Now Mag Fall 21_Singles_Digital

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Prayer on the Pitch A group of student athletes prays together during the athletics prayer walk. Our athletic community comes together each year for a time of blessing of facilities and consecrating of the relationships, locations, and competitions that are wrapped up in the YellowJacket experience. 2 LETOURNEAU NOW

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CONTENTS FEATURE STORIES 46 Heritage Upon Heritage 52 A time, place, and purpose—reflections on home and history in a year of milestones: LeTourneau’s 75th, Longview’s 150th, and Texas Forever. The Elements of the Strategic Plan Explore the elements of the university's 2021-2024 strategic plan—the four mission critical objectives that are our enduring charge and focus guiding the path ahead. 57 The Strategic Plan Prayer Plan Join the entire university community in a collective call to prayer—the catalyst for any successful, meaningful plan. The prayer plan incorporates specific daily prompts associated with each mission critical objective in the strategic plan, using the Lord's Prayer as a guide. 62 Let's Go Racin' The Automotive Society has been impacting campus and Connect With Us shaping lives for over fifty years, even through the art of go- kart racing. @letourneauuniversity facebook.com/myletu 68 Maintaining Course youtube.com/letourneauuniversity @letourneauuniv We sat down with Fred Ritchey, Dean of the School of linkedin.com/school/letourneau-university Aviation, to hear his perspectives on his LETU experience and his hopes for the future of our organization. \"Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of our salvation\" - 2 Corinthians 6:2 4 LETOURNEAU NOW

IN THE NOW 10 Presidential Inauguration Share in the celebrations of inauguration weekend, honoring the seventh president of LeTourneau University, Dr. Steven D. Mason, and a continued legacy of Christian Polytechnic education. THE BUZZ 20 An Unassuming Champion 22 25 Humble beginnings, humbling experiences, and the journey of a winner. The Student Perspective Hear the encouraging perspectives of current student body executive cabinet (and future alums) on life and leadership at LeTourneau. Student Activities Spotlight You never know what's coming next from this wacky group! The YellowJacket Activity Council (YAC) has always been the place to go for a good time. THE POLYTECHNIC WAY 24 The Christian Polytechnic 40 White Paper Fully claiming our identity with clarity and confidence: LeTourneau University as The Christian Polytechnic University—Embracing the Saga of our Unique Organizational Calling Innovating & Claiming a Future of Co-Creating With innovation in our organizational DNA and a calling to co-labor with our Creator, how might we approach the world of claiming intellectual property? ALUMNI NEWS 72 No Place Like Homecoming 82 The university celebrates 75 years with a festive, memorable Homecoming & Family Weekend. Class Notes Lasting connections & legacy—celebrate and honor classmates and fellow alums. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FALL 2021 5

CONTRIBUTORS PRESIDENT Pat Mays, Ph.D. Pat Mays, Ph.D., has served at LeTourneau University since 2003, currently Steven D. Mason, Ph. D. as campus pastor and professor of Christian ministry. He uses his extensive international ministry experience and his education in theology and BOARD OF TRUSTEES intercultural studies in helping students develop biblical models of ministry that reach across generational and cultural barriers. Dr. Mays is a Longview Patrick Bertsche native who can be found cycling on city trails or hanging out with the Phil Burks School of Business dean. Tom Burt Doug Douglas Gail Ritchey Kimberly Fish Gail Ritchey is the keeper of the Class Notes and a joyful presence in the Curt Fitchett Alumni & Parent Relations Office. She regularly interacts with alumni Eugene Frost, Jr., Ed.D. around the world, and LeTourneau has been much of hers. The whole Roger Kieffer Ritchey family are LETU grads, Gail included. She's especially fond of the Loren Leman dean of Aviation & Aeronautical Science featured in this issue. Dale Lunsford, Ph.D. James Mauldin, M.D. Jake Hall Larry Mercer, D.Min. Jake Hall has worked at LETU since graduating in 2017 as a Christian Nikita Mumphrey ministry & communication major, first in Student Life and now in James R. Nolt, Jr. University Marketing & Communications as the assistant director for Cy Oatridge content. His favorite things about LeTourneau are the unique Christian Rogers Pope, Jr. community and relationships that are formed here. Born and raised in East John Ross, D.D.S. Texas, you're likely to spot Jake at Silver Grizzly, hanging out with friends, James Schreder catching a movie, or dreaming of his next hike. Michael Schutt John Solheim Sara Bryan Wayne Steege Sara Bryan, a creative designer with an interest in print and identity design, Don Stephens joined the University Marketing & Communications team in 2021. Another Merle Stoltzfus Longview native, she's a Kilgore College graduate, and her graphic designs Wayne Trull have regularly appeared in numerous East Texas publications. Her smile Wendy Turner is extra bright when she's spending time with family, leading worship, or Bob Walker talking about her latest adventures with her vintage camera. TRUSTEES EMERITI EXECUTIVE EDITOR COPY EDITORS Dr. Billy J. Harris Donald K. Egle Mark Roedel Bud McGuire Nathan O’Day MANAGING EDITOR Rebekah Browning NOW EDITORIAL CONTACT INFORMATION: WEB: www.letu.edu Kate Day ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS: EMAIL: [email protected] CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER Michael High ADMISSIONS OFFICE Daniel Ostendorff, Ph.D PHONE: 800-759-8811 Jeremiah Shepherd PRINTING ALUMNI OFFICE CONTENT TEAM PHONE: 800-259-5388 Midway Printing Press Grant Bridgman DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Jake Hall PHONE: 800-259-LETU DESIGN LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university offering undergraduate and graduate degree Sara Bryan programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential campus in Longview, Texas, located 120 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. Academic majors include aviation, business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, education, engineering, health care administration, human services, kinesiology, the liberal arts, nursing, psychology, the sciences and theology. LeTourneau NOW is published by LeTourneau University, 2100 South Mobberly, Longview, Texas 75602. Sent free upon request to Editor, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Postmaster: Send address changes to Le- Tourneau NOW, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Email us at [email protected]. 6 LETOURNEAU NOW

Printing Your Own Building Blocks Engineering students placing the final touches on their Senior Design project—a ten foot tall 3D printer that prints out concrete. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN FALL 2021 7

FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings to our LeTourneau University family! on, technology-centric education, It is a privilege to write my first LeTourneau NOW Magazine President’s is one our broken world needs letter. On March 1, 2021, life changed significantly for me and my family now more than ever. As we move as I was named the seventh president of LeTourneau University. We forward, it will take all of us working love this university, its history, its heritage, its mission, its students, its together, in common enterprise faculty and staff, and its alumni and friends. I am honored and thrilled and commitment to prayer, to to be a part of advancing the unique Christian mission we are called to accomplish His will in this place as as an institution; and to continue the legacy of the six leaders that have we trust and follow Jesus. gone before me. It is my honor to lead LeTourneau University and serve this academic My anchor for this important role as president is the grace and power ministry alongside each of you. May God bless you, your families, your of Jesus to lead us forward with the wisdom and passion that only he churches, and your workplaces. Please know that we consistently pray can provide, “For from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things” for all those associated with LeTourneau University. We are in (Romans 11:36). The call upon each of us—those of us who work here at this together. LeTourneau and our friends and family around the world—is to join in what He is doing, according to His plans, and to take His gifts and apply Great days are ahead! To God be the glory! those to His work. Advent Blessings, This transition in leadership is part of a remarkable season in the life of LeTourneau University. After a swift pivot to distance Steven D. Mason, Ph.D. learning in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our University successfully built a campus environment that enabled full, PRESIDENT, LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY in-person education for the entire 2020-2021 academic year. This includes celebrating two years’ worth of LeTourneau graduates with four in-person commencement ceremonies. This semester we also tackled the challenges caused by an unprecedented Texas snowstorm that shut down our campus for over a week. The LeTourneau University community spirit has stayed as strong and unified as ever through these unique circumstances. And now, we look forward to launching the new three-year strategic plan in September that will position the University for accelerated and sustained growth. I am excited for what God has in store for us as ‘The Christian Polytechnic University’! The unique story God has authored here at LeTourneau, as an institution committed to the Gospel and hands- 8 LETOURNEAU NOW

