A FLOURISHING COMMUNITY PO IN T ’S N EW C H I EF DI VE RS I TY O FFICER ON W HERE W E ’ RE G O I NG BY ELIZABETH MONCRIEF SMITH ’20
seven percent. In a world so large and flourishing with people of different races and ethnicities, universities are celebrating when they reach a surprisingly low margin of diversity on their campuses. “When I talk to other colleges or I go to conferences, talk to my peers, or associations we’re a part of, Christian colleges that are about our size – honestly, if they reach seven percent diversity, they are celebrating. They think that is a lot of diversity,” says Laura Schaaf, dean of students at Point. After the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the police this past May, a new conversation started across our nation about racial justice, equality and diversity. Even though many universities have now started taking initiative to make sure they are bringing diversity on their campuses, Point started back in 2006 – and the evidence is on display today. Newly hired at Point at the time, President Dean Collins ’79 met with the board of trustees and posed the question, how well are we serving all God’s people? At that time, Point’s diversity was 15 percent. “We stepped back and said, we need to do better,” Collins says. “We need to provide a Christ-centered education to all people.” From that moment, Point started a journey to diversity that is still being built upon today. In fall 2020, our student body was made up of 47 percent minorities, compared to 2006’s 15 percent. Statistics from College Factual tell us that Point is already ranked 518 out of 2,475 universities across the nation, the top 20 percent, when it comes to diversity. Our staff’s goal to make our campus reflect God’s kingdom and to be sure that it has a rich blend of God’s people has come a long way and will continue to grow in the future. Collins says, “Our intention was simply to be the people God called us to be and serve the people that God loves.” The work to get to the place we are now has included marketing intentionally for all students; appointing diverse trustees, professors, staff, and coaches; forming a diversity task force; and appointing a chief diversity officer. March marks the three-year anniversary of Leonard Phillips joining the Point staff. Phillips was previously working in corporate America, but he felt a pull to do something more. He left his job and enrolled in seminary. Not long after, Phillips received an email from a friend about a position that was opening at a Christian university, and he jumped at the opportunity. He spent time working to create church partnerships and other connections for Point. 20 | POINT M AGAZINE
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