regulatory or accreditation criteria for a college to meet in order to change its name to university.

On the timetable for the transition, the president said, “For the remainder of this school year, we will be known as Williams Baptist College. Over the next several months, you will see a gradual transition to WBU with the change complete on July 1, 2018. In August, we will celebrate the final conversion during a special ceremony at our fall convocation.”

Williams was founded in 1941, and it was known as Southern Baptist College at the time. It operated as a junior college in its early years, but it moved to four-year status in 1984.

Its name was changed to Williams Baptist College, in honor of founder Dr. H.E. Williams, on the college’s 50th anniversary in 1991. The move to Williams Baptist University is only the second name change in the school’s 76-year history.

Williams is a Christian, liberal arts college. It is owned and operated by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

JBU Holds Public Forum on Intersection of Religion and Politics

John Brown University will host New York Times bestselling author Rod Dreher and former White House staffer Michael Wear in a public forum on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Simmons Great Hall. At the event, titled “Reimagining Faith and Public Life,” Wear and Dreher will discuss the role of Christians in shaping public policy in the U.S. and will answer questions from the audience following the discussion.

“JBU’s Honors Scholars Program and Department of Political Science are excited to welcome Dreher and Wear to share their experiences and perspectives on the integration of faith and public life with our community,” Trisha Posey, director of the Honors Scholars Program, said. “JBU encourages a campus environment where students of differing majors and political affiliations can come together to discuss a variety of topics, including religion and politics. This forum will challenge the university’s community to consider how to authentically incorporate faith in today’s political climate.”

Rod Dreher, the senior editor at “The American Conservative,” recently published the New York Times bestseller “The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation,” in which he recounts church history as a strategy for how Christians should interact in today’s culture. Other work from Dreher has been published in the New York Post, National Review, and the Washington Times, and he has appeared on NPR, CNN, Fox News and the BBC.

Michael Wear recently published “Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House about the Future of Faith in America,” which details his experience leading evangelical outreach initiatives and managing the White House’s engagement on values and religious issues as a

young, Christian White House staffer. Wear ultimately counsels Christians on how and why they must be involved in shaping the momentum of U.S. culture.

Tuesday night’s forum, funded with support from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), will be filmed and published to view online on AEI’s “Values and Capitalism” website. AEI also provided funding for both authors’ books to be used for faculty, staff and student book clubs in preparation for the event.

In addition, Michael Wear will address JBU students in chapel on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Ozarks.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2018), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 41 states and 50 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.

WBC Board Freezes Tuition, Approves New Band Program

Students at Williams Baptist College can count on tuition staying the same next year, following action by the WBC Board of Trustees on Friday, Sept 15.  The board also approved the launch of a new band program that will begin next year.

The Williams board, meeting in regular session, voted to freeze tuition for the 2018-19 school year.  It will be the third year in a row for WBC to keep tuition at its current level.

“College is a major expense for students and their families, so I am glad we could take this action and hold the line on costs for them.  Williams and its Board of Trustees are doing all we can to keep a high-quality, Christian college education affordable,” said Board Chair J.R. Cox of Walnut Ridge.

Room and board will increase by $100 per semester next year, which will cover the college’s increased expenses, according to Dr. Tom Jones, WBC’s president.

Another major action of the board was to approve a new band program, which will begin next year.  The band is to be an instrumental music ensemble that will present concerts and perform at sporting events.

“We think band is going to be a great addition at Williams.  It helps us further diversify our extra-curricular offerings, plus it adds a very exciting dimension to student life.  Our campus community has received this news with much enthusiasm,” said Jones.

The president said WBC will hire a full-time band director in coming months who will begin recruiting band members for the 2018-19 school year.

In other business, the board heard details on WBC’s successful recruiting year.  Enrollment rose seven percent overall compared to last fall, with a 25.7 percent jump in freshmen.  Dr. Jeremy Dutschke, vice president for enrollment management and student services, provided details on the incoming class of students for the board.

The board also voted to accept this year’s financial audit, prepared by accountant Lisa Stephens of Conway, Ark.  The audit gave WBC a clean bill of health for the recently completed fiscal year, with no issues raised.

WBC has a 24-member Board of Trustees.  Board members are appointed by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, which owns and operates the college.

Williams is a Christian liberal arts college in Walnut Ridge.