DELBERT W. BAKER President

“It was for the education of Christian workers that, in the providence of God, the General Conference purchased a beautiful farm of three hundred acres near Huntsville, Alabama, and established an industrial training school for Colored students” (Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Sept. 21, 1905).

One morning in 1895 a three-member committee from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists stood at the gateway to the 360-acre Beasley estate, part of the Peter Blow and Job Key plantations, where the famous slave Dred Scott once lived. They were O. A. Olsen, president of the General Conference; G. A. Irwin, superintendent of the Southern District of the General Conference; and Harmon Lindsay, a former GC treasurer.

Looking for a location for a school for Black students, they saw great possibilities in the property. The team, encouraged by Ellen G. White, moved ahead in faith and purchased the estate. It was called “Oakwood” because of the numerous stately oak trees that graced the grounds. The school opened for instruction November 16, 1896. Thus began what is today 104 years of outstanding service in the cause of education.

This beautiful campus, situated now within the city of Huntsville, Alabama, is a living testimony of the faith of those early visionaries, and the sacrificial labor of hundreds of teachers, staff, and support persons. Once the site of slave plantations, Oakwood now is a widely respected institution of higher education from which more than 7,000 graduates have gone on to serve God and humanity.

Strategic Plan
Giving direction to the college, developers of a strategic plan utilized the input of more than 15 constituent groups in a process that lasted more than a year. The strategic plan includes a vision narrative describing Oakwood in the year 2005 and outlines seven strategic goals and a 20-year master plan for development of college land and facilities. Following are a few of the recent accomplishments and some highlights of the strategic plan.

Business and Technology Complex: Construction for the new Business and Technology Complex has begun. This $4-million technology-ready building, situated appropriately on the newly opened Adventist Boulevard, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Generous grants from the Chan Shun Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, the Kresge Foundation, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and support from our alumni organizations and the church, have resulted in full funding for the construction of the complex.

Bradford/Cleveland Institute for Continuing Education in Ministry: This proposed institute, named for C. E. Bradford and E. E. Cleveland, currently in the construction planning stage, is a $2.2 million addition to the C. E. Moseley Religion Complex. Featuring the latest Internet and satellite technology, along with distance-learning facilities, the institute will provide for our students a comprehensive training and study resource for ministry.

Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office: This new resource provides a venue for those interested in researching the writings of Ellen G. White, God’s special messenger to the church.

Oakwood College Archives: Located on the lower floor of the library, the newly expanded Oakwood College Archives houses the largest collection of African-American records and memorabilia in the world. A number of these artifacts are on display in the Oakwood Museum.

Technology Facilitating the Educational Process: A Department of Technology has been established, along with a technology center complete with a state-of-the-art computer lab. The process of wiring the campus with the latest fiberoptic cable, expected to cost more than $1 million, will allow for an Internet connection for each residence hall room, classroom, and lab, as well as improvements to the campus intranet system. All buildings will become part of the campus computer network.

Academic Focus for the New Century: Oakwood’s faculty today numbers 98, with 53 percent holding doctoral degrees. The academic program is thriving; Oakwood College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Students have a choice of 52 academic disciplines in which a bachelor’s or associate degree is offered. In addition, Oakwood has the distinction of being among the top institutions in the percentage of graduates accepted into medical school.

A collaboration between Loma Linda University (LLU) and Oakwood College has resulted in the offering of a physical therapy assistant degree program on the Oakwood campus, leading to an LLU Associate of Science degree. The program is taught by faculty at Loma Linda and Oakwood, and utilizes cutting-edge, distance-education technology. In 1999, 38 ministers enrolled in classes taught on the Oakwood campus, leading toward a Doctor of Ministry degree granted by Andrews University. This program is sponsored by the North American Division in collaboration with regional entities.

Oakwood has granted more than 1,200 degrees during the quinquennium. Memorable progress has also been made in the adult education program, better known as LEAP (leadership in education for the adult professional). In the same period this program has enabled approximately 100 persons to obtain their college degrees.

A high academic priority is achieving university status by the year 2003.

Multicultural Education: Our students come from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and more than 30 countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Oakwood welcomes and celebrates ethnic diversity.

Oakwood participates in a unique exchange program with Southern Adventist University called DEEP (Diversity Educational Exchange Program), now entering its third year of operation. DEEP allows students from Oakwood to spend a semester at Southern, and for students from Southern to spend a semester at Oakwood. The program has increased cultural awareness and understanding on both campuses.

Enrollment: Oakwood’s enrollment has risen impressively in the past quinquennium, reaching a high of 1,805 for the fall 1998 semester. One of the challenges facing Oakwood is the need for residential housing for students on campus and additional classroom space. Plans include expanding the on-campus residence halls, providing new classroom space, and the construction of a new apartment complex on Oakwood property.

Fiscal Solvency: As with other institutions, in a time when educational costs are high, Oakwood has found it necessary to budget carefully to keep expenses and tuition down. That the college is succeeding is evidenced by the fact that our total tuition is the lowest among Adventist institutions of higher learning in the United States.

During this quinquennium Oakwood, through development efforts, has raised almost $10 million. In addition, the college has received funding in grants, contracts, and research.

Spirituality: Student witnessing, evangelism, integration of faith and learning, and numerous student revivals have resulted in unparalleled numbers of student baptisms. Further, Oakwood has reached out nationally and internationally and provided service by sending student missionaries and student groups to different parts of the world. The development of a spiritual master plan and strong student involvement have helped Oakwood earn and keep the reputation of being a strong, spiritual, service-oriented institution.

Beyond the Mission
Oakwood remains committed to its God-given vision of Christ-centered education and focused on its Bible-based mission of teaching and learning in the context of the three angels’ messages (Rev. 14:6-12). The college continually renews its emphasis on “education, excellence, eternity.”