One of my strategic priorities as President of Baptist Bible College is to ensure that there is consistent progress made in the institution’s Enrollment Management Plan. At my installation service I spoke of the need to develop and implement new strategies and enhance current programs.

My commitment to move BBC forward was affirmed during my State of the College address this past Fellowship Week. The completion of today’s agreement is one of several important steps in the process of enabling BBC to once again be considered a world class Bible College.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Anne Brett, President of Cox College in Springfield and I have signed an articulation agreement that will allow qualified students of Baptist Bible College to enroll in the Associate of Science in Nursing program sponsored by Cox College. The actual classes will begin in the Spring of 2011. Graduating students will receive an Associate of Science in Nursing from Cox College and a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Baptist Bible College. While the program features rigorous academic requirements, students should reasonably be able to complete the program in four years. Once the Associate of Science in Nursing is received, students will need to pass the State Exam to qualify as a Registered Nurse.

The new agreement provides a great opportunity for our students to serve humanity as salt and light in places around the world who are experiencing great need. Cox College students have been active in Haiti, serving in the strenuous recovery effort as part of their training. The godly influence of BBC students can only enhance this effort and provide our students a tremendous platform of Christian ministry.

While this is a historic first for Baptist Bible College, articulation agreements are common among institutions of higher learning. It is a cost effective move because the agreement allows each institution a new recruiting tool with little or no expense.

I also want to thank Dr. Greg Christopher, our Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Terry Allcorn, our Registrar. Without their diligent efforts the signing of this agreement would not have been possible.

Jim Edge,
President

Without a doubt the biggest blessing that God has given us, here at Baptist Bible College, is our students. Our students, although engaged in various programs and majors, are diligent in their everyday lives to draw close to God and help others to do the same. One example of this is our recruitment teams. Our recruitment teams, which consist of the LIFT Team, REC. Team, and Breakaway Band, invest countless hours in high school students from around the country.

Although each team has its own specific responsibilities, the teams still have a single focus of helping people draw close to God.  Breakaway’s Bethany Slack stated: "I want to be the catalyst to help kids get pumped about BBC. I want to go and help kids get excited about God.” (June Edition - BBC Office of Advancement Newsletter).  The teams all have these same type goals in mind.