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IN THE NOW The Inauguration of Steven D.LeTourneau University's Seventh President Dr. by Kate Day ARTICLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

here is something about the pomp and circumstance of higher education. Regalia, symbolism, heritage, esteem... all in honor of a greater something bigger. Academia. Tradition. And at LeTourneau, God's provision, grace, and glory. In addition to semiannual commencement ceremonies, an inauguration is one of the most storied and ancient celebrations in higher education. Moments to pass the baton of leadership, reverently commemorate the past, honor the legacy of its stewards, and expectantly look to the future. tIn one passing moment, the morning of November 11, the latest chapter of the history of LeTourneau University was made official as we celebrated the formal investiture of our seventh president, Dr. Steven D. Mason. Throughout the ceremony, the following campus leaders, community members, and honored guests expressed the gratitude, excitement, reverence, and affirmation that mirror that of the Board of Trustees and our LeTourneau family. Please join us in sharing in these reflections and praying for Dr. Mason, his family, and his leadership. May the Lord be honored by the enduring faithfulness of this remarkable community as we support our presidential steward and strengthen our institution together. To watch the full investiture ceremony, visit letu.edu/inauguration FALL 2021 11

SHIRLEY HOOGSTRA, J.D. President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities “Congratulations to the LeTourneau Board of Trustees in choosing Dr. Steve Mason as your next president. Dr. Mason already has an esteemed reputation within the CCCU. Steve and Bonnie, these 185 presidential individuals and couples around the world would also say ‘welcome to the club; the club of hard work, the club of humility, and the the front-row-seats-to-God-is- doing-extraordinary-thingst club’… Today we are also honoring you, an academic institution, and your academic mission. I love that in your inaugural program, and I see many of them, you listed the extensive faculty and administrators that are LeTourneau University. And we all know you’re a super smart school. These professorts serve students who want to learn in a context where the authority and truth of scripture is at the foundation of their studies. And where their lives, not just their learning, are shaped spiritually and emotionally through the lens of faith. Because of what you do here, these students will fan across the United States and the world to bring a global witness of the love of Jesus Christ… Here is where the LeTourneau community is so important: Community, on Inauguration Day, Steve and Bonnie are promising to serve you with all of their hearts. They’re promising to be people of integrity. They are promising to hold fast and to hold firm in good times and in bad. And those promises can only be accomplished by God completing the good work in them and by you praying that that good work will be completed.” 12 LETOURNEAU NOW

The Inauguration of LeTourneau University's 7th President Steven D. Mason DALE A. LUNSFORD, PH.D. ALVIN O. 'BUD' AUSTIN, PH.D.T RANDY COMPTON, PH.D. Chancellor President Emeritus Teaching Faculty Organization President \"One of our special symbols on campus is “We acknowledge that this institution was “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the presidential chain of office. The chain is founded by R.G. & Evelyn LeTourneau as a LeTourneau as our new president. Steven, may a symbol of the authority and responsibility place where not only learning would abound God add His richest blessings of wisdom, joy, that's entrusted to the president. It's worn only but also where faith would flourish. You have peace, and strength to you and to Bonnie as by the president and on all special occasions. been faithful to this end for 75 years. Today you embark on this new calling.” The chain includes a large medallion which is we look to the future as we bestow the stole the symbol of LeTourneau University, and you of leadership upon the shoulders of Steven GEORGE M. HILLMANN, JR., PH.D.T know that symbol is symbolic of many things. Mason. We know him to be a man imbuted Vice President for Education It includes the year of our founding, 1946, 75 with scholarship and a bright mind. Full of Dallas Theological Seminary years ago this fall. It includes the theme verse wisdom and energy for leadership. And most of the university, Matthew 6:33, our continuing of all, a man of faith in your son Jesus Christ. “On behalf of Dallas Theological Seminary commitment that in all we do we will seek first We ask that you strengthen his walk, refresh and our fellow theological seminaries across the kingdom of God and God's righteousness. his mind, and affirm his faith each step of the the United States, I bring blessings to our The chain includes a number of links. There's journey.” alum and to the new president of LeTourneau a link for each previous president of the University, Dr. Steven Mason. For professors institution and the newest link on the chain in the room, it’s fun to see your graduates reads 'Steven D. Mason.' So on behalf of the thrive. And it is an honor to be here and see board of trustees, Dr. Austin, the families of all one of our graduates thriving. We are proud the past presidents—Steve, congratulations.\" to be co-laborers with LeTourneau University as your school seeks to proclaim the good Our campus family kicked off news of Jesus Christ in every workplace, and inauguration weekend with BBQ and as you raise up godly servant leaders. This is a unique, challenging time we find ourselves games on the grounds, followed by in. It is a unique, challenging time to be a Matt Maher in concert. president of an institution. But we pray God’s richest blessings on you as president, on you as faculty, on you as board members, and we are excited to see what God is going to do through the students of LeTourneau University. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.\" FALL 2021 13

TIGER DAWSON JON & BECKY WOODWORTH NANCY BRICKHOUSE, PH.D. CEO and Co-founder, Edify LETU Missionaries in Residence Provost, Baylor University Keynote Speaker & Personal Mentor “It is our great privilege to bring greetings “On behalf of universities across the state of “Here now Steven, a charge from 1 to our new president of LeTourneau Texas, I bring greetings, warm wishes, and a Corinthians 16:13-14 'Be on your guard, University, Dr. Steve Mason, on behalf welcome. And congratulations to President stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be of over 400 LeTourneau alumni and their Mason on the start of your tenure as president strong.' You’ll have a great opportunity families who are in active missionary service of LeTourneau University. When you and to stand for truth. You’ll have a great and countless others who have served the your wife Bonnie were students at Baylor, opportunity to be strong and be Lord with their lives all around the world. We you never expected to be a college professor, courageous. I charge you to continue would like to say that our prayers are with you let alone a college president. You majored in to speak the truth and stand for all the as you continue the God-honoring tradition business. Your plan was to follow your father things that LeTourneau is about and of leading LeTourneau into the future with a into banking, but while at Baylor you took a stand for Jesus but do it in love... [The continued vision of preparing all our students Christian Ethics class and found a new calling. same verse from The Message translation to bring the gospel of Jesus to every workplace It is clear that God had different plans for reads] 'Keep your eyes open, hold tight and every nation.” you. In the book of Esther, there is a moment to your convictions, give it all you've got, when Esther faced uncertainty and a trusted be resolute and let love never stop.' May ARNOLD JOHNSON mentor reminded her, ‘Perhaps this is the God bless you, Bonnie and the kids, and Church On Purpose moment for which you were created.’ When LeTourneau University as you lead as Christ leadership is challenging and when you face has called you to, my friend.\" “On behalf of my pastor, Eric Love, from uncertainty, I hope you’ll remember these Church on Purpose, and the many churches words, because there is a plan in place. And representing the City of Longview, I offer while foreknowledge maty escape us, God’s greetings and congratulations to Dr. Mason plan will prevail. Congratulations on your new on becoming the seventh president of positions and blessings to you and Bonnie and LeTourneau University. May the Lord guide your family.\" you, protect you, bless you, and direct you, as you serve Him in this role as president and as a leader for our community. I shall leave you with one of my most visited scriptures. It comes from Proverbs 3:5-6: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not on thy own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.’ May God be with you on this journey, and may He direct you as you direct LeTourneau University.” 14 LETOURNEAU NOW

