Dear Brethren:
As President of Ambassador University, I believe the future of our fine educational institution rests primarily in the hands of members of the Worldwide Church of God. Let me update you on our future.
As you are aware, Ambassador was founded in 1947 by the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and has been heavily subsidized by the church since that time.
Most church members are also aware that the WCG has seen a decrease in membership in recent years, in large part due to some members departing over doctrinal reforms undertaken by the church.
Reduced membership results in reduced income, and the church can no longer afford to subsidize AU. (Last year, the WCG provided $5 million cash in support of the University, but this year the total is just $200,000.) Ambassador continues to be philosophically and doctrinally aligned with the church, which still contributes valuable support services, for which the University is extremely grateful.
Many students want and appreciate the wonderful advantages afforded by such things as individual attention from faculty and staff, a safe campus environment, leadership opportunities and the chance to be involved in active Christian service to the community. We know that these opportunities, offered in a beautiful setting with an emphasis on Christian values, help build the intellectual, spiritual and interpersonal skills that prepare our young men and women for the challenges facing them in the years ahead.
At next year's tuition rate of $175 per unit, we believe Ambassador remains an outstanding value in private higher education. Ambassador will cost only about half the average tuition for a private, four-year education.
We realize that college costs are rising everywhere, and that students and their parents are concerned about the financial burden of a college education. That's why our Financial Aid office staff works closely with students to assist them in their pursuit of scholarships and federal money.
In the United States, there has been a major shift in the balance of federal student aid from 1975 to 1996. In 1975, 80 percent of federal aid was in grants and work study, with 20 percent given in student loans.
Now, 80 percent of federal aid is given in loans, 20 percent in grants and work study. The average student in America graduates with a $15,000 debt. On the upside, the four-year graduate earns an average of $800,000 more throughout his or her lifetime than the average high school graduate.
We also provide on-campus jobs for about 360 students and actively assist other students in locating jobs in the East Texas community. We're doing everything possible to assist students who have demonstrated financial need.
Our enrollment this fall is 650, and we hope to increase it by at least five percent to about 680 next year. Our goal is to see gradual increases over the next five years until we reach an enrollment of 900. Recruitment of new students is one of our top priorities in the months and years ahead.
I'm excited about our plans for next year's fall festival celebration. Beginning next year, AU will host a special Festival Celebration week during the Feast of Tabernacles, Oct. 15 through Oct. 23. Regular worship services will be held on the Holy Days and weekend, with special services on other days.
Regular classes will also remain in session, except on the first and last Holy Days. This means that parents who decide to share the Festival with their AU children will be able to observe their children participate in music, sports, classes and other University activities.
(One of the great joys that my wife, Phyllis, and I have been blessed with has been watching our son Chris, an AU graduate, and daughter Tracy, now a senior, participate in such activities.) This will be a perfect opportunity for parents to visit the University while classes are in session.
In the past, we have canceled all classes and, in effect, given faculty and staff paid vacation time to observe the Festival. However, without the WCG subsidy, the University has decided to discontinue financing this practice.
This year, we invite family members to make plans to join our students, faculty and staff as we glorify Jesus Christ in special worship services, seminars and the weekly University chapel service.
A special concert and intercollegiate athletic games will also highlight the week, and many classes will be open to attend. I believe all who attend with us will be exhilarated by the experience of interacting with the campus community during this special Festival time.
Beginning in 1997, commencement exercises will be held on the first Monday in May, followed by a three-week summer session for those students who want to take a summer course. This scheduling change will also allow more time in the summer for students to earn money to finance their education.
Our academic program continues to shine, as evidenced by our third consecutive year of being listed as one of the leading liberal arts universities in the Western United States by U.S. News & World Report. All our classes are taught by faculty with master's degrees or doctorates--not by graduate assistants, as is the case at many large universities where research, publishing and consulting take priority over teaching.
Our next major goal in academics is to establish an elementary teacher education certification program. We plan to build our program so that most of the coursework for certification in Texas will be applicable in other states as well.
We've worked on this program for the past two years and expect state approval soon. After the elementary program is established, we anticipate developing a secondary education certification program.
These are challenging times in Ambassador's history, yet we are excited about the quality and vitality of AU students and the prospects for future growth and expansion.
We are poised to become an outstanding university, proudly representing the Worldwide Church of God as the church works to transcend denominational boundaries to unite the Body of Christ.
Ambassador University cannot cross the threshold of the future, however, without financial support during this time of transition. We ask that your tithes be directed toward the church. But once you have given to the church, please remember that your generous contributions to AU defray part of the cost for educating our young people, and that strengthens the future of our church.
Thank you for your prayerful support of Ambassador.
Sincerely,
Russell K. Duke, President
Dec. 17, 1996, Worldwide News, page 7
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