Annual Fund Letter from Dr. Stephen Jones
The quality of faculty members and their teaching has a direct effect on student learning and success.
While Bob Jones University has one of the most talented and knowledgeable faculty anywhere, we are
committed to continuous faculty development. Our Lord emphasizes the connection between teacher and
student in Matthew 10:25 when He says, “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master.”
I am very excited to announce that funds from the fourth BJU Annual Fund Drive will launch the Excellence in Teaching initiative. Our goal is to enable 70 to 80 faculty members to participate in an intense, three-week development program during the summers of 2009 and 2010. This initiative will provide the tools needed to assess existing coursework and inspire improvement. We ask for your financial support as we endeavor to raise a minimum of $275,000 for this worthy and beneficial project.
For the past several summers our science faculty has participated in a similar development program funded by an outside source. One recent participant summarized his experience with the program by stating, “We must never be satisfied with the caliber of our teaching—we are bound for both our Lord’s sake and the sake of those we serve to continually seek better ways to teach” As word has spread about this program's success, faculty and alumni alike have encouraged us to provide a similar opportunity to all faculty, which will in turn significantly benefit our students.
We thank the Lord for how He has richly provided for our first three Annual Fund projects. BJU friends have contributed over seven hundred thousand dollars, and many more have prayed for us. As the years pass, our mission remains the same: developing Christlike character in students as they prepare for His service in whatever capacity that may be—and the Excellence in Teaching initiative will be a wonderful way to broaden our faculty to help them continue to be the very best they can be in their respective fields.
May the Lord bless you as you prayerfully consider supporting this effort to assist our faculty and students.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Jones, President