The Inauguration of LeTourneau University's 7th President Steven D. Mason WENDY TURNER Alumna and Member, Board of Trustees “On behalf of LeTourneau University alumni, we send greetings and a great sense of hope and excitement for today’s activities. We know that God has chosen Dr. Steve Mason for a time such as this, to be our seventh president. He knew this way ahead of time, which is simply amazing to me. And God has also put on Steve’s heart a passion for people. He is always wanting to help people, to help them strengthen their walk and have them follow hard after Jesus. He is truly a disciple maker. LeTourneau is incredibly blessed to have him serve in this way.” FROM THE STUDENTS JOE RYAN '22 Have you had a chance to meet JESSI LANDRETH ('22) Student Body President Dr. Mason? How do you feel about him? “Dr. Mason does a really good job of “On behalf of LeTourneau University’s student remembering everyone, and then also body, I bring greetings to our new president, GABI PITMAN ('23) really pours into who you are as a person— Dr. Mason. The students welcome you as our “I think he's so cool. He always remembers remembers specific details about you—which president. We are eager for the times to come everyone's name, even though there's tons is something that I don't think can be said under your new leadership, and we praise of students. He remembers my name even about any other university’s president. He is God for you and your family. We are excited though I've only talked to him, twice, so I truly one of a kind, and his family really invests to see how God has already used you and how think he's the best.” in everyone. This university is awesome.” He will continue to use you as an instrument of His will. May the Lord’s blessing be upon \"Dr. Mason does a really good job of remembering all that you undertake as you serve here at everyone, and then also really pours into who you are LeTourneau. The Lord bless President Mason.” as a person—remembers specific details about you.\" FALL 2021 15

STONE RICKS ('21) EMMA AKIN ('24) MATTHEW STRONG ('22) “I am taking a class with him this semester “Dr. Mason is extremely personable. He is “I love Dr. Mason. I really love his whole and have had numerous small conversations super kind [and] compassionate. He shows up family, actually. He always has a smile. He's a with him around campus! I so appreciate how to all of the school events and hangs out with very personal person. And I think [the Mason] intentional he is with students, remembering the students. He's always got a smile, and he's family is really good at pursuing others and their names and never hesitating to have a just a very loving guy—a joy to be around. I'm pouring into the campus as a whole.\" conversation with them.” super excited that he's our president.” GABRIEL WILLIS ('23) \"I so appreciate ERIN TRANTHAM ('22) how intentional he \"[Dr. Mason] is super personable, super kind... is with students, “Top-notch. Best guy I know. I have gotten to Out of all the people he meets, he somehow remembering know Dr. Mason over the past couple of years. remembered my name months after we very their names and He is currently a professor of mine. There briefly met. It just really showed that he cared never hesitating are no Christian presidents of universities and that he was intentional about every to have a who teach a class just to get to know the person he meets. He won my heart right there conversation with students. So, that is one of the main reasons very easily.” them.” why I think he's incredible. Also, he's just really knowledgeable in a lot of ways. He and NATHAN MOYES ('23) Bonnie have shown up to so many different things and just been present and really gotten \"He's definitely very willing to get down on down to the student level.” the same level of students in a lot of ways and interact with us on a personal sort of level. I think that's in some ways reflective of his character of wanting to bless the students in any way he can. I appreciate that.” 16 LETOURNEAU NOW

The Inauguration of LeTourneau University's 7th President Steven D. Mason BILL ANDERSON '71 Outgoing Chair, Board of Trustees \"This investiture ceremony is really a formal recognition of the fact that the full weight, responsibility, and authority of being president of this university is conferred, is invested in, this man, God's chosen man, Dr. Steven D. Mason. This prayer of investiture is not ceremonial. It is essential. We are a university committed unabashedly to serve under the lordship of Jesus Christ, and we openly and expectantly acknowledge our dependence on God. We seek the Lord's leading and direction. We seek His favor and His blessing for our president, because as the leader goes, so goes the university. And as the leader's heart goes, so goes the leader, and so goes the university.\" THE PRAYER OF INVESTITURE \"Our Father in Heaven, we bow before you work you've called him to? Help him to keep with the power of your Spirit. For we have because you alone are God, and we glory in focus not only in the long-term work, but in this treasure in jars of clay to show that this the fact that you are our God and our Father. the daily grind of routine responsibilities as all-surpassing power is from God, and not We worship you, and we submit ourselves to well. Would you give him great strength and from men. you. We thank you, that you are the one who endurance, and guard his health spiritually, has created Steven D. Mason. You've created physically, emotionally, and mentally? Would We pray that you, the Lord who moved him the way you designed him, and you have you give him wisdom and discernment in on R.G. and Evelyn to found this university, brought him to know you. We thank you that all that he undertakes, and all that he does, we call on you, that same God, to give great he has come to know Christ as Savior and that and all that he has to handle? Give him that leadership, great vision, great protection—and he has committed his life to serving you. We in the successes and in the setbacks. In the lead, guide, and equip Steven D. Mason. Work praise you for that, and now as we pray for successes, help him to retain his humility. In in him what is pleasing to you and equip him him together, as we join together, we come to the setbacks, help him to see himself as God's with everything good for doing your will. you and ask that you would help him—that student—not as life's victim. he would keep you, Lord, as number one in Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly his life. That he would never lose his first love. We pray that you would help him to be That you would remind him that his time strong and courageous, and bold and stout- \"We pray that you, the alone with you, his walk with you, can never hearted, and to do the right thing even when Lord who moved on R.G. be delegated. Neither can things like rest, it's hard. Even when he knows that people and Evelyn to found this and neither can things like his marriage and won't like it. Even when he realizes upfront university, we call on you, family responsibilities. that he will be sorely misunderstood. Help him to still do what is right, good, and faithful that same God, to give So, we pray for Steve and Bonnie, that you in your eyes. Father, we pray that you would great leadership, great would inhabit their marriage and continue endow him with your vision and inspiration vision, great protection— to bless it and make it strong. Continue to and direction. May he know that you are his and lead, guide, and equip make them exemplary to others who look on. senior partner like R.G. did. May he know that Father, enrich their marriage. Help them to he is walking with you in the light, and when Steven D. Mason.\" continue to complete and complement each he runs out of light to stop and stay in the other. I pray for Caroline and for William light that you've given him. more than all we can ask or even imagine and for Christopher, that you would bless according to His power that is at work within them as they walk in this large shadow. May Father, we pray that you would fill him us, the power of your Spirit, the power of it not create for them challenges that seem with the knowledge of your will through all the Spirit of Jesus who is at work in Steven impossible. Would you put a hedge around spiritual wisdom and understanding. And D. Mason, to Him be glory in the church by each one of these five members of this we pray this in order that he would live a life Christ Jesus to all generations forever and precious family and continue to lead, guide, worthy of the Lord and may please you in ever. We pray in the matchless name of our and bless them. every way: bearing fruit in every good work, risen Lord. Amen.\" growing in the knowledge of God, and being Father, we pray for Steven's passion. It's strengthened with all power according to alive and well. It's aflame. Would you continue your glorious might. We ask you to anoint to kindle his passion for you and for the him anew today and afresh every morning FALL 2021 17

IN THE NOW DR. STEVEN D. MASON story. The doors are open. The world \"No education is President, LeTourneau University awaits. The possibilities are endless, and complete without we are in awe as we watch you make your understanding \"I'm honored, I'm humbled, I'm blessed to way. that from Him become the seventh president of LeTourneau and through Him University. One thing that I want us to remember in and to Him are all our work together at LeTourneau University things. That He is 'Then King David went in and sat before moving forward, because this moment is before all things the Lord and said who am I sovereign Lord really less about me and it's more about what and in Him all and what is my family that you have brought the Lord is doing and will continue to do at things hold me this far?' (2 Samuel 7:18) LeTourneau University, is this: together.\" Board of Trustees, thank you for guarding 'Continue in what you have learned and the mission of the institution and for the have become convinced of, because you know confidence you have placed in me to entrust those from whom you learned it...' (2 Timothy me with it. Faculty, thank you for the 3:14). camaraderie of almost 16 years together. For your dedication to the integration of faith and This has become my life verse. learning to the excellence of your discipline What Paul, and now Timothy, is convinced in your love and support of me. You are the of, what Timothy has learned, is that the story educators, the scholars, the mentors, the of the world is the story of the Gospel of Jesus inspiration of our students helping them to Christ, and that true human flourishing is life unleash their extraordinary potential. Staff, in Christ through the Spirit. That's what I've thank you for your tireless dedication to become convinced of and learned from those the advancement of this university and to who have gone before me. each individual student's success. You are That's the message for LeTourneau essential mentors as well. Alumni, thank you University today. We've got to continue. for heeding God's call for your life out in the We've got to keep going. We've got to keep world. You are our pride, our network, our running. We've got to stay the course, stay on ambassadors, and our support. Students, mission, stay on task. To keep our Christian thank you for coming under our care and mission and identity is going to take fortitude mentorship. You are our future. Each of you and perseverance. has a unique story, and each of you is adding your story to LeTourneau's story, to God's 10 We live in a time when identifying as a Christian will have serious social and political consequences. Where Christianity is not just claimed to be false, but actually destructive, damaging, detrimental to human flourishing. And yet, we're called to persevere. Three things I've learned and become convinced of: Light shines brightest in the darkness. With any challenges that come our way as a Christian institution, we have exciting opportunities to speak the truth in love with compassion and care and charity. We can 18 LETOURNEAU NOW

