WHITNEY CURTIS | senior staff writer
Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 24, President Jon Wallace invited the community to gather for a conference.
Topics discussed were discipleship, economic issues, university enrollment, strategic improvements, academic improvements, retention, employee salaries and undergraduate tuition increase.
On Discipleship:
“I want to start with Gladys...what she has left behind is phenomenal, and it is at the heart of who Azusa Pacific University is,” President Jon Wallace said. “There are many opportunities for discipleship on campus. I want you to consider finding Chris [Adams] and let him connect you with a discipleship opportunity.”
On University Enrollment:
• Fall 2008 head count up 9.9%
• Spring 2009 head count still ongoing, but indicators show some increase
• Jan. 23, 2009, Board approves 2009-2010 budget
• A video was sent out to students before Christmas break, in which Jon Wallace encouraged students to email the school if their financial burdens were too great and they needed prayer or some financial help.
• The school received 150 such emails from UG, GR, and CAPS students.
• $200,000 was set aside to assist students.
• Almost all of those students were saved from having to withdraw from the school.
• Undergraduate applications are up 19%
• Graduate applications are up 1.5%
• Will complete the $54 million Science Center and it will be paid in full by June
• We have paid $4.2 million on the Promenade and will be debt free on Aug. 1
On Academic Improvements.
• High Sierra and Honors Program have their highest enrollment ever
• Nursing Program just got its 10 yr. accreditation
On Retention:
“As we move forward, every single student in every single program matters to us,” Wallace said. There has been a 1 percent increase in retention.
On Employee Salaries:
“I know in the world today some are concerned about keeping their jobs, but right now that is not us,” Wallace said.
•As of Oct. 1, staff and faculty will receive a 2% salary increase.
Undergraduate Tuition Increase:
•4.3% [lowest increase in eight years]
The Next Community Gathering is scheduled for April 21. National Day of Prayer is May 7.
