Maddie Conley
Online Editor
The Board of Trustees announced today that Messiah will obtain university status by July 1, 2020. Initiated by President Kim Phipps with input from stakeholders, students, alumni and others from the Messiah community the recommendation was approved as a next big step towards Messiah’s future.
“Messiah College becoming Messiah University is an important next step for our campus community,” said Messiah College President Kim Phipps. “In many ways, university status is a much more accurate reflection of how Messiah has functioned for several years now.”
Phipps referred to the undergraduate and graduate programs in both the liberal arts and applied sciences—including the expansion to master’s and doctoral programs—that already makes Messiah fit the profile of a nationally recognized, private Christian university.
In addition to Messiah’s academic programs, College leadership recognized its current multi-school structure that fits with the university status.
Updating the status will also help to expand educational facilities and academic research opportunities for students, as well as encourage participation in international and other off-campus programs
The Board also approved the recommendation for the important task of increasing Messiah’s visibility—both nationally and outside the U.S. They are specifically focused in on student recruitment in China and Malaysia.
“Ultimately, we think that university status will strengthen our international reputation and open new doors for us to globally connect more people with Messiah’s distinct institutional mission,” George Parmer, chair of the board of trustees, said.
To oversee the transition from College to University, Phipps plans to form an implementation team, including representation from faculty, staff, students and alumni.
“I will continue to keep the campus community informed over the course of the next two years as we begin to implement the exciting and important transition from Messiah College to Messiah University,” Phipps said. “It’s a story of transformation—not only from college to university—but also the transformation that takes place in the lives of our students and the positive impact that Messiah graduates make for the common good in Church and society.”