The Inauguration of LeTourneau University's 7th President Steven D. Mason be winsomely and unashamedly Christian and demonstrate that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A Christian university like LeTourneau can come alongside the Church to speak into our society and our culture. No education is complete without understanding that from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. That He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. That the integration of faith and learning sits at the heart of how we know what we know and how we understand life and all the things in it: His world and His ways. Any education without Christ at the center is simply incomplete. We can talk at LeTourneau University about the ultimate goal of Christian leadership, which is creating thriving communities that bear witness to the un-breaking of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. LeTourneau University is a very special place. Burton Clark says that distinctive colleges have a university and organizational saga. The campus and the people and the graduates are so enraptured by that story that it elevates into a stratosphere of legendary and heroic proportions. LeTourneau University is a school with a story worth telling, and worth leaning into, as the Christian Polytechnic University. We have a very unique institution, and I love it. We have remarkable students who love God and want to serve the world and their neighbor. We have a special vocation as a university, and that Christian polytechnic vocation will only grow in importance for the Kingdom's sake in the decades to come. This is a place of builders—building machines, building bridges, building relationships, building communities. It is my honor and privilege to carry the baton as President of LeTourneau University. Thank you for that honor and privilege. I'm so glad we're in this together. We've got great days ahead.\" FALL 2021 19

THE BUZZ AN UNASSUMING CHAMPION by Grant Bridgman, in collaboration with Michael High & Dan Michalski Lorien Nightingale is a name that has become synonymous with winning around LETU Athletics. A record holder multiple times over for both school and conference events, he also holds the school record for being selected as the American Southwest Conference ‘Runner of the Week’ the most times in a career. He finished the cross-country regular season 6-for- 6, finishing each race as the overall winner or the highest DIII competitor. Lorien additionally won the American Southwest Conference Championship for the second year in a row in his cross-country event this fall, the sixth in conference history to achieve this feat. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW SCHULZ

hile it may appear that this university visit plans, and I suppose the rest is good. I think this initial failure is in many sort of excellence comes history.” ways the defining moment that shaped me naturally to the Kenyan native, into the athlete I am today.” Nightingale’s story is proof of During his time at St. Andrew’s, the what can happen when desire, rigorous academic environment, positive While that ‘defining moment’ could very grit, and character are all at athletic competition, and strong Christian well have been discouraging enough to work in an athlete who was focus made for “a seamless transition” to drive him away from collegiate athletics, not always at the front of the his university experience at LeTourneau. Lorien instead approached each race from pack. Although that transition may have been easy, that point on with a desire to do “just a bit Nightingale describes his first college cross- better than last time.” Striving for consistent Growing up on the country meet as a completely different story improvement has become the hallmark of his beautiful western slopes of altogether. success, and as LETU head Cross-Country Mau Narok, near Njoro Kenya, Coach Dan Michalski (“Coach Mo”) states, Nightingale describes his “My first race was a humbling experience, “Lorien sets the standard for the team, never life before LeTourneau as “a to say the least. I stepped on the start line shying away from a challenge and taking on magical experience.” Coming from a farming completely unprepared and naive. I led the the best competitors at each meet.” family which had built a reputation in Kenya field through the first mile of the three-mile as the leading breeders of Friesian cows and race. I ended up as That work ethic has served Lorien well thoroughbred racehorses, Lorien had early the second to last during his college athletic career, and it has exposure to both the hard work required for finisher on our helped him achieve historic success in the success, and the responsibility that comes team despite LETU Cross-Country and Track and Field with notoriety. running programs. In addition to developing his Lorien attended St. Andrew’s School a time physical strength in order to create conditions Turi, a private school in Kenya, where his that I had for success on the course, Lorien shows his athletic development was primarily focused previously commitment to strength of character as well, on the traditional Kenyan school sports of thought was as he attributes his success to “having access field hockey, rugby, soccer, and cricket. He quite to, and relationships with, an extremely describes his athletic ability while in school committed and skilled coaching staff and as “never skilled enough to shine out,” he also team, which has made training a joy.” began to notice that his work ethic allowed him to outpace others around him which With cross-country season behind him, he “ignited the first embers of my running is pleased with his success, but certainly not obsession and convinced me that I should start training and focusing resting on his laurels. more on running.” “The wins are so rewarding and quite In addition to his love for simply just fun! But being recognized running, Lorien has always for the training I put in every day been a self-described “aviation just motivates me to do even better. nerd,” and when he was looking I’m hungry for the opportunity to for a university home, the LeTourneau qualify for the NCAA national aviation program stood out to him, being one track and field meet next of only a few universities world-wide that semester and can’t wait to see offered a degree program in both flight and where my running career will maintenance. take me next!” “After an extended three-day campus visit, Some say life is a race—a I knew that LeTourneau was the place for me. The next day I cancelled all of my other marathon to be run. For Lorien Nightingale, distance running has become synonymous with life, and his success serves as inspiration to his teammates, classmates, and the entire LeTourneau community. FALL 2021 21

THE BUZZ Student Perspective: Executive Cabinet Shares Thoughts on Leadership and Life at LETU As the Christian Polytechnic University, Some of these roles are very relational and campaign to be chosen by their peers. Once we equip students with tools to nurture their ministry-oriented in nature, and some involve elected, these leaders meet with the Student leadership skills, challenging them to grow running important programs like Intramurals Body President and the Vice President of and serve while creating a more valuable and New Student Orientation. Student Affairs as a contact point between college experience. administration and students. Every year Within IMPACT, the Executive Cabinet they take on special projects, plan events, IMPACT is the organization that carries is the main branch of student government, and address critical issues identified by the out this mission, guided by Student Life, by representing the entire student body student body and its leadership. overseeing the branches of student leadership through elected leaders from LETU’s main on campus. Students who participate in student organizations. We spoke with the Executive Cabinet for IMPACT can opt for various roles, such as 2021-22, along with several other key student Peer Advisor, Resident Assistant, Activities The YellowJacket Activity Council (YAC), leaders, to hear their thoughts on student Coordinator, and Spiritual Life Assistant. LeTourneau Student Ministries (LSM), and leadership at LeTourneau. Student Senate are led by presidents who 22 LETOURNEAU NOW PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN

