More than a quarter of BJU's faculty will not be returning for the 2025-26 academic year.
26.32% of BJU Faculty Not Returning in the Fall of 2025
26.32% of BJU Faculty Not Returning in the Fall of 2025
Faculty Reductions at BJU
- Thread starter TheOldJudge
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Thank you, Old Judge, for this information. I was not aware of this latest dramatic reduction in faculty. It appears that the faculty count at BJU has been declining for some time now. See this newsletter from BJU dated one year ago - March 3, 2024:
"As of March 1 [2024], nineteen current faculty members were confirmed as not returning for the 2024–25 academic year at Bob Jones University. Out of the nineteen, seven faculty members are retiring, and five have submitted their resignations. One resignation is due to dissatisfaction, and four are due to normal transitions like becoming a stay-at-home mom or becoming a full-time pastor. The contracts for seven faculty members were not renewed — most of these non-renewal decisions resulted from low enrollment in specific programs.
"Though not abnormal within higher education, these changes naturally generate important questions within our BJU community."
See also this notice from What in the World:
"This Board Meeting is not on the schedule. But the Board is meeting on Friday, April 4. Meanwhile, the students are pushing a 'Meet you at the Pole' prayer meeting. The entire constituency is talking about how Crockett wants out. Three top admin have resigned.
Their financial assets have dropped to half (story is ongoing). This is ominous, folks."
wutbju.tumblr.com
"As of March 1 [2024], nineteen current faculty members were confirmed as not returning for the 2024–25 academic year at Bob Jones University. Out of the nineteen, seven faculty members are retiring, and five have submitted their resignations. One resignation is due to dissatisfaction, and four are due to normal transitions like becoming a stay-at-home mom or becoming a full-time pastor. The contracts for seven faculty members were not renewed — most of these non-renewal decisions resulted from low enrollment in specific programs.
"Though not abnormal within higher education, these changes naturally generate important questions within our BJU community."
See also this notice from What in the World:
"This Board Meeting is not on the schedule. But the Board is meeting on Friday, April 4. Meanwhile, the students are pushing a 'Meet you at the Pole' prayer meeting. The entire constituency is talking about how Crockett wants out. Three top admin have resigned.
Their financial assets have dropped to half (story is ongoing). This is ominous, folks."
What in the World!
A news service about Bob Jones University prepared for the incredulous.
wutbju.tumblr.com
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FWIW, here's their webpage about their current president, Josh Crockett
DOGE?
His Dad was Leigh Crockett. A typical Fighting Fundy. I heard him do a wedding for a friend of mine and he totally butchered every text he read and preached on.
Gung-ho or absent minded?
Gung-ho.
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In post #2 above, I cited the statement from "What In the World" that "the entire constituency is talking about how Crockett wants out." I thought that was an unsubstantiated rumor. Well, as it turns out, it has now been substantiated. President Crockett would like to go back to his previous position as pastor at Morningside Baptist.
“'The university is not going to close, and I have not resigned,' Crockett told the students in an effort to quell spreading rumors. . . .
"BJU has faced financial and enrollment challenges over the last several years. According to the National Center for Education Statistics profile of the college, enrollment was only 2,893 in the fall semester of 2023. In 2009, enrollment was 4,998.
"In his address to alumni in the fall, Crockett reported significant staffing cuts of at least 10 percent. He also said BJU Press has been subsidizing the university financially. Over the past five years, it provided $100 million in gross revenue to the university, he said."
"During Crockett’s time as president, the university has gone through a round of both staff and faculty layoffs. In a public message to alumni, Crockett said that 'We had to make some very difficult but necessary decisions. . . to right size our workforce by about 10%.'”
indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com
"This morning, [April 7] Dr. Joshua Crockett informed the Bob Jones University faculty and staff he is a candidate for senior pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, the position he held for nine years prior to becoming the president of BJU in May 2024. . . .
"As the process to appoint a new CEO progresses, Dr. Crockett strongly encourages the pursuit of unity. In his statement to faculty and staff this morning, he acknowledged the past and even present disagreements within the BJU community saying 'the answer is not to retaliate or escalate a family feud – like the Hatfields & McCoys. The answer is not to react or pick fights on social media. New Testament Christians are called to build up, not blow up. We’re called to edification not detonation. We need to pursue reconciliation and restoration. We need unity.'”
“'The university is not going to close, and I have not resigned,' Crockett told the students in an effort to quell spreading rumors. . . .
"BJU has faced financial and enrollment challenges over the last several years. According to the National Center for Education Statistics profile of the college, enrollment was only 2,893 in the fall semester of 2023. In 2009, enrollment was 4,998.
"In his address to alumni in the fall, Crockett reported significant staffing cuts of at least 10 percent. He also said BJU Press has been subsidizing the university financially. Over the past five years, it provided $100 million in gross revenue to the university, he said."
