 The new model makes three primary changes to what LCU
presently does:
First, though it continues the University’s commitment to providing
biblical, theological, and worldview educational opportunities for
Kingdom leaders through academic degree programs, it narrows those
programs to those most directly tied to vocational ministry --
specifically seminary programs along with two undergraduate programs
in Bible & Theology and Christian Ministry.
Second, the model dramatically expands non-credit educational
opportunities in the form of workshops, retreats, conferences,
curricula, podcasts, and the like created by and led by LCU faculty.
Third, the model adapts to the fact that more and more churches are
developing their own leaders in their existing contexts. In the new
model, LCU will offer the biblical, theological, and worldview
components of our curricula, and a number of partner churches will
offer the practical ministry training through internship and
residency experiences as well as serving as a voice in the creation
of workshops, curricula, conferences, and consulting services on
issues facing churches today.
This approach builds on the strength of both partners and creates a
model that can be repeated across any church that desires to nurture
and equip its leaders. We’re calling this new model “LCU to You,”
because it means we will be reducing the number of activities and
offerings on our main campus in Lincoln, and instead taking them out
to the churches.
The new model will involve offering courses and training sites for
our students in collaboration with partner churches, including
Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Illinois, Harvester Christian
Church in St. Charles, Missouri, West Side Christian Church, in
Springfield, Illinois, with the possibility to add others in the
coming months.
We will also continue to offer courses online and at our main campus
in Lincoln, Illinois. “We have a tremendous opportunity here to
reinvent how we educate and train Kingdom leaders. Obviously
transitioning away from a more traditional, residential model comes
with some profound losses, and we grieve those,” President McCormick
says. “But the sustainability of that model has been in doubt for a
decade, and for us, it is simply no longer viable. I am enormously
grateful for this unique opportunity to take our core identity and
mission and make new history and tradition alongside collaborative
partners who are themselves doing innovative things in preparing the
next generation of Kingdom leaders.”
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Below are a few key points from the plan. For a more
in-depth explanation, we have made a memorandum available at
www.LincolnChristian.edu/LCUto
You.
Sustainability
• LCU’s total fall 2021 enrollment was 527 students. That’s a
decline of about 50% over ten years, and reflects a residential
student population that is the smallest we have seen since prior to
1950.
• Since 2012, operating expenses have exceeded operating revenue by
more than $3.5 million. Strategy • Many of our constituents value us
for offering academically rigorous biblical, theological, and
worldview educational opportunities.
• Poor student and staff morale (often due to being chronically
under-resourced, deteriorating facilities, and our (perceived)
undesirable location in Lincoln) has contributed to recruitment and
retention challenges for both prospective students and prospective
employees. Solutions
• We have a deep base of support for (1) offering degree programs in
biblical studies, theology, Christian thought, and ministry, (2)
partnering with churches that can teach the practical ministry
portions of our programs for students not already working in
ministry, and (3) devoting as much time to offering educational
opportunities outside of credit-bearing courses as within.
• Nothing about our mission, vision, core values, philosophy of
education, or statement of faith needs to be changed to adopt this
new model. Indeed, the goals of moving to a new model are to (1)
focus our efforts on our mission, (2) secure the resources to pursue
that mission long into the future, and (3) treat our students,
faculty, and staff better than we are able to do in our current
model.
• Narrowing our program offerings, reducing the expense of
residential undergraduate education, and offering students the
opportunity to learn the foundations from us while doing ministry
alongside our partners will allow us to focus on what we do well,
and attract students, faculty, and staff interested in participating
in a mission that builds upon and carries forward our historic
dedication to Kingdom growth for years to come.
[TRACY THOMAS
Director of Alumni Relations]
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