Joe Ryan Blake Everett Joseph Wang Student Body President YellowJacket Activities Council LeTourneau Student Ministries Mechanical Engineering '22 (YAC) President (LSM) President Accounting '23 Computer Engineering '23 What does student leadership at LeTourneau mean to you? How is community at What does student leadership at LeTourneau unique? LeTourneau mean to you? \"Something I've learned from others and tried to model is servant leadership. It's important \"It's the people that make the community \"For me, as president of Student Ministries, to serve your community and try to be a link, unique. I don't know too many places it's working with students who also care about a connection, for them to look toward. And where there's such a high percentage of ministry. It's working with and empowering that servant aspect is important: doing things homeschoolers or veterans or commuters or other students who want to serve on campus, behind the scenes and serving the population people who are passionate about their floor help build a house with Habitat for Humanity, in ways they might never know.\" life, and they're bringing in all kinds of their or go on a big spring mission trip, and it's own community, whether they realize it or working with the student leaders.\" What is something you feel like not. So my job is to unify that and see across LeTourneau has always done well? borders, so to speak.\" What does LeTourneau mean to you? \"I think education, first and foremost...and What role do community and through that, they've been able to proclaim relationships play in impacting \"What stands out to me is that LeTourneau the gospel, like we say, in every workplace the world? is both a place of deep Christian faith and of and every nation. If you're not building a technical innovation. On one side we have strong academic foundation the workplace \"I think that's one of our great callings: to chapel; we have a lot of spiritual, Christian recognizes as valuable, people are not going be involved in community, especially good, things. And on the other hand, a lot of to hire you. And if they do, they're going to Christian-centered community. If we can start being a LeTourneau student is doing a lot of think, 'You're a lousy worker, why would I that here at LeTourneau, we can show people homework, classes, projects, and all that kind listen to anything you say?' That's something that they can have fun and it can be good fun. of stuff. So it's a very interesting intersection LeTourneau takes seriously, and I really Then, they can go out after graduation and of seeing how our faith applies to our lives, appreciate that.\" seek that same kind of experience our careers, and all of that.” and community.\" What excites you about the future How would you say your position of LeTourneau? How does leading in a Christian as President of Student Ministries environment form and shape you? has shaped or inspired you? \"I am excited for the way our engineering program is going, and I'm also excited for the \"As a Christian, your view on leadership is \"I think just stepping into work that God way that other programs are going. We're so Christ, and where you're pulling your wisdom has been working in this university for many renowned for our engineering, but I'm excited from is the Bible. So, you're leading with the years--not just the three years I've been here-- for Dr. Mason's Strategic Plan of developing Bible and you're led by Christ. So, part of my but since the school started. I feel like I'm part our other majors and other education position is to reflect that, even through YAC of something bigger, and I want to do a good endeavors. You can have vanilla, and maybe all Olympics or Nacho Bingo.\" job. But what matters during the year that I'm engineers are vanilla, but if you have all these president is less important overall than what different majors that are doing well, you'll has happened in the past and what will happen have all the different flavors that add to it. in the future. I'm just a small part of that.\" Good variety.\" FALL 2021 23

Nathan Moyes Luke Avent Ally Busti Vice President/President of President Pro Tempore of Cabinet Manager Student Senate Student Senate Communication: Integrated Electrical Engineering; Computer Science/ Homeland Security '23 Media Management '24 Mathematics '22 What does student leadership How has being involved in Student How does Student Senate play a mean to you? Government impacted you? role in shaping the community at LeTourneau? \"The Biblical term would be priest. In Dr. \"While I am not in a leadership role for Mason's leadership course, he talks about the Executive Cabinet, I get to help make \"The success of any sort of change or culture the kingly leadership, the priestly leadership, decisions and brainstorm with the other in general is based entirely upon relationships. things like that. So, an intermediary is a presidents about events and improvements. I If we can establish that understanding on particular type of leadership needed and am the media manager for the student body a relational level between students and the sometimes not thought about.\" president, Joe Ryan. With my job, I get to university and faculty, then our campus can help promote the things we talk about in our get a lot done that is healthy for the culture How does Student Senate play a meetings through social media, graphics, and and mission of LeTourneau moving beyond role in shaping the community photography. This has allowed me to use my these 75 years that we've had.\" at LeTourneau? studies and my skills for the student body in informative and fun ways.\" What excites you about the future \"The attempt is to be a bridge between of LeTourneau? the administration and between students, In what ways are LeTourneau because oftentimes, students don't necessarily students equipped to help \"For the student body, we're seeing a lot see the administration as working in their the world? of good, positive change: people are really best interests for whatever reason. So, you wanting to be passionate about their faith, have to stand between them and seek clarity \"LeTourneau offers its students the their work, and engaging the community in communication.\" highest education it can provide while still around them, whether that's here at maintaining Biblical principles. Not only are LeTourneau or back home. I see this happening they taught everything they need to know for through discussion in Student Senate, external their majors, but they are taught theology, ministry opportunities in churches, or starting good communication, and excellent speaking Bible studies with friends.\" skills. Students have many opportunities to work in student organizations, like Student Senate, YAC, or LSM. These organizations help students by applying their passions and their studies to benefit the student body.\" 24 LETOURNEAU NOW

YellowJacket Activities Council by Jake Hall The YellowJacket Activities Council (YAC) is a student organization responsible for all things FUN on campus! Comprised of 7-8 student representatives, including the YAC President which is an elected position, YAC hosts a wide range of events during the school year, providing original, fun-filled weekend entertainment for students. Annual events include a school dance, outdoor movie nights, laser tag, and a lake day. On a random morning, one might see a golf cart decked out in streamers and tiki torches cruising the campus, blasting music and passing out free donuts—just a typical Donut Thursday, brought to you by YAC. One of the most popular events is Acousticafe, a mini-concert for student bands and individuals to perform while their peers drink coffee and relax on couches. From solo mandolin acts to full-scale rock bands, this is one of biggest occasions of the year. YAC also plans and organizes Hootenanny, the annual LETU talent show, a 55-year tradition! Over the years, YAC has created many quirky traditions; the mascot is an actual yak (yep, there's a costume), the start time for most events is 8:17 pm (so people don't forget it), and every event is loaded with all the snacks and candy a college student can handle. Follow us on instagram @letu_yac FALL 2021 25

THE POLYTECHNIC WAY A Note from the NOW Magazine Editors: This special section of our Fall 2021 issue includes the full text of an essay that has not only meaningfully informed the university’s 2021-2024 strategic plan, but also daily inspires and influences our campus culture and commitments. Crafted by Dr. Steven D. Mason, when he was Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, and released in the Spring of 2019, this white paper boldly unpacks and affirms our university identity as The Christian Polytechnic University. It is provided as both a proclamation of who we are and an aspirational compass guiding our future. Please join us in claiming our collective calling and staying true to the unique organizational saga God has authored for our institution. Access the audiobook with this QR code or visit www.letu.edu/tcpu-audio 26 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University Spring 2019 as the Christian Dear LeTourneau University Colleagues, Polytechnic University I have interacted with enough faculty and staff over the years to know that our identity Embracing the Saga of Our is important to each of us. Our university Unique Organizational Calling identity is a product of our distinct mission, and it reflects back to us, both individually A Provost's Perspective and collectively, our context, trajectory, and expectations. It is a way of representing the Steven D. Mason gifts and goods we offer our world. It articulates who we are and what we are called to do as an organization. The congruence between who we say we are, who we actually are, and who we aspire to be within higher education is, above all else, a matter of institutional integrity. So, what does it mean to adopt the identity “The Christian Polytechnic University”? Does this align with our mission? Does this take our school in a different direction? Is there a place for all academic disciplines? Are we narrowing our scope and reach? Are we expanding it? Most important, is this trademark a promise we can keep? This essay is an attempt to address these issues and the university we have all come to love. My hope is that it helps us see that “The Christian Polytechnic University” is not only a fitting identity for our institution but also names the unique educational calling we have inherited and that now presses us forward. In fact, we fulfill our vocation as a university only if we fully embrace it as an emblem of our “organizational saga.” Blessings, President Steven D. Mason, Ph.D. Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs FALL 2021 27

