This page explains where the National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College stands on decisions made by Arkansas Baptist College, along with the governance improvements we seek. We support the College, its students, and its enduring mission. That commitment includes explaining our concerns and the action we believe is needed.
This page presents the position communicated by National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College leadership. It speaks for the Association, rather than College administration or every individual alumnus.
The National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College seeks at least one designated alumni seat with full voting authority on the College’s Board of Trustees, supported by a formal alumni nomination or election process.
We believe this is crucial to stronger oversight, continuity, and trust. Alumni carry the College’s history, support its students, contribute resources, and remain invested across generations. A defined place in governance would bring that experience into the review of institutional priorities, financial commitments, and long-term risks.
Association proposal. This is a position NAA / ABC is pursuing. It does not announce an approved seat, a current appointment right, or a change to the College’s governing documents.
Without a meaningful seat at the table and reliable financial information, the Alumni Association cannot confidently explain to alumni members and prospective donors what the College needs, why a proposed expenditure deserves support, or how their gifts will be used and accounted for.
Association leadership is concerned that it is being asked to help while lacking the financial detail and participation it needs to evaluate major decisions. Our position is clear: when the College asks alumni to mobilize support, it should also provide a credible account of its finances, explain its priorities, and create a meaningful role for alumni in governance. Requests for money should be accompanied by answers.
We cannot responsibly endorse a funding request whose purpose, costs, risks, and safeguards we cannot evaluate. In financial terms, we need a defensible basis for assessing financial feasibility: whether a specific plan can be funded and carried out; and long-term financial sustainability: whether its ongoing obligations can be met without undermining essential educational services. An appeal alone does not establish either.
| Term | In plain language | The question alumni need answered |
|---|---|---|
| Financial position | What the institution owns and owes at a stated date. | What do recent audited financial statements and their notes show about resources, obligations, and significant risks? |
| Liquidity & cash flow | Available cash and the timing of money coming in and going out. | Can the College pay its bills when due, and how would this commitment affect that ability? |
| Operating budget & results | The plan for revenue and spending, compared with what actually happens. | What gap is the appeal intended to address, and what assumptions support the plan? |
| Long-term commitments | Costs extending beyond the initial payment or fundraising campaign. | What are the full costs, duration, funding sources, and contingency plans, including applicable lease or debt payments, maintenance, and staffing? |
| Donor restrictions & reporting | Agreed limits on a gift’s use and an account of how it was spent. | Who receives the gift, what purpose does it support, and when will donors receive a clear report? |
A qualified alumni trustee would participate in authorized Board review and decision-making, with the same duty to the whole College as other trustees. That role would not authorize sharing confidential Board materials with the Association or donors. The College should separately provide appropriate public financial information, understandable explanations of major commitments, and regular reports on the use of contributed funds.
Our goal is informed, sustainable support for students and the College’s future. We seek a documented financial explanation and meaningful governance participation so the Association can make a credible case to current alumni and future donors. This is a request for accountability; it is not a determination that the College is insolvent or that every financial record is publicly available.
Further reading: National Council of Nonprofits: financial transparency and public disclosure ↗. Its guidance distinguishes public disclosures from Board access and encourages clear communication about gifts. The information requested above expresses the Association’s position; it does not claim an automatic right to every internal record.
A qualified alumni trustee can ask questions, evaluate proposals, and participate in Board decisions before major commitments are made. The housing and library concerns reinforce the Association’s case for a continuing role in governance.
Alumni bring institutional memory across changes in administration. Their perspective can help the Board weigh student needs, academic resources, campus assets, and the College’s Christian and educational mission together.
A credible selection process and appropriate communication can strengthen alumni engagement and donor confidence. Alumni expertise and networks can support planning, recruitment, fundraising, and student opportunity.
These are the benefits the Association seeks. A seat alone cannot guarantee stronger finances, better decisions, or increased giving; its value depends on the trustee’s qualifications, independence, preparation, and meaningful participation.
Bring forward experience, questions, and priorities from the alumni community.
Use a formal nomination or election process approved through College governing rules.
Review information, ask questions, serve on committees, and vote as authorized.
Exercise independent judgment for students, the mission, and long-term sustainability.
A proposed pathway, subject to adoption. The trustee’s responsibility would be to the entire College. Sharing alumni perspective would follow confidentiality and conflict-of-interest rules.
These institutions demonstrate several ways to include alumni in governance. Having graduates on a board, reserving an alumni seat, electing alumni trustees, and granting committee participation are distinct arrangements.
