1ST iXOVlLMKlilK 2014
ISSUE #:t
A INKW DAY
By Margaret Coe
Last issue covered the in
auguration of Dr. Paul J.
Maurer. In his inaugural
address, Dr. Maurer ex
pressed that he is commit
ted to two basic platforms
of moving forward. The
first is to clarify our iden
tity as a Christ-centered
institution. The second is
to strengthen the academ
ic profile of the institu
tion. Since then, I have
had the opportunity to
meet with Dr. Maurer and
ask him a few questions
about his plans to execute
these big goals. He shared
with me several compel
ling initiatives he plans to
implement at Montreat.
In terms of clarifying our
Christ-centered identity,
Maurer’s first step is to
help Montreat clarify
a vision of becoming a
leader regionally, nation
ally and internationally.
He will be putting to
gether a team of people
on campus to help clarify
the language and together
create a definitive vision
statement to be submitted
to the Board of Trustees.
Mon
treat
has
already
begun
to roll '
out the
concept
of that
vision,
retool-
ing our
admis
sions
materi
al. This
will
have an
im
pact on
the language we post on
the website and how we
represent ourselves to our
external audiences—namely
alumni, prospective stu
dents and their parents and
our donor base.
Dr. Maurer also plans to
draw new demographics of
prospective students. He
plans to recruit new stu
dents from China. Chinese
students have a reputation
for being academically
astute
and
hard
work
ing.
Mau
rer is
already
map
ping
out two
trips
this
build
rela
tion
ships
with
influ-
encers and families and
thought leaders in various
areas in China. Montreat
already has connections
there through alumni and
other relationships. The
first trip will be to iden
tify regions and relation
ships and begin to build
those. With the second
trip. Dr. Maurer will be
going with Will Graham,
a member of the Board
of Trustees who has been
invited by the Chinese
government to preach in
his grandmother’s home
town. His grandmother
was Ruth Bell Graham,
Billy Graham’s wife.
Mrs. Graham was born in
China and is considered
Chinese. Because of the
Graham family’s connec
tion to both China and
Montreat, Will Graham
is in a unique position to
draw out Christian pro
spective students from
that region. The name
Montreat has significance
to those who know and
love the Graham family;
Dr. Maurer hopes to use
this connection to build
relationships with the
Chinese citizens there.
He is also interested in
exploring the homeschool
market. Asa shift in
academic culture is taking
place, many colleges are
becoming more and more
open to home schoolers.
Homeschoolers often
prove to be self-motivated
and diligent students who
make a positive impact on