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University “ORGANIZATIONAL SAGA” the organization has been and what it is today—and hence by extension what LeTourneau University is a special institution. By “special” I mean it will be tomorrow....The institutional saga is a historically based, somewhat embellished understanding of a unique organizational development. It offers in two main things. First and foremost, our institutional commitment the present a particular definition of the organization as a whole and suggests to Jesus and the gospel is becoming increasingly rare. We are a place common characteristics of members. Its definitions are deeply internalized by that is decisively devoted to both the practice and proclamation of the many members, thereby becomes a part, even an unconscious part of individual gospel through the integration of Christian faith and learning and living. motive. A saga is, then, a mission made total across a system in space and time. It Customary patterns of life at LeTourneau are atypical within higher embraces the participants of a given day and links together successive waves of education, such as an extra five minutes added to each class period for participants over major periods of time...Indications of an organizational legend prayer and a devotional moment; an annual faculty commissioning are pride and exaggeration; the most telling symptom is an intense sense of the service that is similar to sending missionaries off to the mission field; and unique.2 “all campus chapel” every week, where both faculty and staff are invited to close their offices to join the students in a community gathering of Does LeTourneau University have a genuine “organizational saga”? Our worship and Christian fellowship. And these are just a few of the ways we university mission statement reads: hope to reflect a thoroughly Christian academic ministry. LeTourneau University is a special institution in this way, and as we stay the course, we LeTourneau University is a comprehensive institution of Christian higher will continue to grow in these distinctives. education where educators engage learners to nurture Christian virtue, to develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, to integrate faith LeTourneau University is a special institution for a second (and not and work, and to serve the local and global community. unrelated) reason. We have a unique DNA and history as an organization. While no two schools share the same reasons for their founding nor Is our institution’s mission so proven at this point that it is now a the circumstances surrounding growth, change, and sustainability, the storied, internalized, embodied, and even legendary raison d’être? Is there more one knows about the LeTourneau University story, the more one a longstanding and shared sense of the unique education (and experience) understands how distinctive this story is. In fact, LeTourneau’s unique life we offer such that we, the members, behold common characteristics— might be told more like a saga, a long narrative of events and incidents of and even linked in this way with members of the past? Do we relish historic achievement often involving a legendary hero or family.1 our organization’s development through the tests and trials we have confronted over the last seventy-five years? Have we achieved true Sociologist Burton Clark published a book in 1970 called The Distinctive differentiation as a university within the industry of higher education? Do College. This influential work reflected Clark’s observations of successful we express organizational pride—and at times even exaggeration? colleges and how they were able to endure the challenges of the time. As the title of his book would suggest, the colleges that became top-tier were The answer is yes. Though our genuinely humble membership may feel the truly distinctive ones. And the central feature of the most distinctive uncomfortable admitting it, LeTourneau University has indeed achieved ones was a clear “organizational saga.” An organizational saga, as Clark saga status as Clark defines it. Even common knowledge of LeTourneau defined it, is an institution’s collective narrative of past and present University’s history speaks to a mission transformed through the years into that, when embraced with great fervor and loyalty, births an identity an organizational saga. transcending the brute facts of its life story. The saga takes shape through historical developments, unique conditions, key events, and special It does not take long after first stepping on campus to gain a sense of memories connected to the institution’s mission and role. Organizations the legendary and exceptional, both academically and otherwise. As a new with a fully-embraced saga enjoy an institutional fortitude made of deep faculty member, I quickly noticed that our educational culture is distinctly roots and a compelling future. Clark comments, technical and applied. But I also soon learned about “the Flooders,” the expansive use of R.G.’s machines in World War II, the “Mom and Pop” Successful missions in time become transformed to some degree into conversation in flight over Harmon General Hospital, R.G’s relationship organizational sagas. Initially, the mission is simply purpose, something with Billy Graham, the time students lifted a Volkswagen Bug on the [people] in the organization hold before themselves. But the mission tested and dining hall, how close the school was to folding in the 1980s, and our successfully embodied through the work of a number of years does not remain pioneering success of online and adult education in the late 1990s and a statement of intent, a direction, a guidepost. It becomes a saga that tells what early 2000s that helped revolutionize the residential campus. I continue to enjoy learning of the eras and events and heroes of our institution’s past, including the ups and downs inherent in our history. These and other 1. According to Merriam-Webster, a saga originally referred to “a prose narrative recorded in Iceland in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries of historic or legendary figures and events of the heroic age of Norway and Iceland.” 2. Burton R. Clark, The Distinctive College, 2nd ed. (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1992), 235. The impact of Clark’s “organizational saga” idea has been highlighted by many students and scholars of higher education since his sociological analysis. See for example, John R. Thelin, A History of American Higher Education, 2nd ed. (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2011), xxviii. 28 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University chronicles like it are part of the important artifacts that contribute to our OUR SCHOOL AMID THE RISE OF TECHNICAL AND story that would qualify us a “distinctive college” according to Clark.3 “POLYTECHNIC” HIGHER EDUCATION I do have a caveat, however. I wonder about the definitions that Clark There really is no true consensus about the definition of polytechnic or refers to. A deeply rooted organizational saga characterizes a place where the parameters for what constitutes a polytechnic university in America.4 definitions “are deeply internalized by many members, thereby [becoming] The term polytechnic is often used to refer to the “practical arts” or a part, even an unconscious part of individual motive.” It seems that “useful arts”; its etymology means “many arts,” and yet it arose as a sort over recent years we have faced somewhat of an identity concern, if not of alternative to the pure liberal arts canon upon which the medieval a crisis, with the words we (and others!) use to describe LeTourneau and modern university was founded.5 The liberal arts as a canon of study University—and not just the words themselves but their meaning. This have traditionally had little to do with direct industrial outcomes, while is no small concern since words matter, and they create certain realities “polytechnic” generally is used to connote an applied science or technology and expectations for understanding who we are and our core purpose. intended to garner economic benefit with a precise, professional target. I have personally witnessed a range of descriptors of our institution in both conversation and print, such as “engineering school,” “STEM To find the beginning of the polytechnic university, some reach back to school,” “liberal arts school,”“technical school,”“online school,”“Christian Napoleon’s establishment of École Polytechnique in France in 1794, the college,” and more recently now, “polytechnic school.” Maybe you have first university with “Polytechnic” in the name. The intent was to bolster encountered others. Each of these has its rationale and justification. But France’s military status through scientific advancement as well as pursue if an organizational saga “tells what the organization has been and what future economic prosperity.6 Most scholars of higher education in America it is today—and hence by extension what it will be tomorrow,” it is vital attribute significant credit to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established that the language we use to refer to our institution—our “saga”—be well- landgrant colleges for the rise of professional and technology-centered defined and understood. education in the United States.7 And so we come to the purpose of this essay. For all of us to embrace The 1862 Morrill Land Grant Act is conventionally described as an influential LeTourneau’s organizational saga, it is important that we have a shared piece of federal legislation that fostered access to useful public higher education. understanding of our distinct university mission and identity as The . . . The state government was then required to dedicate land sale proceeds to Christian Polytechnic University, especially as we embark upon the establishing collegiate programs in such “useful arts” as agriculture, mechanics, milestone of our institution’s seventy-fifth anniversary. The most mining, and military instruction—hence the “A&M” in the name of many land- fundamental question at the fore is, Does this identity truly fit our grant colleges....Its institutional legacy was the accessible state college and organizational saga? If so, what does it mean as a differentiator, and what university, characterized by a curriculum that was broad and utilitarian.8 boundaries are being set by the moniker? Do we each still have a role in the story moving into the future? And finally, what opportunities are on offer Other government legislation, such as the Hatch Act (1887), the if we fully embrace this saga? second Morrill Act (1890), and the Smith-Lever Act (1914), continued to direct funding of education toward applied fields and broader student In what follows, I address our university identity and its component populations. These efforts, as well as the response to the Industrial parts to answer the questions stated above. In so doing, my hope is that Revolution and changing social class hierarchy in the early to mid- this brief treatment will show that “The Christian Polytechnic University” twentieth century, began to shift higher education’s focus to the teaching is indeed a fitting descriptor for LeTourneau University because it names of agriculture, science, and engineering rather than the historical emphasis the particular organizational saga God has authored for our institution. upon the liberal arts. This shift changed the role of professional education Moreover, we can only fulfill this unique calling when we contribute all of in relation to one’s upward mobility and success in society. Traditionally, our gifts and areas of expertise collectively. pursuing education in professional fields was perceived as narrow and delimiting, while a liberal arts education served as the doorway to financial security and social advancement. 3. See Thelin’s insightful section on the role of architecture in an institution’s saga (Thelin, History, xxix). This recalls how preservation of the metal buildings and the creation of the berm around the Memorial Student Center (now known as the Nursing Building) are examples of the ways our campus structures contribute to the organizational saga. 4. See L. Preston Mercer and Judith A. Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education: A Proposed Key to Regional Economic Development,” Synesis: A Journal of Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (2012): 45–51. The term seems to be used much more loosely in America than in England and Europe. Some of the history of polytechnic schools in the US and beyond was retrieved by Mercer and Ponticell by accessing the history sections of particular institutions’ websites. They name, for example, École Polytechnique: History and Heritage (2011), www.polytechnique. edu/home/about-ecole-polytechnique/history-and-heritage/ History; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2010), rpi.edu/about/history.html; History: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (2011), www. rose-hulman.edu/about/history.aspx. 5. S. G. Brint, M. Riddle, L. Turk-Bicakci, C. S. Levy, “From the Liberal to the Practical Arts in American Colleges and Universities: Organizational Analysis and Curricular Change,” The Journal of Higher Education 76, no. 2 (2005): 151–80. 6. James Martin and James E. Samels, “Polytechnic Renaissance: The Rise of the Polytechnic University,” University Business 18 (October 2012). 7. See Thelin, History, 75–83, 86, 104–5, 135. 8. Thelin, History, 75–76. FALL 2021 29

