鈥淎t 番茄社区, we are committed to making higher education affordable,鈥� said President Dr. Robert J. Matz. 鈥淭herefore, we have committed ourselves to not raising tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year so that we can make it more affordable for our students. This is a great place to come and study.鈥�

Other highlights from the meeting included:

鈥撀燭he introduction of new trustees to the board and new faculty & staff to campus.

鈥� Dr. Julie Albee has been named the Vice President of Academic Administration, removing the interim title that she had previously held.

鈥撀� A new vision statement from the Strategic Planning Committee was approved by the board. It states, 鈥淭he vision of 番茄社区 University is to impact eternity for Christ through higher education.鈥�

鈥� An annual campaign to continue to raise money to support the university was approved. It will run from July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024. Dr. Matz shared, 鈥淭he Lord has shown Himself so faithful to 番茄社区 University. We are excited to move from a season of funding for immediate need to move into a season of funding for what God is getting ready to do at HLGU, be that in supporting scholarships, capital improvements, and the ongoing work of our professors. There are so many opportunities through this annual fund campaign for those who love 番茄社区 University to make an eternal difference and an eternal impact for Christ through the work of HLGU.鈥�

鈥� Titus Vester, Director of Campus Ministry and Missions, spoke about a recent trip where he took 25 students to Asbury University to experience the revival happening on that campus. This led into the week of Spiritual Emphasis events at HLGU where 25 students made a profession of faith in Jesus and the student body spent extended periods of time in worship and prayer. The board heard testimonies from three of the students鈥� experiences from that week.

鈥淚 thought today was a wonderful, encouraging meeting. We had an opportunity to see what the Lord has done since our last fall meeting,鈥� commented Tyler Foster, Vice Chairman. 鈥淥ver this season we have been able to reflect on all of His blessings. We鈥檝e got to have a grateful heart and spirit for all of the things that He鈥檚 done, not only for our faculty and staff but our students, which are so important to us. We got opportunities to hear testimony about what has been happening on campus within student life. The Lord鈥檚 moving! There鈥檚 a spirit that is sweet and is really encouraging for the student body.鈥�

鈥淚t is always a time of encouragement when our trustees are on campus,鈥� said Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President. 鈥淗LGU is grateful for the continued support of the Missouri Baptist Convention and the trustees that serve us so faithfully.聽We had a very productive meeting.聽Our trustees are engaged in the work of the university and committed to promoting our mission.鈥�

Tyler Foster serves as the chairman of the board of trustees and expressed his appreciation of the group, saying, 鈥淲e have a wonderful group of people that care deeply about Christian higher education. They care about the direction of our Missouri Baptist Convention and how HLGU plays their role with the convention and equipping students to not only receive and take their education into their workplace with excellence, but to then be able to share the gospel of Christ with those who come across their paths.鈥�

Highlights from the board meeting included the welcoming of new faculty and staff, and watching a video from HLGU鈥檚 Freedom on the Inside program where offenders from Jefferson City Correctional Center spoke about how the gospel and the Christian Studies degree they are earning through HLGU has changed their lives.

Other items of business discussed included the following:

• There was an increase in giving this year, as well as an increase in the number of new students and on-campus residents.
• Areas of giving that are currently being emphasized include endowments for scholarships, the Freedom on the Inside prison ministry program, and Gifts of Grain, a new initiative where farmers can donate grain to the University and receive a greater tax break than when donating money.
• The University is nearing the end of the claims process on damages sustained to the student center during a severe storm in August. Renovations to the building are anticipated to begin shortly thereafter.
• The student life discipleship groups have seen a 30% increase in student participation this year.
• New academic programs:
  • The computer information systems department has been renamed computer sciences and now has concentrations in four areas: computer information systems, computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology.
  • Agribusiness and financial planning have been added as degree programs to the business department.
• HLGU has received permission from the Higher Learning Commission and the State Board of Nursing to begin offering the PN program at an additional campus at the Baptist Home in Chillicothe, Missouri starting in the 2022-23 academic year.
• Allen, and Dr. Ray Carty, vice president for institutional advancement, have been elected as faculty as professor of Christian education and professor of education and leadership, respectively.
• A new disc golf course, made possible through donations during HLGU鈥檚 first annual Day of Giving in April, is nearing completion and has already been enjoyed by many students and community members.

The next trustees meeting is scheduled for聽March 10-11, 2022. For more information, contact the president鈥檚 office at 573.629.3252.

