Declaring their unity, Louisiana College trustees voted last
week to take initial steps toward launching a $34 million capital campaign
and constructing additional living accommodations for on-campus students.
“There have been repeated expressions of unity on this
board,” Chair Gil Arthur noted near the end of the upbeat scheduled meeting.
“Thats a continuation of things that have happened the last few years
and a sign of greater things to come as well.”
Declaring their unity, Louisiana College trustees voted last
week to take initial steps toward launching a $34 million capital campaign
and constructing additional living accommodations for on-campus students.
“There have been repeated expressions of unity on this
board,” Chair Gil Arthur noted near the end of the upbeat scheduled meeting.
“Thats a continuation of things that have happened the last few years
and a sign of greater things to come as well.”
Trustee O.K. Bailey added later, “Gods favor is
on our college right now.”
During the meeting, trustees also heard a poisitive report
from school President Rory Lee regarding fall enrollment and other matters,
elected officers for the new year and took several actions related to faculty
members. (See accompanying article)
Following a two-hour executive session, trustees voted unanimously
in open session to ask the Louisiana Baptist Convention for permission to launch
a $34 million capital campaign and to empower college administrators to develop
detailed plans for the effort.
The trustee vote is the first step in launching the campaign.
Permission for the move now must be granted by the LBC Executive Board or messengers
to the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention.
Louisiana College trustees already have signaled their commitment
to the effort.
Board members approved a resolution noting a successful campaign
is “essential for the ongoing progress” of the school, especially
in light of the increased enrollment at the school.
The resolution commends Lee and other college leaders “for
their outstanding accomplishments in bringing Louisiana College to the current
level of excellence.”
It concludes with the board resolving to “be unified in
its support for a major capital fund-raising campaign and (to) support the project
in principle and in funding.”
While detailed plans for the campaign will be available later,
an initial study outlines the need for funds to be used on such things as campus
renewal, renovation of exisiting facilities, construction of new campus buildings,
upgrading technology, endowment of chair, professorships and student scholarships
and new initiatives.
One new initiative already given initial approval is construction
of new living accommodations for female students.
Following their executive session, Louisiana College trustees
also voted unanimously to approve the completion of plans for the new housing.
Those plans are to be presented for additional discussion and action in the
December meeting.
The trustee actions came on the heels of a positive report
from Lee on various aspects of college life. Lee noted:
One hundred twenty-three students received degrees
from Louisiana College in May, bringing the total of graduates from the school
to 11,081.
Preliminary indications show the college completed
its fiscal year this summer in the black financially and with reserves exceeding
the 30-day minimum required by the state convention of its agencies.
“Collegiate atmosphere has been strengthened
by adding additional programming in the residence halls, the reinstatement of
football and the increased number of students living on campus.”
Technology has been added to every campus classroom,
three new computer classrooms have been created, additional on-line technology
has been purchased for the library, two new science labs have been funded and
funds have been budgeted to allow each faculty member to receive a new computer
every three years.
Several campus renovation projects have been completed.
More than 10 percent of the student body participated
in summer ministry programs, religion majors have increased by 51 from last
year to this and 10 students made professions of faith in Christ at the fall
Wildcat Welcome Week retreat.
All of the Louisiana College pre-law graduates
who applied to law school this year have been accepted.
Even with the accomplishments, chal-lenges remain, Lee acknowledged.
“While much has been accomplished, there is still much we must do to provide
the superior academic and spiritual atmosphere to nourish the deserving students
of Louisiana College,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, in other actions during their meeting, school trustees
re-elected Gil Arthur as chair by acclamation. Arthur is pastor at Cook Baptist
Church in Ruston.
Trustees then elected Earl Hogan as vice chair in a run-off
vote against Steve James. Hogan is a member at Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Oak
Ridge. James then was elected secretary-treasurer. He is pastor at Trinity Baptist
Church in Lake Charles.
Trustees also approved three new faculty members.
Joe Aguillard was approved as associate professor of education.
He is a 1977 Louisiana College graduate who had been serving as superintendent
of Beauregard Parish School Board.
Alice Carter was approved as assistant professor of psychology.
She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston and had been teaching
at Roosevelt University in Schaumburg, Ill.
Lance Williams as assistant professor of biology. He had been
serving as a teaching assistant at Mississippi State University.
Finally, trustees granted professor emeritus status to two
retired faculty members – biology professor Joe Black and psychology professor
George Hearn.