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.

鈥淲e had some really encouraging information to share with our board,鈥� said Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President. 鈥淲e had a strong financial year. We need to work hard in enrollment and recruiting, but we鈥檙e pleased to welcome Will Brantley to our staff as our new vice president for enrollment management and marketing.鈥�

While on campus, the board heard reports on the activities of the University over the last year. HLGU is now fundraising to begin a prison ministry program that will train long-term inmates to be chaplain assistants who will minister to and disciple other inmates.

Missouri State Representative Louis Riggs, who serves as the director of community engagement at HLGU, reported that the University has been invited to send five interns to the capitol in January 2020, and that there are many other community engagement opportunities coming for HLGU.

Additional reports included the following information:

• Restructuring in residential life and dorm room assignments has led to a more community-minded campus.
• Just under 50 students participated in HLGU-sponsored mission trips last year.
• An initiative has begun to raise money for an elevator in the student center.
• Following a wind storm, $225,000 of campus repairs were covered by insurance.
• HLGU鈥檚 Freshman Seminar class has been restructured to use a curriculum that embraces a strong Christian worldview.
• A memorandum of understanding was signed with Moberly Area Community College to allow students to more seamlessly transfer to HLGU, particularly in the education department where elementary education is suffering a severe shortage of teachers.
• HLGU received NAIA Champions of Character Gold Status for the third year, and Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach Jason Durst received the AMC Coach of Character Award.

Following reports and committee meetings, the trustees voted to approve and affirm HLGU鈥檚 strategic five-year plan, which will enable the University to function from an intentional and active place, and streamline decision-making. Trustees also voted to align the increase of tuition with the increase of scholarships.

鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased that our board was able to approve and affirm our strategic long-range plan for the institution and we鈥檙e excited about what that will mean as we move forward,鈥� commented Allen.

鈥淚 thought the meeting was very productive and that our trustees were engaged to the needs of the 番茄社区 family,鈥� said Dr. Dwight Blankenship, chairman of the board of trustees. 鈥淚 believe with the reports we have received that the future of 番茄社区 is bright, and I ask that everyone in the 番茄社区 family just pray for the institution.鈥�

At the end of the meetings, new officers were nominated and approved. Tyler Foster will serve as chairman of the board, Mark Anderson will serve as vice chairman, Bobbie Crain as secretary, and Glenn Miller as treasurer.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited that I鈥檝e been honored with this great assignment,鈥� said Tyler Foster. 鈥淚t was bathed in prayer and was something that I did not take lightly. It鈥檚 a very humbling experience to even be asked because it鈥檚 such a unique opportunity and such a wonderful institution. It鈥檚 going to be very exciting because we have many great days ahead.鈥�

Thursday night, trustees and administration gathered for an appreciation banquet organized by the president’s office. Special music was provided by piano students Naro Longchar and Sarah Song. Additionally, trustees Sonia Vicars and Doug Hamilton were recognized for their excellent service to the University as they rotate off the board. Vicars served two five-year terms, and Hamilton served one five-year term.   

The next trustees meeting will be held in March 2020. For more information, contact the president鈥檚 office at 573-629-3252.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

One of the highlights of the two-day meeting was a special dedication of the newly remodeled L.A. Foster Student Center and Kleckner Hall. Renovations for the two buildings were approved during the spring 2017 trustees meeting and were completed over the summer. The project was funded by recent land sales and a six-month campaign led by the trustees.

“As a board, one of our goals is always to seek to align the institution with mission and vision, how can we better do what we’re doing as an educational institution,” said Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President. “I’m very grateful for a board that is engaged and seeks to help us accomplish our mission.”

Additional highlights from the board meetings include the election of new officers. Dr. Dwight Blankenship will serve as chairman, Sonia Vicars as vice chairman, Glenn Miller as treasurer, and Tom Rains as secretary.

“I am supremely confident that our newly elected officers will continue to build upon our forward progress,” said Glenn Miller, chairman. “I am pleased with the level of engagement, interaction, and actions of the board at our fall meeting. Our interaction with students, faculty, and staff provide an excellent base from which to make decisions.”

Thursday night, trustees and administration gathered for an appreciation banquet thrown by the president’s office. During the evening, trustees got to hear from HLGU student Nathan Rose about how the University empowered him to participate in a prestigious internship with the Acton Institute this summer. They also heard about a unique opportunity that HLGU has to partner with Passages in sponsoring a trip to Israel over Christmas break for 20 students.

Trustees with expiring terms were also recognized that night. Vinita Henry, Jerry Sheridan, Mark Boley, and Milton Baumgardner have served HLGU well during their tenure.

HLGU’s board of trustees is slated to get six new members following the Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting October 23-25.

The next trustees meeting will be held in March 2017. For more information, contact the president鈥檚 office at 573-629-3252.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12