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University Liberal arts institutions generally offer a curriculum “aimed at imparting 1957. But with help from local leaders, the government chose not to assess the general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast property, and the Institute took full title without further payment.14 to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum.”9 Liberal arts studies often include literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics and This wave of higher education students was seeking practical and science. Perspectives in these fields are studied broadly, while vocational and/ hands-on programs that would readily launch them into the workforce. As or technological education had historically been perceived as “insularizing” and Thelin notes, “provincializing” rather than “liberating.”10 The pragmatic, impatient GI collegians shaped curricular enrollments by voting By the mid-twentieth century, technical education was no longer with their feet—that is, by opting for courses and majors in such employable perceived as limiting, however, but rather liberating; and the US fields as business administration and engineering. At times there was a government’s stimulus efforts and industrial progress amplified the substantial difference in perspective between professors (especially in the arts need for institutions to meet the demand. This only intensified after and sciences) and GIs.15 World War II, when thousands of returning veterans sought educational opportunities that suited their interests and experience. By 1946, the year This was the general higher education context in America that created of LeTourneau’s University’s founding, two million veterans enrolled in the ideal environment for the beginning of LeTourneau University’s college through the GI Bill, which amounted to approximately half of all organizational saga (with all of R.G.’s particular aims and objectives). And college students in the US.11 This totaled a federal government payout of yet, while LeTourneau was one of many new schools meeting the GI and over $5.5 billion.12 In fact, “The federal government realized the tuition industrial movement, it has from its inception been, well, strange. In payments did not provide for all of the costs of educating students, and, addressing what took place in Christian higher education during this era, accordingly, it gave war surplus land, buildings, and equipment to nearly Ringenberg notes, seven hundred colleges.”13 Enter R.G. and Evelyn LeTourneau and our organizational saga. Harmon General Hospital in Longview becomes A few other unusual types of Christian colleges were appearing. Very few Christian LeTourneau Technical Institute of Texas for one dollar. institutions offered engineering curricula, primarily because of the costliness of the necessary laboratory equipment. While such schools as John Brown, Geneva, On January 30, 1946, LeTourneau Technical Institute of Texas officially took and Valparaiso operate programs of varying degrees of thoroughness, no Christian possession of the hospital property consisting of 156 acres and 232 connected college has placed such a high percentage of its resources in technical education barracks buildings. The hospital had cost $5 million but was essentially donated as has LeTourneau (TX). The school was founded by Robert G. LeTourneau, an to the fledgling school. The government handed over the entire facility to inventor-industrialist widely known for designing heavy-duty earth moving LeTourneau Technical Institute for a lease price of $870,000, less a one hundred equipment and off-shore drilling platforms and then donating most of his percent discount with a one dollar down payment. The property came with earnings to missionary and evangelistic organizations. LeTourneau operated his some stipulations. For a period of ten years, from January 28, 1946 to January school as a technical institute from its beginning in 1946 to 1961, when it became 27, 1956, the U.S. government could repossess it during a national emergency. a liberal arts college, adding baccalaureate programs in electrical engineering As a lessee, the Institute had to operate a nonprofit technical school for veterans technology, industrial management, mechanical engineering technology, welding and submit semiannual curricular and financial reports with the War Assets engineering technology, and flight technology; and two-year programs in Administration. Also, the Institute was prohibited from selling or leasing any of automotive technology, aviation technology, and design technology.16 the property during the ten years without obtaining permission from the War Assets Administration. Failure to comply with all requirements could cause the There are a few interesting points to glean from Ringenberg’s brief government to demand the full $870,000. At the end of the ten-year period the rehearsal of LeTourneau University’s history. The first has already been War Assets Administration would have twelve months to assess the value of highlighted. LeTourneau Technical Institute of Texas was “unusual.” the property and require payment of its assessed value less depreciation. If the It was like a Christian college in that it had a thoroughly Christian government failed to assess the property during that eleventh year, the Institute ethos and intentionality within the academic experience but focused would take full title to the property by default, without payment, on January 28, specifically on technical skills and applied education, most notably the expensive enterprise of engineering that had been atypical (unviable) for a small Christian college. According to Durham, “R.G. LeTourneau began 9. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 46, quoting C. J. Ducasse, “Liberal Education and the College Curriculum,” The Journal of Higher Education 15, no. 1 (1944): 1–10, and then Brint et al., “From the Liberal to the Practical Arts,” 151–80. 10. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 46. 11. William C. Ringenberg, The Christian College: A History of Protestant Higher Education in America, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006), 202. 12. Thelin, History, 263. This was also the time when the federal government began accepting institutional team and self-evaluations on a ten-year cycle by regional accrediting bodies like SACS-COC. There was a need to sieve the diploma mills that quickly sprouted from the colleges and universities worthy of receiving federal funds for GIs (265). 13. Ringenberg, Christian College, 202–3. 14. Kenneth R. Durham, LeTourneau University’s First Fifty Years (Virginia Beach, VA: Donning, 1995), 48–49. 15. Thelin, History, 266. 16. Ringenberg, Christian College, 188; emphasis mine. 30 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University purchasing millions of dollars of war surplus engines and supplies which creation of an independent LeTourneau College Board of Trustees (apart were unloaded all over the campus. Much of this war surplus material from the “Foundation Board” that governed both R.G.’s factory and was $4 million worth of LeTourneau earthmoving equipment that R.G. campus), culminated in the official changing of the school’s name from repurchased from the government for resale. The Institute was based on LeTourneau Technical Institute to LeTourneau College in July of 1961. R.G.’s philosophy of education, which combined strong academics with The state of Texas issued new Articles of Incorporation. In summarizing practical experience.”17 the growth and expansion of LeTourneau during the period of 1961 to 1986, our own Dr. Kenneth Durham also refers to LeTourneau becoming Due to the equipment on campus as well as the practical experience a “senior engineering, technological, and liberal arts college,” achieving gained in RG’s factory, LeTourneau students received a one-of-a-kind, co- both regional accreditations through the liberal arts program as well as op experience. Ringenberg puts LeTourneau in a league by itself professional accreditation of our engineering program.21 He also notes among Christian institutions for the amount of resources devoted to LeTourneau being named as “one of America’s best liberal arts colleges” in technical education. the early 1990s by U.S. News and World Report.22 This was after LeTourneau officially changed to “University” on September 1, 1989, to reflect the The description of R.G. himself as an eclectic and unique individual, comprehensive nature of the school it had become over the decades.23 and certainly as an unlikely founder of a school, adds to the peculiarity And yet, referring to ourselves as a “liberal arts” school is not something of a place like LeTourneau. The hands-on and practical, factory-learning commonplace on our campus today. The old distinctions between approach best fit what one would find at a “technical school” or “institute.” colleges and universities have now been dissolved (as illustrated in the U.S. But LeTourneau Tech was a four-year, bachelor’s degree–granting News and World Report categories). There are a number of examples of institution from the beginning.18 In 1946–1947, LeTourneau offered comprehensive institutions with a range of academic degrees and graduate bachelor’s degrees in majors like electrical maintenance, building trades, programs that have elected to retain the name “College” (e.g. Wheaton combination welding processes, metallurgy, machinist, mechanical College, Gordon College, Calvin College, Boston College, etc.). maintenance, lithography, and others. It also offered courses in nontechnical fields such as English, math, economics, and natural sciences, How one defines and/or determines when or how one is classified as and the campus experience always involved chapel services. Bible courses a liberal arts college is debatable and perhaps best left to the “eye of the were added to the curriculum in 1948, and in 1951 a Christian service beholder.” According to the Carnegie Classification of 2015, a liberal arts degree was added to the slate of majors. Other curricular innovations, college is one that emphasizes undergraduate education where at least 50 such as aviation, continued through the 1950s as well as efforts to create percent of the undergraduate degrees are conferred in academic majors devotional time within the classroom.19 of the fine arts, humanities, social, and hard sciences. But not everyone feels bound to this way of measuring. Other common ways of categorizing Yet it is also interesting that Ringenberg describes the transition a liberal arts college include emphasizing distinct student outcomes like in 1961 as “becoming a liberal arts college.” It is true that at this time critical thinking, moral reasoning, intercultural competence, leadership, an intentional liberal arts program of majors was added to the degree and other conceptual skills useful for diverse contexts. Still others offerings at LeTourneau Tech since the Southern Association of Colleges emphasize a small residential environment with a low faculty-to-student and Schools did not grant accreditation to “trade schools” like LeTourneau ratio and where teaching is the focus over research. Evidently, but only to schools with at least eight or more liberal arts majors. So LeTourneau Tech added degrees in Bible, English, history, math, physics, chemistry, education, and business.20 These changes, in addition to the 17. Durham, First Fifty Years, 25. 18. There was a general misperception that LeTourneau Tech was a junior college because the Texas Department of Education only accredited the first two years of courses, and LeTourneau thus only competed against junior colleges in intercollegiate athletics. For LeTourneau’s first two years of existence, it offered three tiers of education: high school diploma degree completion, junior college level, and bachelor’s (“senior”) level. See Durham, First Fifty Years, 29–30. 19. The aviation department was added when courses in airframe and engine repair began in the fall of 1956, before expanding to ground and flight schools in summer 1961. See Durham, First Fifty Years, 30– 32. For the expanding commitment to Christian devotional practices, see 44–47. 20. Durham, First Fifty Years, 48. 21. Durham, First Fifty Years, 123. 22. Durham, First Fifty Years, 137. 23. The change from LeTourneau College to LeTourneau University was purely a strategic move of nomenclature to enhance public perception rather than a mission or curricular shift. See Durham, First Fifty Years, 128. The old distinctions between colleges and universities have now been dissolved (as illustrated in the U.S. News and World Report categories). There are a number of examples of comprehensive institutions with a range of academic degrees and graduate programs that have elected to retain the name “College” (e.g. Wheaton College, Gordon College, Calvin College, Boston College, etc.). FALL 2021 31

