Since Allen University was founded by the A.M.E. Church, I lament it's current state of Enrollment, last I heard was around 400 students. How can that be with 1.2 million members in the A.M.E. Church? Most people I talk to consider that A.M.E. members are well educated, affluent and a bit stuck up, but even if some of that is true why isn't there a Church Level Movement to provide higher education and biblical training for our members and their children? My suggestion to solve this apparent dilema would be open up Allen to a Web Based Distance learning initiative. In other words, Allen should offer degree programs via the Web and spark membership and name recognition, places like www.ecollege.com and www.uol.com ofer VIRTUAL CAMPUSES, and no I'm not affiliated with either one. But I know this could potentially light the fire under a nearly dormant 130 year old institution. Or should we just forget about it and be satisfied with 400- 500 students and don't rock the boat?

-- Anonymous, July 09, 1999

Answers

You hit the right button. Although the AME membership totals 1.2 million the vast majority of today's high-school students are not attending their parents AME alma maters. The problem with Allen is not that uncommon with several other AME-sponsored colleges. Institutions of Higher Learning require a critical mass of students of 1,500 to be economically viable. Colleges like Allen & Edward Waters fall significantly below this critical threshold and therefore should be closed or consolidated with a neighboring university. Allen should merge with Benedict College and Edward Waters should become part of either Bethune Cookman or FAMU. We must stop pretending that continued operations of these schools are efficient when the real victims are the graduates who face cynical responses from potential employers.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999

Distance Learning is an excellent solution. Our Clergy and our Lay should be able to study and earn a degree from an A.M.E. institution or attend A.M.E. Institute via a distance learning program. So many schools are catering to adults and are opening internet degree programs that it would be an excellent way to attract more students. Since we are a connected church our schools should also look for different ways to serve the membership. Your idea is an excellent one that would help promote our church and keep our schools alive and serving the people with a quality education

-- Anonymous, September 07, 1999

I agree with the idea of making this a distance learning institution. It can also be utilized as a ministry training and retreat center. I see this institution as being a potential catalyst for revolutionizing the way we educate and train people in the 21st century. I wish my congregation could afford to take over the institution and develop comprehensive programs for ministry and life building and equipping skills for our people. The ability to get grants to support this kind of work makes it all possible. Maybe there shoud be a cry to come from the masses to demand this kind of work in our church. This would certainly make for an excellent campaign plank for our candidates for bishop.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Since we walk by faith and not by sight; lets do it. The people have amind to work!

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2000

I agree, Allen should offer a distance program over the web. As a recent Allen graduate i would love to see my alma mater offer more programs and get the money rolling in.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001

Terrance could you and other Alums share with us your experience at Allen University and actually I would like to hear from other alums of AME colleges and universities. What makes our AME schools so special. By sharing this view point perhaps we can formulate a plan that we as local pastors can use for fundraising. Thanks for sharing.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001