new church life: march / april 2014
I believe we have
made the case, and
we will keep making
it, that the right
kind of growth
strengthens mission,
and that devoted
New Church faculty
members should
be listened to when
they attest to the
quality of the New
Church education
taking place in
their classrooms.
Fifty seniors will graduate in May — our
largest class ever. We are heartened by the
energy, passion and competence of this
graduating class.
Along with growth in enrollment,
faculty credentials have been strengthened.
There have always been great teachers at
the College. But as a body the core faculty
is better credentialed than ever before, and
more conversant with best practices and
innovations in their fields.
With its beautiful new buildings, the
College campus has stature fitting the
quality of its education. Some architectural
features of these new buildings echo aspects
of Bryn Athyn’s Historic District: Cathedral,
Glencairn, Cairnwood and Cairncrest.
These features of the new buildings include
archways, roof line and color, stained glass,
stone and wood.
The echoing of architectural style is
important not just for aesthetic purposes
of tying one side of Huntingdon Pike with
the other, but for symbolic purposes of
tying the vision of the last century with this one. The College emphasizes its
cultural roots and spiritual foundation. As educators we are interested not
only in recovering a sense of place and purpose – the founding structures and
vision – but also bringing those things forward, into living expressions for a
new generation.
In terms of financial challenges, the College continues to reduce operating
deficits (down from $8.5 million in 2010 to $2.5 million this year, with a
projected $1.5 million for next year). We have turned an important corner,
for instance, in terms of net tuition revenue. These are the actual dollars that
come in after subtracting institutional aid. A few years ago we were bringing
in $6,000 average net tuition per student; this year we are bringing in $11,500.
There are many examples of belt tightening in financial operations; in this
and other wa