Tabor College President's Journal

Each morning I walk on to the Tabor campus, I am greeted by the sign on the Centennial Plaza “Called to Serve.” I am reminded why I am at Tabor College and exactly what it is that I am to do… serve. I am called to serve the Tabor community regardless of the difficulty or pain involved.

Just over a week ago the responsibility of serving Tabor required making the most difficult speech I have ever given in my life. The economic downturn is affecting Tabor like all other schools which required us to make some difficult decisions that resulted in some significant budget cuts for 2009-10 including releasing some of our personnel. The day before I had paid a visit to the ones who were most effected by the cuts. Our people are so gracious. The morning I gave the speech, I wrote in my journal, “This would not be so difficult if I did not love these people so much.” What follows are some excepts from what I said that afternoon.

For 100 years Tabor College has been participating in what God is doing in His world. The imago dei of the institution is the missio dei. Tabor College is and always will be doing God’s work in the world. During these 100 years Tabor has overcome some significant obstacles… fire, wind, wars, depression, and bad investments, to name a few. I am confident that we will also overcome the current economic downturn that has led to our current financial situation.

Our mission to prepare people for a life of learning, work, and service for Christ and His Kingdom is our driving force. Our vision to be the college of choice for those who want an academically excellent, life transforming, globally relevant and decidedly Christian education, is as clear, strong, and relevant as it ever has been. Our graduates circle the globe making the world more what God intended it to be infusing their respective locales with the vision and values of the eternal. The face of heaven is not the same because of Tabor and all those who have and will work here. Tabor College has, is, and will continue to be a lighthouse in this world. Our faculty, staff, and administrators all can have a deep sense of satisfaction that their work is of eternal significance.

Tabor College is made up of wonderful people. People who sacrifice, believe in our mission, and are committed to Christ and His way in life. Being a part of the Tabor community and participating in the mission and vision of Tabor is something that I, even today, consider a gift from God. I love this place and I love the people that make up Tabor College.

Back in November I realized the possibility of this day. During December and January I devoted myself to understanding our economic times and the impact on Tabor. It wasn’t until I spent time in Washington DC in late January that I knew this day was inevitable. My understanding of the presidency is that the stewardship of Tabor has been placed in my hands. I hold this stewardship gingerly and tenderly as I execute the responsibilities of the office. I find myself dependent on the risen Christ as I work to honor and trust God with my life by being a person of influence, impacting and inspiring with integrity and relevance the lives of those who will influence others.

I am convinced that Tabor has a bright future. The shape and face of higher Christian education is in the midst of some major paradigm shifts and we need to be prepared for these external changes that will affect Tabor College. It is my conviction that these forces will require some paradigm shifts for us as well. Tabor will need to embrace change, not because things are broken at Tabor but so we can be prepared for a future which we do not know and in which we want to continue our mission being accomplished and the vision becoming a reality. We are preparing a new generation for a new world that is hard for us to even imagine. This then requires a new Tabor as well.

Our current economic climate has caused us to take a hard look at ourselves. And the self examination has only begun. The effect both directly and indirectly of the economic conditions on our endowment, recruiting, and financial aid has required us to make some significant budget adjustments for the 2009-10 academic year. I am thankful that because of excellent leadership in the past, our situation is not anywhere near what other institutions are experiencing. Every president that I have talked with is leading their institutions in some kind of budgetary reductions. Most are more severe than we are experiencing.

From my vantage point, it appears we will need to go through a three phase redesign of Tabor College.

Phase 1 – Reduce our work force to a size we can afford. Currently we have a workforce that is larger than we can afford. I believe that a smaller workforce paid well is better than a larger workforce paid poorly. We need to decide what we do best and focus on that rather than attempting to be too many things to all people.

Phase 2 – Redirect programming costs as needed. The redirecting of funds needs to increase revenue streams and address some financial realities, namely borrowing for operating costs, not dealing with deficits the following year, and not having a contingency fund to draw on in times like these. Phase two will consist of investing in opportunities for growth, and establishing financial policies that reduce our borrowing for operating costs, and establishes a contingency fund of $200,000 by 2015. It might also require additional budget reductions based on our enrollment in the fall.

Phase 3 – Redesign of the college. Tabor has been a survivor. This is good. But surviving has become the goal rather than thriving. I propose that we take a serious look at redesigning Tabor College so that we can move from survive to thrive. I also propose that for this phase we hire an outside consultant who would establish a process involving the many internal and external constituents, guide us in that process, resulting in a strategic plan for a new and more vibrant Tabor. Our curriculum, our delivery, our sales force, and our retention practices need to be reviewed. We need a clear picture in writing of our preferred future so that we all know what it is we are working towards.

The decisions that I am announcing today are all part of phase 1. The goal of phase one is to balance the 2009-10 budget, prepare us for a better Tabor, and position us for a college redesign. These decisions combined enable us, for the time, to present a balanced budget for 2009-10.

These decisions result in the following:

• An operating budget reduction in excess of $500,000 or approximately 5%
• The release of 3 full time faculty
• The release of 8 administrative and support staff
• Vacancies of one and a half positions not being filled
• Reduction of one faculty teaching load
• Discontinuation of computer science program
  
• All combined this is a 11% reduction in the workforce
• Numerous sacrifices of those who continue to serve at Tabor
• Increase all employees salaries by 2%

Yes, we all hurt with these decisions. Our love for each other is deep and because of these relationships, we hurt even more. I also do not expect that everyone will agree with these decisions. I am thankful to the Executive Team for their hard work and assistance in the decision making process. I also am grateful to the president’s faculty advisory council, provost faculty advisory group, the division chairs, the administrative teams of the Vice Presidents, and the many individual conversations that provided insights, wisdom, and guidance along the way. Given the nature of these decisions, we have attempted to be as collaborative as possible. But in the end, the decisions are mine and I am the one to be held responsible for them.

On following Monday morning as I walked on the campus, I was greeted with sidewalk graffiti all over the campus. The night before students had written Bible verses of encouragement all over the campus sidewalks. I was touched deeply as I read these verses of encouragement. Our students were sending a message of hope to all who work at Tabor.