FPC becomes university, adopts LCC

FRESNO, CALIF.

During its June meetings, the Fresno Pacific College Board of Trustees decided to begin implementing a university structure and rename the school Fresno Pacific University by fall, 1997. Fresno Pacific is a rapidly growing, highly regarded liberal arts college run by the Pacific District MB Conference in Fresno, Calif.

"This change in structure and name does not signal any change in our commitment to personalized, Christ-centred higher education," President Richard Kriegbaum clarified after the board meeting. "The long-term maximum enrollment limit of about 750 traditional, residential bachelor of arts degree students remains unchanged."

Another item that involved significant board discussion was the decision to move ahead with efforts to adopt Lithuania Christian College (LCC) as an international undergraduate college under the new university structure. According to Kriegbaum, the biggest hurdle will be the arrangements required to satisfy both Lithuanian regulations and the standards of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which provides FPC's accreditation. Although LCC is licensed to offer courses, it has not been able to obtain Lithuanian government permission to grant bachelor's degrees.

LCC was established as an English-language Christian undergraduate college in 1992 by a small team of evangelicals led by Art DeFehr, Canadian Mennonite Brethren industrialist. LCC graduated its first group of four-year students in May. Enrollment in the bachelor's program now stands at about 160, with an additional 800 students studying English part-time.

The FPC Board also approved building a new residence hall with occupancy projected for fall, 1997. The structure is the first phase of a two-tower hall that will eventually house 120 students. Sarah Steckling, student body president, said that lack of college housing has hindered FPC's ability to recruit students from outside the region. Less than half of FPC's undergraduate students are able to live in college housing.

In other business, Art Enns, advancement vice president, reported that the capital campaign for the College Commons now stands at nearly $2 million of the $12 million goal. The committee hopes to reach the halfway mark of $6 million before the fall semester begins.

FPC news release

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