鈥淎s always, we enjoyed a very productive and helpful trustee meeting,鈥� said Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President. 鈥淲e have a number of very talented Missouri Baptists who provide leadership and oversight to the institution. Our group is engaged and very involved in promoting our mission as a University.鈥�

Tyler Foster serves as the chairman of the board of trustees and expressed his appreciation of the group, saying, 鈥淲e have a wonderful group of people that care deeply about Christian higher education. They care about the direction of our Missouri Baptist Convention and how HLGU plays their role with the convention and equipping students to not only receive and take their education into their workplace with excellence, but to then be able to share the gospel of Christ with those that come across their paths.鈥�

Highlights from the board meeting included the welcoming of new board members and new HLGU employees, as well as approval for entering into a silent phase of a multi-million-dollar capital campaign for the University.

Other items of business discussed included the following:

• Currently, there are no COVID-19 cases on campus or students in quarantine
• Despite many institutions seeing a decline in enrollment, admissions reported an increase in enrollment deposits for the fall 2021 semester. Increases have also been seen in athletic visits and commitments.
• Despite COVID restrictions, students have been able to meet safely and have an active and engaging campus life experience.
• Donations to the institution have increased, putting the University $300,000 ahead of where donations were last year.
• An HLGU Day of Giving has been planned for the 24-hour period from noon on April 15 to noon on April 16. The event will take place on social media and has a goal of 240 individual gifts to the University in 24 hours.
• A new business degree in agribusiness has started and is projected to be a very popular program for the University. A number of other programs at various different degree levels are also being explored.
• A large cycle of an accreditation report with the Higher Learning Commission has been completed, and HLGU has met all guidelines.
• A partnership with the Missouri Baptist Children’s home was approved, allowing the University to use those facilities for an LPN program site in Chillicothe, MO.
• An education specialist degree was approved at the master’s level.

Dr. Allen commented, 鈥淚n these and many other accomplishments, we鈥檙e celebrating God鈥檚 work at the University and look forward to finishing the semester strong.鈥�

The next trustees meeting is scheduled for聽October 7-8, 2021. For more information, contact the president鈥檚 office at 573.629.3252.

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning commission. The University prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.

鈥淚 was very pleased with today鈥檚 meeting,鈥� said Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President. 鈥淲e have a very capable and engaged board here at the University, and they have done yeoman鈥檚 service this year during COVID-19. We鈥檙e able to see many of our projects we鈥檝e worked diligently over the last year come to fruition.

The meeting began with a reaffirmed commitment of partnership between HLGU and the Missouri Baptist Convention. MBC Executive Director Dr. John Yeats presented the University with a check for $5,000.

The board heard reports from each of the vice presidents on university activities, specifically identifying challenges overcome due to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Allen reported on how the University did hold graduation over the summer and that fall intercollegiate athletics have continued.

Trustees heard about the Jefferson City Correctional Center ministry that kicked off with a full class in its inaugural year. The ministry will be undergoing an accreditation process in the spring.

Additional reports included the following information:

• The institution did receive full reaccreditation this fall.
• 82 new webcams have been commissioned and installed across campus for virtual learning as a result of COVID-19.
• Despite COVID-19, HLGU has only eight fewer students this fall semester than the previous spring semester.
• The University completed several items in the first year of its 5-year strategic plan, including hiring to fill several new positions, appointing a director of community engagement and church relations, and comprehensively reviewing the financial aid program.
• The Founders Scholarship has been implemented, which will give a full-ride scholarship to two incoming students.

Following reports, the trustees voted to approve a feasibility study into a potential $6.5 million Strength for the Future capital campaign that would help go toward endowments, capital campaigns, program/faculty development, and Knowledge for Service programming and projects, which includes supporting the Jefferson City Correctional Center ministry.

鈥淲e talked about the Strength for the Future capital campaign that will support and undergird the strategic plan of the University,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited about this silent phase where the institution will be presenting our case to our donor base and our friends. I鈥檓 looking forward to coming back with a finalized capital campaign that we can begin to execute beginning next March.鈥�

The board additionally voted to approve the creation of the 2021-22 budget. They also voted to allow HLGU administration to make potential changes to the employee health insurance coverage.

The board ended Friday鈥檚 meeting with the honoring of four members of the board of trustees who are rotating off the board this year: Phil Bray, Tim Smith, Joel Russell, and Tom Rains.

鈥淚t is always a pleasure working with people who not only care about the institution, but participate financially and creatively with their time, talent, and energy,鈥� said Tyler Foster, chairman of the board of trustees. 鈥淲e are in a unique time with COVID-19, and we need everyone to be actively participating together, and we have that here. What a legacy these men have left.鈥�

The next board of trustees meeting will be held on March 11 and 12, 2021. For more information, contact the president鈥檚 office at 573-629-3252.

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning commission. The University prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.