September 2008

Thank you for taking the time to read this update on our recent Board of Trustees meeting.

The leadership of Biola University is ultimately held in the hands of the 28 men and women who comprise our Board of Trustees. Three times each year (which had been four times prior to the 2008-2009 academic year) the Board meets to grapple with the direction of Biola University. Such was the case this last week.

One of my goals as president is to be an effective communicator to you, the Biola community, on where we are and where we are going. This is our university, and I believe with all my heart that each of us is a shareholder in the success of this university. Because of this conviction, I am committed to updating you after each Board of Trustees meeting with a summary of the deliberations and decisions.

This past weekend, the Board of Trustees convened for its annual retreat, which included the trustees and their spouses, the President’s Administrative Council and their spouses, and a few other staff and invited guests. The objectives for the retreat—held this year in the local mountains—were three-fold: 1) to continue cultivating a spirit of Board engagement on the crucial issues we are grappling with as a university; 2) to engage not only with the major initiatives we are facing but as a Board to have a collective ownership of them; and 3) to come to know, love and support each other as trustees, administrators and spouses. Good Board work requires space and time to reflect and relate and uplift one another in prayer.

Included in the agenda were opportunities to accomplish the relational and spiritual goals of the retreat. On Friday morning, we spent an hour and a half as a Board sharing in prayer and seeking the will of God for the issues that are most pressing on our hearts as Trustees. This is a governing body of men and women who love the Lord and place a premium on prayer. On Saturday morning the spouses met at breakfast and spent time deepening their relationships through prayer and sharing with one another. With the persistence of a praying and faith-filled board, we have the strongest foundation for able leadership.

The retreat began Thursday afternoon with an introductory session in which I provided the context for our planning as a university, including the need to assess what at Biola may be necessary to change as we move forward and what in us is not up for negotiation. If you would like to read a copy of that address, please do let me know. I ended my comments by advocating for bold aspirations and innovative initiatives as we begin century number two.

We then heard from Claremont Graduate University President Robert Klitgaard, who spoke from his experience about the nature of strategic planning for institutions of higher education, bringing wisdom and insights that closely addressed our own university planning process and stimulated the discussions that would follow later in the day on Thursday and on Friday.

His comments were timely and challenging. Here are some of his remarks:

Universities need to lead and step up and respond to the critical issues taking place around the world. We need to engage in the right way, with the right people at the right time with the right institutions. If we don't tackle the world's hardest challenges, who will? Biola has a tremendous opportunity to lead in higher education because of its unique biblical worldview that many cannot address.

We need to continue asking ourselves, how are we being a world-serving institution? We need to take the focus off ourselves [institutions] and have the mentality of "What is the impact out there because of what we do?" This university planning document demonstrates Biola is putting its faith into action. We should never withdraw from society but get involved in it. Because of Biola's mission, it can take on the hardest problems with the message of Jesus.

It was a privilege to have such a respected world-class leader, thinker, advisor and Christian brother share this significant time with us. We provided a pleasant surprise during Dr. Klitgaard’s introduction by playing a video greeting from his daughter, Tamryn, who is a Biola student.

Our two retreat dinners offered a chance to fellowship around tables and pause from the busy days of full meetings. On Thursday night, with special music from the jazz trio “The Kicks,” comprised of Biola’s Conservatory of Music alumni, we spent some additional time with Robert Klitgaard and his wife, Elaine. Dr. Klitgaard also shared some thoughts on the subject of global corruption, a subject on which he is one of the world’s foremost experts, serving as a consultant to organizations and governments worldwide.

On Friday night, our dinner program included a slideshow of family vacation pictures submitted by our trustees and PAC members, followed by a spirited presentation by Dr. Aaron Kleist of Biola’s English department, which illustrated how Christian themes can be explored in literary works such as Beowulf and underscored the importance of the integration of faith with academic disciplines.

During the first two days of the retreat, members of the President’s Administrative Council presented the most recently revised draft of the University Plan:

Strategic Theme #1: Championing a Biblical Worldview a) Center for Biblical Worldview Thinking – Gary Miller b) Biblically Integrated Teaching and Living – Gary Miller, with an additional presentation by professor Rick Langer.

Strategic Theme #2: Fostering a Spirit of Loving God and Serving the World a) Positioned to Serve the World More Intentionally – Greg Vaughan, Irene Neller, Chris Grace b) Theological Framework for Diversity – Gary Miller

Strategic Theme #3: Resourcing the Advancing Academic Enterprise (Introduction by Carl Schreiber on the current economic climate and context) a) Expand Access and Increase Affordability – Greg Vaughan b) Launch a Major Comprehensive Funding Campaign – Adam Morris

After each presentation was given—highlighting the essence of the particular component of the University Plan with some examples of possible outcomes of carrying out the initiatives—the Board of Trustees were led in conversations around the related issues and their questions were answered. I believe this was a highly valuable time for the newly assembled PAC to interact with the Board on vital planning concepts, and the experience was well received.

As a result of these discussions at the Board Retreat, the next steps in our university planning process are as follows:

Within the next several weeks, I will be processing the feedback given by the Board of Trustees about the plan, and will direct further discussion with the President’s Administration Council. Out of this process we intend to produce a detailed game plan of the six initiatives, including a timeline and accountability structure for each. A revised and more ambitious edition of the planning document will be given to the Board of Trustees in December for consideration at their January 2009 meeting, with the goal of releasing the first public edition of the university planning document during the spring 2009 semester.

At Saturday’s Board Meeting, among the business items that were addressed was the issue of parking. Prior to the Board Retreat, the President’s Administrative Council had thoroughly discussed parking options having sought input from various sources, including the Finance and Audit Committee, Vice President Greg Balsano’s staff, and other internal discussions. I processed this recommendation through the Finance & Audit Committee and the Facilities and Services Committee, and the full Board received unanimous recommendation from those committees to approve in principal the construction of a 5-story parking structure. The Board’s Finance and Audit and Executive Committees were authorized by the full board in session to approve the details on construction costs and decisions as needed prior to the next Board meeting in January.

The parking structure is included on our city-approved master plan, and will be built on what is currently lower Lot I, situated between the gymnasium/pool/athletic complex and the baseball field. Providing a net gain of 613 parking spaces, the structure has a potential completion date of Spring 2010 and will be financed internally, including the use of funds from debt service savings on our 2008 refinanced bonds. We anticipate that this parking structure project will have minimal impact on parking fees and no impact on tuition. I am convinced that for the long-term strength of Biola University and to preserve the coveted open spaces on this campus, this structure needs to be built.

I am truly thankful for this godly group of men and women who serve on our Board of Trustees, for their willingness to devote the necessary time, energy and resources to help guide Biola University into the future, and for the seriousness with which they hold this institution in trust. As a result of this year’s retreat, I feel that the Board’s governance quotient was strengthened, their grasp of our key challenges and opportunities was sharpened, and their resolve to lead Biola University into a second century of excellence was deepened.

Blessings to you.

In Christ,

Barry H. Corey