HANNIBAL \u2013 Trustees for Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) approved plans for a new science building and approved four new \u201ccore principals\u201d for the school during their second meeting Oct. 17-18.<\/p>\n
The former science building on campus was destroyed when high winds tore the roof off in May. HLGU officials are close to finishing negotiations with the insurance company and hope to complete construction on the new 40,000-square foot facility in time for next year\u2019s fall semester. The building will be between the current fine arts building and Crouch residence center, forming a new quad area.<\/p>\n
The four core newly approved principals are that HLGU is to be: Christ-centered, learner-focused, service-oriented and globally minded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s who we are,\u201d said HLGU President Anthony Allen.<\/p>\n
There are 506 students on campus for the fall semester, including more than 100 international students. Adult enrollment is still ongoing, but the total headcount of students in HLGU\u2019s programs is 1,237, which is up slightly from last fall.<\/p>\n
Jeff Brown, director of campus life and spiritual formation as well as associate professor of Christian studies reported to trustees on a new emphasis of encouraging redemptive discipline and Christian conduct on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can show mercy where mercy needs to be shown \u2013 and that\u2019s what we want to do,\u201d he said. \u201cbut we will also be as diligent or strong as we need to be. If you ask for forgiveness, we\u2019ll give you forgiveness. But we\u2019re still going to hold you accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown also shared with trustees the results of a survey of the \u201cspiritual temperature\u201d of HLGU\u2019s students. As is to be expected of a university affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention, a strong majority of the student body are believers according to interviews and contact Brown\u2019s office has had with nearly every student on campus.<\/p>\n
More than half – 58 percent – of women on campus are \u201ccommitted, strong believers,\u201d and 27 Brown characterized as \u201cseeking,\u201d or perhaps have been in church in the past and have fallen out and now neither \u201chot nor cold.\u201d Fifteen percent are not Christians.<\/p>\n
As for the men, 40 percent are in the strong Christian category, and 27 percent fall into the middle ground. 33 percent are in the unbeliever category.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hold them accountable, but we do it in love and hopefully they move from [the third category] to the [second category] and then to the strong Christian column,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
He said there are about 40 students in a mentoring program to help them \u201cmove up a category.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Christians can cause disruptions on campus and non-Christians can be model students, Brown suggested there is a correlation between faith and behavior on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past we\u2019ve had some discipline issues,\u201d he said, \u201cperhaps because they came here not understanding just \u2018how Christian we are.\u2019 We want the students to know where we stand. We\u2019re not going to make you convert, we\u2019re not going to make you become a Baptist and we don\u2019t want to make you uncomfortable, but we do need to you understand who we are and what we\u2019re trying to do. If you want to come and get a degree here, you\u2019re going to hear a Christian worldview and it\u2019s going to permeate class, chapel and chapel life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re given a level playing field, the gospel wins,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
Trustees voted to move forward seeking accreditation for a new graduate degree in leadership. The new master\u2019s program would have two tracks, leadership in Christian ministry and organizational leadership, be completed in one year, and take place entirely online. Assuming approval by the accrediting bodies this spring, the degree will be offered beginning in the fall of 2014.<\/p>\n
Trustees will next meet in March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HANNIBAL \u2013 Trustees for Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) approved plans for a new science building and approved four new \u201ccore principals\u201d for the school during their second meeting Oct. 17-18. The former science building on campus was destroyed when high winds tore the roof off in May. HLGU officials are close to finishing negotiations with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":11690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[47,17],"tags":[199],"yoast_head":"\n