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DALLAS—Criswell College trustees meeting on April 7 promoted H. Leroy Metts to distinguished professor status a week before the New Testament and Greek scholar was honored at a special chapel service recognizing his 40-year tenure at the school.
Metts joined the faculty in 1976 and has since taught 20 different courses. Twice named Professor of the Year, Metts received an honorary doctorate from Criswell College in 2009 and was the first recipient of the Metts Language Award that is presented annually.
Dozens of Metts’ former students attended the April 14 chapel, paying tribute to his impact on their lives. Theology professor Alan Streett praised Metts for his faithfulness to the Scripture and to the gospel. “When other people devoted their energies to writing or gaining a reputation or using the classroom as a springboard to a large pulpit and a large salary, Roy gave his life to the exegesis of God’s Word and preached the gospel of the kingdom before the kingdom was ever cool.”
Criswell College President Barry Creamer honored Metts for the love that drove his passion for the gospel. “What drives this is not just your love to have your nose in books; you love the Lord.”
Gary Ledbetter presented Metts with a plaque from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention that described him as “a living example of Titus 2:7-8,” modeling good works, teaching, integrity, dignity and sound speech. Looking out at his former professor, the SBTC communications director said, “Forty years later, I’m grateful for what I learned in your first Greek class.”
Academic Affairs Vice President Joe Wooddell commended Metts’ generosity with his time, money and energy, and awarded him with a Criswell Study Bible signed by the founder of the college and surprised him with news of his promotion to distinguished professor. “You should have gotten that 10 years ago,” Wooddell added.
In final remarks, senior professor Lamar Cooper drew from comparisons to Joshua, describing Metts as a godly leader, a mentor who bred students to be good stewards of the Scripture, and a man devoted to sound doctrine.
Energized by a financially healthy forecast without any current debt, the board also unanimously approved a $6.6 million budget during its April 7 meeting. The budget represents an 8 percent increase over last year. Department initiatives in development, communications, and student services, along with security expenditures and employee benefits, account for the increase.
“We are not struggling to survive,” Creamer stated as he reflected on the school’s improved outlook. “We are focused on accomplishing our vision.”
Speaking to long-range goals, he told trustees, “The goal is 1,500 students in 25 years—so whatever it takes to build the infrastructure and the quality of program so that we are consistently growing, deliberately, to get there—that’s what we’re going to do year after year until we get there.”
A motion from the Audit and Finance Committee to increase tuition between 9 and 11 percent for each of the next five years prompted discussion before approving the measure. “I’m concerned about the student from Pickles Gap, Texas, who is pastoring a small church and struggling already for tuition,” trustee Andrew Hebert of Hobbs, N.M., said, recommending a discounted rate for ministerial students.
Factored into the decision were projections of affordability, the impact of a tuition hike on enrollment, and how increased revenue would help the school fulfill its mission and vision for high quality education, stated Kevin Stilley, vice president of finance and Chief Business Officer. Instead of discounting tuition for one group, administrators pledged to rely more heavily on endowing ministerial scholarships.
“We’re going to be able to find donors who are more ready to jump in and fund ministry students than anybody else,” Creamer said, explaining the rationale of a systematic, across the board tuition increase announced in advance for the five-year period.
With only one dissenting vote for the proposal, next year’s tuition will increase from $315 to $345 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and $415 to $455 for graduate courses. Among both peer institutions and those that serve as models for Criswell College’s future, the school remains in the top 5 percent in affordability, a status administration expects will continue even with cost increases over a five-year period.
School officials were given authorization to execute documents to amend the “separation and contribution agreement” entered into with First Baptist Church of Dallas, authorizing the sale of several stations through First Dallas Media. Sales will facilitate expanded coverage of KCBI-FM’s reach to the Denton and McKinney markets.
Trustee Curtis Baker of Lindale, Texas, sought assurances that the school’s interests were being protected. Stilley said there would be no compromise of the school’s position, and Creamer told board members he would pass the final agreement by them before it is ratified by the Criswell Foundation.
In other business, the board approved graduates for the May 14 commencement, updated policies on conflict of interest and presidential assessment, approved the first reading of policies related to acceptance of gifts and investments, and endorsed the Long Range Planning Committee’s strategic plan of institutional goals and department outcomes.
