For more than nine decades Home Study International (HSI) and its higher education subsidiary, Griggs University (GU), have served more than 300,000 students. During the past 10 years alone, students from 152 countries have taken advantage of the programs and services offered by HSI/GU. With the introduction of accredited degree programs in 1990, hundreds of students in remote parts of the world have been able to earn a degree through residential, as well as distance, education programs offered economically in close-by locations.

The Quinquennium in Review
With God’s help and with strong support from the General Conference and the board of trustees, HSI/GU reports a five-year period of administrative and financial stability, steady growth, and unprecedented expansion in services to the world church; the introduction of technology-based programs; ongoing curriculum development; and strong marketing activities aimed at specific populations.

Under the able leadership of the financial administration, the institution has been able to realize a modest surplus every year. The HSI Press, while serving the General Conference Complex and our students, contributed to operating income and helped to control costs to students.

Course writers from Adventist institutions around the world and HSI’s editorial staff have developed the 201 courses currently offered by HSI and GU. More than 96 courses were completely revised or added to the curriculum.

In order to meet the needs of an international student body, HSI and GU have maintained appropriate specialized accreditations, authorizations, and recognitions.

HSI Programs and Services
Approximately 1 to 1.5 million students are home-schooled in the United States. For the past four years HSI has aggressively marketed its elementary, secondary, and postsecondary programs to this population, slowly opening the door for its Christian curriculum to those outside the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In order to service these and other students it now provides several curricular options.

In 1998 HSI entered into a partnership arrangement with Educational Options, Inc., to develop an alternative computerized online high school curriculum for delivery to select markets. As a result of aggressive marketing efforts by Educational Options, Inc., the online curriculum is now used in as many as 24 public school systems in five of the 50 United States. Our Bible-based online high school curriculum will be introduced in several Adventist schools during the latter part of 2000.

The Alternative Programs for Learning Enrichment (APLE) and Elementary Extension Program continue to meet the needs of churches, small elementary schools, and junior and senior academies that find they have a gap in their educational offerings.

Strategic alliances with Adventist colleges and universities have resulted in serving new groups of students. For many years HSI has enjoyed a close working relationship with Columbia Union College (CUC). HSI and CUC have cooperated in pooling their resources to offer, through CUC’s external degree program, associate and bachelor’s degrees in several disciplines. During the past five years similar partnerships have been forged with Andrews University and Oakwood College.

Griggs University
One of the functions of GU is to help the church fill unmet needs around the world. GU has emerged as an institution that is able to provide solutions to difficult educational problems and deliver educational services rapidly anywhere in the world. Hundreds of students have been able to pursue and complete degree programs in religion, theology, business administration, general studies, and other disciplines.

Through strategic cooperative ventures with such major universities as the University of South Africa and Howard University (Washington, D.C.), Griggs University is also hoping to serve the needs of the broader community.

What of the Future?
The future is teeming with opportunities and challenges. Future plans include expansion of technology-based courses, introduction of new graduate programs to meet specific needs of the world church, continued marketing to home schoolers, and closer working relationships with the various church entities. By the power of the Holy Spirit we hope to convey Christian values to thousands around the world.