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An Important Message from Jerry D. Campbell
July 18, 2006
Dear Friends, Graduates, and Claremont Supporters,
In recent years, Claremont School of Theology has been under review with
our two accrediting bodies. In March 2006, both the Western Association
of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Theological Schools
(ATS) returned to our campus for a review, and I have new information
to share with you concerning the outcomes of that joint visit.
Recently, I received notice of an action taken by WASC at its June 2006
meeting. The commission informed me that our School had not met certain
basic standards for sound governance, especially regarding financial planning
and management, by the time of the spring review in March 2006. Therefore,
WASC acted to terminate their accreditation of our School, effective August
10, 2006. This action is subject to review, if requested within 28 days
of notice of the action. In agreement with faculty and senior administration,
I will request such a review, postponing a decision on any negative action
until the November 2006 meeting of the commission.
The Association of Theological Schools shares WASC's profound concern
about our financial condition. In June, I learned that ATS placed the
School on a two-year probation period, through June 2008. While the School
remains accredited by this agency (which is also sanctioned by the U.S.
Department of Education), both accrediting bodies are telling us that
significant change is long overdue.
Given this situation, there are three important points that I want to
emphasize with you regarding the WASC action.
1. Claremont School of Theology remains an accredited institution.
I want to remind you that two accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education currently accredit us. If we eventually lose WASC
accreditation after the review in November, our ATS accreditation will
remain in effect. This is extremely good news since continuing to be accredited
is vitally important for us. However, we will be satisfied with nothing
less than regaining our capacity to meet the standards of both agencies.
2. We must make changes to live within our means. While the action
to terminate accreditation is the strongest possible medicine, it is also
the serious wake-up call we need. Even before taking up my duties in June,
I was told several times by a number of different people that our School
has struggled financially for many years. Having now become familiar with
the budget, I know those indications to be true. The hard truth is that
if we want this unique and important institution to have a future, we
cannot go on in the same fashion, continuing year after year with seriously
constrained and often deficit finances. We must make fundamental changes
immediately in order to achieve a financially healthy operating environment.
It is my conviction, therefore, that WASC has done us a favor by jolting
us in this way and making it clear that we must address issues of governance
and finance before solutions are out of reach and it is too late.
3. Claremont will prove equal to this challenge. Claremont has
many strengths on which to build as we move forward. Our failure to meet
standards was not about academic shortcomings; indeed, our faculty, students,
and academic programs remain strong and respected. Also, in the 2005-06
fiscal year, we experienced the most successful year ever for our Annual
Fund, with over $1.3 million in gifts. This is an all time high for our
School. Further, Dr. Susan Nelson, our new academic Dean from Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary, began her appointment on July 1 and has already
been instrumental in addressing these issues along with me. As a Claremont
graduate, she shares my passion and determination to find a way through
these challenging times.
Ultimately, the problem is that we have not taken certain steps pertaining
to stewardship of our governing practices and finances common to all healthy
institutions, steps necessary to put our institution on a sound financial
foundation. Even if done carefully and deliberately, such steps will be
difficult and will require hard choices. But, these are the steps we have
already begun to take, and I invite you to join me in moving forward.
I thank you for your support and prayers as we move forward together.
Jerry D. Campbell
President
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