We enjoyed a productive weekend meeting with the Central Baptist College Board of Trustees October 17-18 on our campus in Conway. The 20-member Board only meets three times a year, so we always have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time. The three standing committees (finance, academic and advancement) met Friday evening, and the full Board convened Saturday morning.
At this meeting, our vice presidents and I were pleased to update the Board on what has been an extremely busy yet exciting fall semester. We shared that fall enrollment saw a 4.2% increase in total enrollment, an 8.5% increase in traditional students and an impressive 22% increase in first-time freshmen. The growth pushed campus housing to capacity, with 205 students living on campus, an all-time record for CBC!
We were also encouraged to report that the College’s finances are beginning to stabilize. The combination of enrollment growth and increased giving from churches and individual supporters has made a significant impact. The Board also reviewed and approved the College’s 2024-2025 fiscal-year financial position and preliminary audit report.
The October meeting is also the traditional time for the Board to consider room and board rates for the upcoming year. Because of the rising costs of food and utilities, we requested, and the Board approved, a small increase in housing rates that will take effect in August 2026. Since housing contracts for the next academic year will go out in early spring, we needed to act now to provide clarity for students and families.
In addition, we recommended and the Board approved a small tuition increase for the 2026-2027 academic year. This is the first time we have brought tuition rates for a future year to the October meeting, but doing so will allow families time to plan ahead and enable our financial aid staff to provide accurate estimates of cost earlier in the admissions process.
Other items of business included the approval of 2026 ministers’ housing allowances for eligible employees and the election of new Board officers for the upcoming year: Jake McCandless, chair; Dustin Wisely, vice chair; Jennifer Weaver, secretary; and Kelly Williams, assistant secretary.
During executive session, the Board approved my recommendation to appoint Jessica Faulkner as Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing. I was also humbled and grateful to be re-elected as president of Central Baptist College for another year.
As the meeting concluded, we took time to recognize three outstanding outgoing Board members — Ali Chambers, Jim Fink and Kellie Harper — for their faithful service from 2021-2025. I am deeply thankful for their commitment to CBC and their contributions to our mission.
As I reflect on the weekend, I am once again reminded that God’s hand is upon Central Baptist College. Each report, each decision and each answered prayer is a testimony to His provision. I’m grateful for a Board of Trustees that loves the Lord, believes in the mission of Christian higher education and is willing to serve so faithfully. Please continue to pray for CBC as we remain steadfast in our calling to transform lives through Christ-centered education.
