SAN DIEGO, Calif. – SDCC President’s Update (11.29.23)
Dear SDCC Community,
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I wanted to update you on what has taken place during the first three months of my tenure as President of San Diego Christian College. We kicked off the school year with a great group of students who are enrolled in our traditional residential, online adult, graduate, and teacher credential programs. We also settled back into our Santee location with opportunities for expansion in the future. A big thank you to Mr. Daryl Priest, CEO of Priest Development for making this a reality.
Tedd Brent, Campus Pastor at Skyline Church Lakeside and adjunct professor at SDCC is overseeing our weekly Chapel services this year. In addition to Tedd, he has brought in some great speakers and very talented musicians to lead worship. Students are engaged and worship is powerful!
The new Board of Trustees under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Jeremy McGarity has begun board development training with Dr. Ron Ellis, President of California Baptist University to ensure we have effective policy governance in place moving forward.
I am pleased to introduce our new senior management team and respected advisors who have come on board to proactively address the financial, compliance, and accreditation challenges found upon my arrival. Joining Dr. Katina Evans, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Kelly Buchanan, Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment are the following:
Lisa Kopecky, former CFO for the academic side of California State University Fullerton and a well-respected higher education financial consultant has joined the team as SDCC’s new full-time CFO. Lisa has been instrumental in putting together a comprehensive and strategic financial plan of action for both the short-term and long-term.
Dr. Terry Brasier, a 30-year veteran administrator in higher education is serving as Dean of Institutional Research and advisor in the areas of student services, regulatory, compliance, and accreditation issues along with strategic enrollment management.
Dr. Dirk Davis, former Associate Vice President for Online and Professional Studies at California Baptist University is serving as advisor in the areas of academic program development and management.
Merritt Robinson, former Vice President of Enrollment and Chief Student Engagement Officer at Los Angeles Pacific University, (part of the Azusa Pacific University System) is serving as advisor in the areas of enrollment and marketing.
These individuals have played a key role in addressing and rectifying critical areas of concern and putting the organization on the right path forward. Because of their efforts and in particular the efforts of Kayleigh Reyes, our new Director of Financial Services, I am pleased to announce that the WASC Senior College and University Commission has acted to vacate our appeal and restore our accreditation under the sanction of Show Cause.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This is good news for the College for a number of reasons:
1. The Commission accepted the evidence we provided subsequent to the withdrawal of accreditation.
2. The Commission found that we are now in compliance in three out of the four areas of non-compliance that led to the adverse action in July 2023.
3. We have an opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the remaining issue through a special visit in July 2024.
4. “The Commission also acted to revise its policies to extend from two to four years the maximum time allowed for institutions to be on good cause extension. The Commission subsequently determined that there is sufficient basis to grant SDCC a good cause extension of accreditation” (Page 2 of the Commission Action Letter, Nov. 17, 2023).
WHAT’S NEXT?
The fourth and final area of compliance is around financial sustainability and must be demonstrated by spring. Once this is achieved, SDCC will for the first time in many years be in full compliance in all areas. While not an easy task, donors including individuals who understand the critical need for Christian Higher Education, corporations, and alumni, are beginning to “reinvest” in SDCC. We invite you to join with this key group of “investors” who are committed to ensuring the financial sustainability and a new vision for Christian higher education.
We appreciate the President of WSCUC, the Appeals Committee, the New Evidence Committee, and the Commission for the opportunity to demonstrate our path forward. It’s important to note that the new evidence we submitted, that led to this positive outcome, reflected the leadership of our new restructured leadership team within their first 90 days. We continue to make forward progress as we begin to develop programs that meet 21st century needs for our local, regional, and global communities. Programs in healthcare, public service, counseling, and targeted ministry where there is both a market and employment need but most of all, where our students can make an impact for the cause of Christ.
Failure is not an option.
May God continue to bless San Diego Christian College.
Dr. David Poole
President