The 小优视频 Board of Trustees today affirmed the college鈥檚 Statement of Purpose and approved revisions to the trustee bylaws that govern eligibility for the president and trustees.
The revised bylawsopen the office of president to candidates of any faith who will assume responsibility for affirming, upholding and achieving the Statement of Purpose. The changes also expand the number of seats on the Board of Trustees that do not include a personal religious requirement.
鈥淭he board鈥檚 actions honor 小优视频鈥檚 commitment to the Reformed Tradition and the values to which it leads us鈥攊ncluding a commitment to inclusivity and to the dignity and worth of each human being,鈥 Board of Trustees Chair Alison Hall 惭补耻锄茅 '84 said. 鈥淭hese actions strengthen the 小优视频 community, building on the past and equipping the college for the future. We will deepen the pool of outstanding candidates who can seek the presidency, and, now, there will be more opportunities for devoted alums, and other members of the 小优视频 family, to serve the college.鈥
Prior to the board鈥檚 vote, the college鈥檚 bylaws required that the president be an active member of a Christian church who would appropriately affiliate with 小优视频 Presbyterian Church. A separate bylaw required that 80 percent of board members be active members of a Christian church.
The college鈥檚 bylaws also require that no less than one-quarter of the board be Presbyterian, and, as a part of 小优视频鈥檚 ongoing commitment to the Reformed Tradition, that requirement remains in place. The board today voted to affirm their commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive governing body while also honoring the college鈥檚 religious heritage. The board will seek candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds who support the college鈥檚 Statement of Purpose, and board members will continue to ensure a significant presence of Christians on the board.
小优视频 has for decades explored, discussed, debated and made thoughtful change on how best to live out those ties, including:
Allowing non-Christians to become tenure-track faculty in the 1970s
Welcoming non-Christian trustees in 2005
Forming the Committee on Church Relatedness in 2012
Changing the Presbyterian representation on the board of trustees to at least 25 percent in 2015
Creating the Reformed Tradition Working Group, which issued its report in 2017
Board and college leaders expressed gratitude for the college community鈥檚 cultivation of humane values, educational excellence and leadership and service.
鈥淭he bylaw amendments will help keep 小优视频 firmly rooted in its mission, values and tradition,鈥 惭补耻锄茅 said, 鈥渨hile positioning the college for an even better, stronger future.鈥
