JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 6, 2019 — 51社区 trustees reinstated a higher education track in Union鈥檚 Doctor of Education program and received a clean audit report during their Dec. 6 meeting on the Union campus.
The curriculum for the higher education track has been reorganized to meet the needs of prospective students and offers a degree that is both academically rigorous and distinctively Christian. According to John Foubert, dean of Union鈥檚 College of Education, the university鈥檚 revised doctoral program will educate current and future leaders of higher education institutions so they can be salt and light in both Christian and secular colleges and universities.
Foubert added that Union is the only institution in the Mid-South offering a Doctor of Education program in higher education from a distinctly evangelical, Christian perspective.
The audit report from Crosslin and Associates showed that net assets for the university increased from $139.5 million in 2018 to $158.2 million in 2019.
Chad P. Wilson, chairman of Union鈥檚 Board of Trustees, said the audit report was the result of wise stewardship by Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver and the commitment of the university鈥檚 faculty and staff to responsible financial management.
鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the ways that Dr. Oliver and everyone at Union has continued to pull together to make sure that the university operates on a firm financial footing,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲e give thanks to the Lord for his continued blessings upon Union. This audit report demonstrates that Union continues to be fiscally responsible with the resources God has given us.鈥�
Trent Bullock, Norm Hill and Lisa Rogers rejoined the Union board at this meeting. All three are longtime trustees who had served nine years previously before rotating off the board for a year. Trustees also welcomed Bruce Chesser, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, as an ex officio member. Chesser was elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention last month.
Trustees approved four new members of the Union Foundation Board: Beverly Absher, who retired earlier this year as dean of Union鈥檚 School of Adult and Professional Studies; Chris Allison, president of Allison Insurance Group in Jackson, Tennessee; Brooke Emery, assistant professor of marketing at Union; and Craig Dismuke, executive vice president and chief economist for Vining Sparks in Memphis.
The Union Foundation manages assets of the university and solicits charitable contributions on behalf of the university and its endowment.
At a Thursday night dinner preceding the trustee meeting, members of the planning committees for Union鈥檚 bicentennial were introduced. The bicentennial celebration will take place during the 2022-2023 academic year and plans for the event will be taking shape in the months ahead.
Serving on the bicentennial鈥檚 special events committee are Nikki Castles, Fran Thomas, Frank Anderson, Jennifer Gay, Lynn Gibson, Debbie Newell, Howard Newell, Ken Newman, Deb Rhodes, Joe Ball, Jennifer Delk, Katherine Cheshire and Ken Litscher. Serving on the community engagement committee are Teresa Rosson, Matt Bowman, Chad Guthrie, Luka Perkovic, Karen Via, Dixie Blackstock, Stephen Neu, Vadessa Flack, Louise Lynch and Tommy Sadler.
Serving on the history and storytelling committee are Tim Ellsworth, Bob Agee, Jeannie Byrd, Jimmy Davis, Clyde Fugate, Carla Sanderson, Ray Van Neste, John Adams, Jonathan Nadaskay and Melinda Posey.
Serving on the signature event committee are Catherine Kwasigroh, Kent Freeman, Carroll Griffin, Tracey King, Cherie Williams, Jennifer Teel, Todd Brady, Jennifer Graves and Jason Vaughan.
鈥淲e鈥檙e blessed at Union with excellent volunteer leadership through our Board of Trustees, our Union Foundation Board and through great friends who serve on projects like the bicentennial celebration,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for these people who partner with us in providing excellent, Christ-centered education to our students.鈥�
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 16-17.