[Perspective] What is an ‘elite’ university?

In recent days, our nation has witnessed the eruption of protests on numerous university and college campuses across the country. Media reports indicate that some of the protestors are professional protestors – individuals who travel across the nation, agitating unrest and civil disobedience wherever they find the opportunity. The recent war between Israel and Hamas has certainly provided an occasion for these persons to engage in this type of insidious activity. 

Although some of the protestors are not students, there is very little doubt that the greatest number of protestors are students. These students have embraced what I believe is an evil cause, calling for the extermination of the nation of Israel and, more troubling, the extermination of the Jewish people. 

As we have witnessed these events unfold, many are asking, “What caused these students to embrace this cause? Why are the students doing this? What worldview is driving these students to protest this issue? Where did they develop this worldview?” I believe that, for most of these students, the worldview driving their protests was received from institutions of higher education. 

Most (though not all) student protests are occurring at what our culture has identified as “elite” colleges or universities. The assumption of these reports is that we all understand what is meant by the term elite. Although I am not overly confident that everyone does in fact agree on a singular definition, I do think our secular culture uses the word elite to describe institutions of higher education known for selectivity, academic rigor, financial resources, and prestigious histories.  

A secular understanding of an elite university 

For example, the phrase elite institution is often associated with colleges and universities that have rigorous academic standards, both in terms of admission into the school and for continuation as a student. The notion of academic rigor may equally apply to the degrees and professional achievements of the faculty – degrees and achievements often acquired at other prestigious colleges or universities. This idea of academic rigor may likewise include the quantity and quality of faculty publications and research projects. 

A second, closely aligned understanding for the phrase elite institution involves money. In particular, the word elite is often attached to institutions that have massive amounts of funds invested in interest earning accounts, markets, real estate, etc. These resources often total in millions, even billions, of dollars. These endowments and investments earn massive amounts of money used to fund student scholarships and operational resources for the university. 

Elite universities are also known by their alumni. Graduates are identified by the influence they exert and their professional accomplishments. Alumni from these institutions often are recognized by their significant achievements in government, industry, education, healthcare, entertainment, etc. 

A final way our culture uses the term elite is to describe institutions of higher education that have existed for a lengthy period of time. In our own country, these institutions may have been established prior to the founding of our nation or sometime not long after. Many of these institutions originally began as distinctively, orthodox Christian schools committed to training ministers for gospel ministry. However, almost all without exception have forsaken their founding mission and have completely abandoned, if not utterly repudiated, their founding Christian commitments. Nevertheless, our culture venerates these institutions due in part to the length of time for their existence. 

These are the values and realities our secular culture uses to describe a college or university as elite. Sadly, many Christians have embraced this understanding for an elite institution of higher education. The prestige and reputation of these schools are so alluring that parents gladly want their children to attend these institutions, often knowingly sending their children to institutions which will actively seek to destroy the Christian faith in which their student was raised. For these parents and students, the prestigious and reputational elite status of the schools overrides any desire for a school that advocates and nurtures the Christian faith. 

A biblical understanding of an elite university 

I believe in the ideal of an elite institution of higher education, but I also believe the Bible provides us a theological framework for rightfully understanding what makes an institution of higher education elite. 

First, I believe an elite school should be foremost known by its biblical fidelity. In other words, the existence of the school, the mission of the school, the academic standards and instruction of the school, and the extra-curricular initiatives of the school, must be founded upon biblical authority. An orthodox understanding of biblical authority must include a commitment to the full inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible as the written revelation of the living God. A college or university who is committed to this understanding is, in my judgment, an elite school. 

Closely aligned to this understanding of biblical authority is a theological commitment to Christian orthodoxy. This includes a belief in the Triune God and the incarnation of the second person of the godhead in the person of Jesus Christ. Atonement for sin includes a belief in the sacrificial, substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Flowing from this would be a belief in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in the salvific work of Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ is the only One in whom salvation is received. I would also include in the category of Christian orthodoxy the belief that life begins at the moment of conception as well as the belief that human sexuality exists in two, and only two, genders – male and female, and that marriage is the holy union of one man and one woman. 

Third, I believe a theological definition for an elite university requires a commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. By this I mean every realm of creation (heaven and earth) exists in submission to the person and will of Jesus Christ. He is the resurrected king of glory and reigns over all of reality. An elite university corporately confesses the lordship of Jesus Christ and willingly and joyfully submits to Jesus as the King. As such, an elite institution shapes its mission, relationships, culture, witness, and work in submission to the lordship of Christ. An elite university gladly structures its mission to express the truth of Colossians 1:18: “He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might have first place (preeminence) in everything.” 

Fourth, an elite university should be defined by its relationship to the church. Christian colleges and universities have historically been established by a church or denomination to extend the discipleship ministries of the sponsoring churches. A biblical understanding of an elite college or university requires the mission of the school to support, extend, and strengthen the task of making disciples. In every way, a Christian university cannot, and should not, exist independently from the church. The life and vitality of a Christian university is derived from a strong, symbiotic connection to the church. 

Finally, among the many other convictions that define Christian higher education is the belief that the mission of a Christian university or college is the mobilization of its students for gospel mission in the world. A Christian school must focus on the teaching, mentoring, and training the head, the hands, and the heart of each student. Matriculating students through a program of study and graduating them with a degree are important metrics for successful educational outcomes. However, for me, the ultimate measure of success is that the student has been educated and equipped academically, spiritually, and vocationally to be salt and light leaders for the Lord Jesus in a dark, decaying world. We want our students to graduate, but even more, we want our students to be faithful, well-prepared Christian leaders. 

Williams Baptist University – A history of a being a Christian elite university 

The success of the mission of a university or college is measured by the beliefs and practices of its graduates. For the past few months, our nation has witnessed the fruit of the mission of secular, elite universities. We have witnessed what these elite universities and colleges instill in the heads, hearts, and hands of their students and their leaders. Speaking for me, I am deeply troubled and greatly concerned by the type of leaders and students these institutions produce. Equally troubling is the fact that many in our nation regard these institutions as “elite,” a designation suggesting that these are the best colleges or universities and that we should aspire for our students to attend and embrace the worldview of these schools. 

I do not believe the mission of these universities and colleges is right, true, just, or noble. I do not believe that the mission of these schools produces the right kinds of leaders. I do not believe these universities and colleges serve the best interests of our families, our communities, our nation, and most importantly, our Lord. I do not believe these institutions merit the designation elite. 

I am grateful to work for and lead a Christian university that I believe has been faithful to a biblical understanding of elite. An elite Christian university should be committed to biblical authority, the lordship of Christ, orthodox Christian theology, a commitment to serve the church, and a mission to produce Christian leaders. I can say confidently and credibly that these convictions have been true of Williams Baptist University since our founding as Southern Baptist College in 1941. 

Although we are not perfect, the men and women who teach and work here aspire to advance the mission of cultivating Christ-centered leaders who make a difference through their life work. Williams Baptist University has always, and by the grace of God, will continue to be an elite Christian university.  

So, if you want your children to study at an elite institution of higher education . . .  

• where they will be shaped by a biblically grounded, theologically orthodox understanding of reality . . .  

• by Christian professors who will educate and equip your students through academic excellence, vocational preparation, and spiritual formation . . .  

• and will cultivate your students to be Christ-centered leaders who will make a difference through their life work . . . 

then Williams Baptist University is the elite school for you! This is our legacy. This is our mission!