BJU to hire CEO, President Joshua Crockett to stay at university
Bob Jones University plans to hire a CEO with executive experience as current BJU President Joshua Crockett is considered for senior pastor at Morningside Baptist Church. Crockett plans to remain in leadership at BJU. Following a difficult year, the move aims to solidify BJU’s leadership and...
collegianonline.com
"During Crockett’s time as president, the university has gone through a round of both staff and faculty layoffs. In a public message to alumni, Crockett said that 'We had to make some very difficult but necessary decisions. . . to right size our workforce by about 10%.'”
<i>Another Shake Up at BJU?</i>
I t has just been reported that in less than one year as BJU president Joshua Crockett announced on April 7 he may be called to become senio...
indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com
"This morning, [April 7] Dr. Joshua Crockett informed the Bob Jones University faculty and staff he is a candidate for senior pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, the position he held for nine years prior to becoming the president of BJU in May 2024. . . .
"As the process to appoint a new CEO progresses, Dr. Crockett strongly encourages the pursuit of unity. In his statement to faculty and staff this morning, he acknowledged the past and even present disagreements within the BJU community saying 'the answer is not to retaliate or escalate a family feud – like the Hatfields & McCoys. The answer is not to react or pick fights on social media. New Testament Christians are called to build up, not blow up. We’re called to edification not detonation. We need to pursue reconciliation and restoration. We need unity.'”
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Here's the word, straight from the horses's mouth - in this 10 minute video, President Crockett explains what is going on and why they are laying off 10% of the faculty. The student/teacher ratio at BJU, 12/1, is lower than other Christian colleges, so the layoffs constitute a "right-sizing" of the faculty. The college must cut back due to lower enrollment, disruptions from COVID, instability due to presidential transitions, and the addition of intercollegiate sports. Dollar savings will be used to build up an endowment and invest in infrastructure. The college is heavily subsidized by BJU Press which is experiencing record sales volume. Bob Jones Academy has record enrollment and it is hoped that this will increase further if the state of South Carolina approves vouchers for private schooling.
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Latest update:
"Falling enrollment, faculty cuts, and administrative resignations — Bob Jones University appears to be a college in turmoil. . . .
"A group called 'BJU-New Contract' has proposed a series of actions they say the university must take if it is to survive. . . . Two primary actions they recommend are the resignation or termination of Dr. Bob Jones III as chancellor and the replacement of the entire board of trustees. . . .
"Camille Lewis, a BJU graduate who also taught there 1992 to 2007, has been tracking the faculty cuts in what she calls the 'BJU brain drain.' She has counted 70 out of 267 'reduced' or otherwise departing faculty members, about 40% of whom have terminal degrees — the highest degree in their academic discipline.
“'The scholars that made BJU credible are leaving,' Lewis told MinistryWatch, adding that not only is it a blow to the faculty who lost their positions, but some of the faculty have had their class load tripled."
Is Bob Jones Facing Closure? – MinistryWatch
ministrywatch.com
"Falling enrollment, faculty cuts, and administrative resignations — Bob Jones University appears to be a college in turmoil. . . .
"A group called 'BJU-New Contract' has proposed a series of actions they say the university must take if it is to survive. . . . Two primary actions they recommend are the resignation or termination of Dr. Bob Jones III as chancellor and the replacement of the entire board of trustees. . . .
"Camille Lewis, a BJU graduate who also taught there 1992 to 2007, has been tracking the faculty cuts in what she calls the 'BJU brain drain.' She has counted 70 out of 267 'reduced' or otherwise departing faculty members, about 40% of whom have terminal degrees — the highest degree in their academic discipline.
“'The scholars that made BJU credible are leaving,' Lewis told MinistryWatch, adding that not only is it a blow to the faculty who lost their positions, but some of the faculty have had their class load tripled."
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Michael Pettit, son of ousted BJU President Steve Pettit, has issued an update statement on the situation at BJU. (Obviously, he might have a personal bias in favor of his father, as he raises questions about the competency of Josh Crockett who replaced his father).
drive.google.com
Pettit challenges the statement by Josh Crockett that “Nothing should change from your perspective," saying that "Over 100 students withdrew after Christmas 2024; Transfer activity increased, with visits to Liberty and other schools; The executive team is fragmented or resigning; A CEO is being hired; The president is preparing to leave, a fact not disclosed in the announcement."
Pettit is critical of Crockett's failure to travel in order to recruit students, the way Steve Pettit did. He comments, "How can prospective students make informed decisions when information is selectively withheld or framed? . . . You do not restore trust by telling people they’re safe while leaving out the part about leaving. Bob Jones University is more than a school. It is trust. And trust begins with truth."
Resignation Without Responsibility.pdf
drive.google.com
Pettit challenges the statement by Josh Crockett that “Nothing should change from your perspective," saying that "Over 100 students withdrew after Christmas 2024; Transfer activity increased, with visits to Liberty and other schools; The executive team is fragmented or resigning; A CEO is being hired; The president is preparing to leave, a fact not disclosed in the announcement."
Pettit is critical of Crockett's failure to travel in order to recruit students, the way Steve Pettit did. He comments, "How can prospective students make informed decisions when information is selectively withheld or framed? . . . You do not restore trust by telling people they’re safe while leaving out the part about leaving. Bob Jones University is more than a school. It is trust. And trust begins with truth."