The Covid 19 pandemic has taken a toll on nearly every aspect of life in our world since early 2020. After living and ministering in Denver for the past twelve years, my wife and I moved back to the Ozarks area a few months ago. At the invitation of President Mark Milioni, we were pleased to attend Baptist Bible College’s Opening Chapel of the Spring Semester on January 10, 2023. In the service, I congratulated President Milioni on surviving the pandemic, briefly shared what BBC meant to my wife and me, and led in prayer. He brought an excellent message to begin the new school semester, speaking like a father to his kids. Later, President Milioni and his wife, Barbara, hosted us for lunch. During our meal, I inquired about how he and BBC were able to get through the terrible Covid 19 ordeal.
Some Colleges Didn’t Survive the Pandemic
Covid 19 put stress on everyone. For the entire academic world, Covid produced remote learning, drastically reduced enrollment, health restrictions on campus, reduced revenue, elimination of programs, and painful layoffs of faculty and staff. Commenting on Covid’s impact on higher education, Jeffery J. Selingo wrote, “…enrollment in higher education has declined by nearly 1.3 million students since the spring of 2020.” (https://www.future-ed.org/how-the-pandemic-changed-higher-education/).
It is not surprising, therefore, that on January 28, 2021, the U.S.A. Today newspaper reported that several schools around the country had to close because of Covid 19. These included Mills College in California, MacMurray College in Illinois, Concordia College in New York, Urbana University in Ohio, and Holy Family College in Wisconsin. Although I have no documentation, likely, some Bible colleges closed as well.
A Financial Strategy to Survive
During our luncheon, President Milioni gave me the details of how BBC came through the Covid ordeal. Regarding finances, he said the school had to live within its means. On the revenue side, in the past, much of BBC’s funding came from churches. When I was BBC’s president from 2002-2008, approximately 33% of our funding came from churches. The pandemic caused many churches to operate remotely, some for a year or more. Church offerings suffered, along with their giving to ministries. Unfortunately, schools like BBC were among the first to suffer. Milioni said giving from churches now comprises less than 6% of BBC’s revenue. To make up for the loss, he applied for every type of grant or gift possible, but still, school revenue dropped. As a result, BBC had to cut its budget to make ends meet. A full-time faculty and staff of over 60, when he came in 2012 is now numbered in the 20s. Of the 66 people listed as faculty on the school website (www.gobbc.edu), the overwhelming majority are part-time or adjuncts. The seminary program and courses were moved totally online. Facility use was reduced, and some areas were closed. Only necessary maintenance was approved, and funding had to be raised before improvements were made. Currently, bills are paid on time, debt service has been maintained, and the school operates in the black. Milioni has kept the school going by spending no more than it took in. That is living within your means, a strategy for survival.
A Recruiting Strategy to Survive
To address the loss in enrollment, Miioni developed a plan to broaden BBC’s appeal to potential Christian college students. BBC now offers twelve undergraduate degrees. All the ministry-related studies are there. Non-ministry degrees have been increased. The Elementary Education program has expanded to include Early Childhood, Middle School, and Secondary Education. All are approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Two Business Management degrees are also offered. Milioni has sensed that many Christian parents don’t want their children to attend public universities today. He believes they are hungry for a place like BBC. If students don’t feel called to ministry, they can get a degree from BBC in education or business and have a successful career in their chosen field. He said these fully accredited and state-recognized degrees have helped recruit many new students, especially those involved in BBC athletics. According to Milioni, this strategy has been very important to BBC’s survival during the pandemic.
A Student Experience Strategy to Survive
Milioni believes focusing on the student’s experience on campus has been crucial to BBC surviving the Covid pandemic. Students are the lifeblood of the school and its future. To cultivate a positive student experience on campus, he and his leadership team have looked at all aspects of campus life from the student’s perspective. This focus has resulted in a creative change to the school calendar. BBC’s fall semester now begins in August and ends before Thanksgiving. The spring semester begins early in January and finishes early in May. Students have welcomed these changes, giving them over a month of winter break. This innovation has also improved retention from one semester to the next. Milioni has also implemented a four-day academic week, giving students an extra day each week for study, service, and/or work. This four-day academic week also helps recruit faculty. Most importantly, the students and faculty like it.
Student well-being is fostered through BBC’s continued promotion of student involvement in local churches. Students are also involved in weekly chapel services, the community service outreach called “BBC Cares,” and other events. Upgrades to the facilities, like the improvements to the chapel, remodeling of classrooms in honor of the late BBC supporter/promoter Ken Adrian, the remodeling of the area surrounding the mailroom in honor of Beth Adams (late wife of Professor Ray Adams) and the just remodeled student center have been initiated to improve the student experience on campus.
Another part of this strategy has been the revitalized athletic department. BBC’s only intercollegiate sport was men’s basketball when Milioni enlisted Darin Meinders to coach the Patriots and become Athletic Director in 2019. Through the pandemic, with God’s help and Meinders’ leadership, BBC men’s basketball has won two consecutive national titles (NCCAA). Team success has energized the campus. Success has also encouraged more participation. A featured article in the Springfield News-Leader reported, “The once-moribund athletics department has since (2019) taken a 180-degree turn. BBC now offers men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s cross country, and is also adding men’s and women’s soccer.” This revitalization has assisted recruiting, especially in Missouri. Now over 100 students participate in BBC athletics. (https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/2023/01/08/how-bbc-basketball-turned-things-around-for-dying-athletic-department/69721935007/?utm_source=news-leader-).
Trent McBride, a student-athlete from Eminence, Missouri, transferred to BBC from College of the Ozarks. Of his new school, he said, “All the teachers are great, super friendly. There’s no resentment toward the athletes. It’s more of a family vibe than other colleges you would go to.” (News-Leader, 1-8-2023). He is having a positive student experience.
BBC is growing again
The strategies outlined above have helped BBC survive a terrible plague. Coming out of the pandemic, President Mark Milioni has slowly seen the total of on-campus students increase. The number has now climbed to more than 200. When non-campus online students are added, BBC’s total enrollment is currently well above 300. His goal for the not-too-distant future is 400 on campus! With God’s help, the continued support of his team of trustees, pastors, administrators, faculty, and staff, and with his quiet, wise and steady leadership, I believe it will be achieved. BBC’s future looks bright.
P. S. Any alumni or friends who want to make a gift to help BBC continue to move forward, click here, https://gobbc.edu/give/.
