Enrollment- Is there something wrong with Adventist Education? Larry Blackmer NAD Vice President

Enrollment-Enrollment-Is there something Is there something

wrong with wrong with Adventist Adventist

Education?Education?www.larryblackmer.com

Larry BlackmerLarry BlackmerNAD Vice PresidentNAD Vice President

Is it Adventist Education?Is it Adventist Education?• CatholicCatholic• NCPSA – NCPSA – system- accreditationsystem- accreditation

• Bush SummitBush Summit• Secular PostmodernismSecular Postmodernism• Should we just give up?Should we just give up?

NAD K-12 EnrollmentNAD K-12 Enrollment

Adventist Membership to Adventist Membership to EnrollmentEnrollment

Boarding SchoolsBoarding Schools

Day vs. Boarding

Trends in Children in Families

Age Profile

Marital Status

Marital Status in Context

Immigrants

Immigration in Context

Ethnicity

Trends in Ethnicity

Ethnicity in Context

Place of Residence

Residence in Context

Annual Household Income

Canada data in Canadian dollars

Household Income in Context

Average Tithe Comparison

Top Fix-it Points90 Leadership/Administration37 Cost versus Value33 Quality Academics31 SDA/Christian Beliefs23 Extra/Co-Curricular Activities22 Identity/Image22 Special Education19 Safe/Caring Environment19 Promotion18 Teacher/Student Ratio17 Physical Plant14 Parent Support/Loyalty14 Pastor Support/Loyalty13 Other13 Teachers Wages11 Enrollment10 Customer Service10 Instruction10 Technology9 Home School8 Ethnic Diversity7 Student Discipline6 Transportation5 Communication3 Constituents______________________

464 Total

(3% or more of total responses)(3% or more of total responses)

Responses by Personal Attendance at an SDA

School• Those who did NOT attend an SDA school viewed;

– Transportation an Issue– Academics as a Problem– System as Not Accommodating Gifted/Challenged

Students

But did view– Teachers as Qualified– Spiritual Growth a Strength

Overall ratings on issues were more positive than those who attended SDA Schools

Responses by Personal Responses by Personal Attendance at an SDA Attendance at an SDA

SchoolSchool• Those who did attend SDA Schools

were the most negative and viewed; – Teachers as UnqualifiedTeachers as Unqualified– Spiritual Growth a ProblemSpiritual Growth a Problem– Academics as a ProblemAcademics as a Problem– System as Not Accommodating for System as Not Accommodating for

Gifted/Challenged StudentsGifted/Challenged Students

Occupation

Occupation in Context

Level of Education

*Includes similar diplomas and certificates

Education in Context

Did you ever attend anAdventist school?

Adventist School Attendance

77%

63%

52%

39%

41%

20%

31%

11%

72% S

90% S

87% S

74% S

Emphasis onpersonal values

and ethics

Opportunities forspiritual

development

Involved inchurch orreligiousactivities*

College helpedintegrate faith

into otheraspects of life**

LutherancollegeLutherans

Lutherancollege Non-Lutherans

FlagshippublicLutherans

The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience

Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering … (top-two box)* Q.6a Were you involved in…? ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)

S = Lutheran College Lutherans significantly higher than both other groups

More Effective in Career Preparation and Leadership

51%

69%

59%

36%

76%

63%

66% *

66% *

70% S

74% S

80% S

90% S

Speakingeffectively

Writingeffectively

Leadership

Developingmoral principles

LutherancollegeLutherans

Lutherancollege Non-Lutherans

FlagshippublicLutherans

Evangelism• 30% of the NAD baptisms from NAD Education30% of the NAD baptisms from NAD Education• Same goalsSame goals• Two sides to evangelismTwo sides to evangelism

– RecruitmentRecruitment– Retention Retention

Now What?• Need to emphasize Adventist Education is Need to emphasize Adventist Education is

EvangelismEvangelism• We need to reconnect the church and AEWe need to reconnect the church and AE• We need to evaluate the future of AEWe need to evaluate the future of AE• Are numbers the goal?Are numbers the goal?• Fishing Fishing • We need YOU!We need YOU!