| Institution | Documented approach | What it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
 Tuskegee University | Its 2025 process screens candidates through Board committees, then gives alumni an electronic ballot for an alumni trustee serving a three-year term. | A formal alumni election can be combined with candidate review. Official election process ↗ |
 Spelman College | Its 2026 guidelines identify one bylaw-reserved alumna trustee position with a three-year term and the same duties as other trustees. Alumnae vote to advance nominees for further Board consideration. | A designated seat and alumni input can be defined in governing rules while retaining Board review. Official 2026 guidelines · PDF ↗ |
 Howard University | A published Board announcement commits to maintaining at least 50% alumni membership on the Board and describes voting privileges for the alumni association president at committee level. | Substantial alumni presence and committee engagement are additional models. The announcement does not establish a direct alumni election or equate committee voting with a full Board vote. Official Board announcement ↗ |
| Institution | Documented approach | What it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
 Penn State | Nine trustees are elected by alumni and former students under its Charter and Bylaws; staggered terms bring three seats up each year. | Written election rules and staggered service create an ongoing alumni selection pathway. Official alumni trustee process ↗ |
 Cornell University | Alumni elect two trustees each year to four-year terms. Cornell dates its first alumni trustee election to 1874. | Alumni participation can be a durable part of institutional governance. Official alumni-elected trustee overview ↗ |
 Columbia University | The Columbia Alumni Association describes an alumni process for nominating six University trustees through its Alumni Trustee Nominating Committee. | An alumni nomination channel is another established model; nomination differs from direct election by alumni. Official alumni nominating role ↗ |
Sources reviewed November 1, 2026. Examples describe each source’s stated arrangement, not a guarantee that identical rules apply elsewhere. Public and private institutions have different governing frameworks. Older announcements provide precedent; check the institution’s current rules before adopting a model.
We ask the College Board to engage NAA / ABC in a documented discussion of a designated voting alumni trustee seat and the formal selection process supporting it. The Association seeks a review of the current charter, bylaws, appointment provisions, and any reserved rights, followed by a proposal for consideration by the bodies authorized to approve it.
The final structure, number of seats, selection method, and implementation timeline require that review and approval. Until adopted, the governance chart continues to show the Association’s existing support and advocacy role.
The LaQuinta Inn agreement has been signed. The National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College recognizes the urgent need for safe student housing, but remains concerned about how this decision was handled and what the long-term commitment will mean for the College.
Association leadership is dissatisfied with the transparency surrounding the decision and the response to questions raised about its financial sustainability. Leadership believes those concerns were not adequately addressed before the College moved forward.
The Association describes the College as facing serious financial challenges. Against that background, leadership is concerned that an additional long-term obligation could place further strain on resources needed for students, existing campus facilities, and ongoing operations.
With the agreement already signed, the Association seeks a clear explanation of the commitment, a documented plan for meeting its costs, and regular updates on its effect on the College’s financial position and student services.
We ask authorized College leadership to address the concerns raised by alumni, explain the protections in place, and engage in a constructive discussion about managing the risks over the life of the agreement.
Our commitment to Arkansas Baptist College and its students remains firm. We believe that commitment requires asking how today’s obligations will affect the College’s ability to serve future generations.
Association position updated November 1, 2026 following clarification that the agreement has been signed. Concerns about the decision process, the College’s finances, and the reported duration reflect Association leadership’s assessment. This summary does not independently verify contract terms or establish a formal finding of insolvency.
Association leadership reports that the decision to dismantle the physical library and remove its resources has already been carried out. The National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College does not support that decision or the way it was handled. Its concerns now center on the consequences for students, the location and condition of College assets, and the plan for dependable library services.
Approximate timing: late June 2026. The Association’s preservation request dated June 26, 2026 describes removal already underway. Supporting photographs were filed June 27. These records establish when the concern was documented; the exact approval date and full start-to-finish removal period remain unconfirmed.
These are documentary images from the Association’s records. They show what was photographed at that time, rather than the current status of all materials or the authority for their removal.
The Association’s June 26, 2026 preservation request describes alumni observations of furniture, shelving, books, equipment, and technology being removed from the library area. It calls for the property to be secured, inventoried, located, and recovered where appropriate.
During the November 1 discussion, Association leadership continued to express concern that students lack the physical library space needed for study, homework, and research. Leadership views the reported dismantling and removal as a decision that undermines student support and the stewardship of resources built over many years.
We seek a complete inventory and location record for affected assets; preservation and recovery of materials where appropriate; and a written plan explaining how students can reliably obtain library services, research support, and suitable study space.
We also ask College leadership to explain the decision, the current status of the physical library and its collections, and the steps being taken to protect the College’s educational resources.
Sources: Association preservation request dated June 26, 2026; photographs in the project’s Library Issue records, filed June 27, 2026; and Brenda and Joe Hill’s November 1, 2026 discussion. Photographs show conditions recorded at that time. This statement does not establish that all library services have ceased or that a funding violation has been found. Current asset locations, service availability, and any official findings require confirmation.
The National Alumni Association of Arkansas Baptist College opposes removing recognition of the College’s founders and historically significant contributors from campus buildings and other places of remembrance. Where that recognition has been removed, we seek its restoration.
For the Association, recognition of founders and historic contributors connects today’s campus to the people whose vision, faith, sacrifice, and service helped establish and sustain Arkansas Baptist College. Alumni remember those names as part of the College they attended and the community that shaped them. Keeping that history visible helps students understand the legacy they inherit.
Removing a name can weaken that connection and leave future generations without an explanation of who came before them. The Association believes the College can recognize new contributions while continuing to honor the people already woven into its history. Progress should carry that history forward.
The Association’s position is to preserve the history that helped bring alumni to Arkansas Baptist College and continues to give their support meaning. We want future students, families, and donors to encounter that history on campus, understand it, and carry it forward.
This statement reflects the preservation position communicated by Association leadership. Details of specific naming changes and their authorization remain subject to supporting records.
Additional Association positions will be added as leadership provides them. Contact the office with questions about this statement or requests for further discussion.
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