The Compelling Case for Christian Universities to Name and/or Co-Name their next University Building In honor of their Faculty rather than Just a Wealthy Donor
Project Type
Faculty Scholarship
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Community Application
Presentation Type
Presentation
Abstract
All universities, Christian or secular, depend on large donors, in support of capital investment projects and special centers. For example, at Point Loma Nazarene University, there is the Fermanian School of Business; at Anderson University the Falls School of Business; at Trinity Christian the Ozinga Chapel; and at Olivet Nazarene University the Weber Center. But a rather obvious yet unrecognized “in-kind donation” of long serving faculty needs to be considered. Most Christian college faculty that serve 20 or more years make at least a million dollar contribution. Not in actual dollars, but in “opportunity costs” of teaching at their institutions rather than at a public institution. Depending on the discipline areas like business, computer science, engineering, the natural science, sacrifice up to 40-60% in salaries and retirement benefits.
The case here is not to complain! Professors coming to Christian institutions do so voluntarily and are lauded for their sacrifice. They feel a sense of calling, receive many non-tangible benefits, and are highly committed. This paper is an open call to Presidents and Boards of Trustees to consider another kind of intangible reward. It would be a powerful statement to name a new building in honor the faculty, or perhaps better yet co-named for a major donor and the faculty.
The presentation will document the level of financial sacrifice made based on national statistics and build the case why this would be an appropriate recognition and could lead to donations that otherwise might not even be made.
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The Compelling Case for Christian Universities to Name and/or Co-Name their next University Building In honor of their Faculty rather than Just a Wealthy Donor
Reed 330
All universities, Christian or secular, depend on large donors, in support of capital investment projects and special centers. For example, at Point Loma Nazarene University, there is the Fermanian School of Business; at Anderson University the Falls School of Business; at Trinity Christian the Ozinga Chapel; and at Olivet Nazarene University the Weber Center. But a rather obvious yet unrecognized “in-kind donation” of long serving faculty needs to be considered. Most Christian college faculty that serve 20 or more years make at least a million dollar contribution. Not in actual dollars, but in “opportunity costs” of teaching at their institutions rather than at a public institution. Depending on the discipline areas like business, computer science, engineering, the natural science, sacrifice up to 40-60% in salaries and retirement benefits.
The case here is not to complain! Professors coming to Christian institutions do so voluntarily and are lauded for their sacrifice. They feel a sense of calling, receive many non-tangible benefits, and are highly committed. This paper is an open call to Presidents and Boards of Trustees to consider another kind of intangible reward. It would be a powerful statement to name a new building in honor the faculty, or perhaps better yet co-named for a major donor and the faculty.
The presentation will document the level of financial sacrifice made based on national statistics and build the case why this would be an appropriate recognition and could lead to donations that otherwise might not even be made.