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University any or all three foci—number of majors, particular educational outcomes, is something to the way an institution begins that forever impacts its or a specific learning environment—are used to define a liberal arts ongoing life and personality. college.24 This can keep the lines blurry, however, depending upon who is making the judgment call. At least for Ringenberg (and Durham), the Though LeTourneau Tech eventually broadened into a comprehensive small, residential undergraduate environment, even with the expansion of university, the circumstances of its establishment and the passions of its technical majors, constituted LeTourneau as a “liberal arts college.” founder created a particular and lasting DNA (and culture) for the life of our organization. Even in becoming a comprehensive university, being Before we are quick to correct someone on this point, even as a hands-on, practical, professional, technical, and Christian—the foundation comprehensive university today, our membership as part of the Council stones of our institution—remain deeply embedded in all that we do, as for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the Council of the apostle Paul might say, “from first to last” (Rom. 1:17). Independent Colleges (CIC) is dependent upon the shared trait of a commitment to the liberal arts (and sciences).25 According to Hal Hartley, When exploring the aims and initiatives of the country’s most well- current president of the CIC, known polytechnic schools, it is clear that LeTourneau fits within the same milieu.27 The core identity of our institution has been technical, applied, Traditional, residential, undergraduate, small size, small classes, rooted and Christian. This reality combined with the drivers of LeTourneau in the liberal arts, close student-faculty relationships, a co-curricular University’s founding and the sustained core competencies in applied and program that supports classroom learning, tuition dependent—these are technical sciences quite genuinely leads to the identifier “polytechnic.” characteristics that typify the independent colleges CIC serves.26 When one assesses current ways of describing a “polytechnic” education, Hartley’s characterization does not seem to consider the rapid growth we find a legitimate way of describing LeTourneau University. in higher education of the nontraditional (or “post-traditional”) student populations, online platforms, micro-sites, and commuter campuses, “Polytechnics are comprehensive universities offering professional, career- which are significant parts of colleges and universities. In fact, at certain focused programs in the arts, social and related behavioral sciences, engineering, points of LeTourneau’s history the student body, technically speaking, has education, and natural sciences and technology that engage students in active, been more heavily weighted in the nontraditional category—from those applied learning, theory and research essential to the future of society, business who worked full time for R.G. to recent years when we have had more and industry,” according to Chancellor Charles W. Sorenson, University of adult and online students than residential undergraduate students. (See, Wisconsin-Stout (Polytechnic).28 Polytechnics are designed to blend theory and for example, the university enrollment numbers in the year 2006, when practice to solve “real world problems for the benefit of society.”29 our online and nontraditional programs peaked at almost 2,500 students.) According to Mercer and Ponticell, features emphasized in polytechnic CATEGORIZING LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY training are:30 Even the brief survey above outlining the atmosphere of higher • Emphasis on science, technology, and professional and technical education when our institution was founded, as well as a sampling of programs, complemented by arts, humanities, and social sciences how our school has been described, attests to the fact that LeTourneau University has, in many respects, forged a category of its own. And • Smaller class sizes perhaps this is fitting for a place with a founder who is also difficult • Integrated curriculum, practical and theoretical exercises to describe. Was R.G. primarily an entrepreneur? Engineer? Inventor? throughout programs Evangelist? Missionary? It may depend on one’s point of contact, but it is • Hands-on, project and team-based learning environment also unnecessary to choose, since any would be true. Nonetheless, there • Applied, collaborative research and technology transfer • Cross-disciplinary and co-curricular experiences, internships, and service learning across disciplines • Social responsibility 24. See N. S. Graham, Cindy A. Miller, Mark Archibald Kilgo, and Ernest T. Pascarell, “Amending the Liberal Arts: An Analysis of Learning Outcomes for Professional Majors,” in The Evolution of Liberal Arts in the Global Age, ed. Peter Marbe and Daniel Araya (New York: Routledge, 2017), 35–38. Interestingly, the main purpose of this article is to argue that students in professional programs (i.e., engineering, business, and nursing) score just as high in learning outcomes as those in the pure liberal arts, thus showing that growth in learning is not discipline specific. 25. The CCCU talks about its governing members being committed to an education “rooted in the arts and sciences” (among other criteria). The CCCU has approximately 180 full and affiliate members, and the CIC has approximately seven hundred institutional members. 26. Harold V. Hartley III, “An Overview of the Independent College Sector,” in The Challenge of Independent Colleges: Moving Research into Practice (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2017), 3. 27. See, for example, the famous quote of Stephen Van Rennselaer reflecting his original vision for Rennselear Polytechnic Institute highlighted on their website: “instructing young persons ‘in the application of science to the common purposes of life.’” 28. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 47. 29. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 47. Here they are quoting the then–newly elected governor of Florida, Rick Scott (2010). 30. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 48, table 2. For a list of ten universities in the United States with “Polytechnic” in the name, see table 1. Yet there are a number of strong schools across the country that reflect polytechnic characteristics but without “polytechnic” in the name, such as the state, land grant schools with “Tech” or “A&M” as modifiers. 32 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University • Civic engagement applied majors. When you add the other math and sciences students, the • Innovation, entrepreneurship percentage of residential undergraduate students in STEM majors climbs • Leadership in scientific, economic, and community development to 79 percent.34 That’s 10 percent higher than California Polytechnic • Adaptation/responsiveness to needs/demands of business, industry, Institute, which has a total undergraduate STEM percentage at 69 and society percent.35 And it is 8 percent higher than MIT, which has almost 71 percent Most of these features are central characteristics of a LeTourneau of undergraduates in STEM majors.36 Moreover, polytechnic institutions University education, traits that have naturally grown out of our report high job placement rates of graduates.37 LeTourneau continues institutional hard coding. LeTourneau University has been especially well- to score exceptionally high in job placement and ROI indicators.38 known for two leading technical and professional programs: Engineering LeTourneau University is as authentically “polytechnic” as it comes when and Aviation. LeTourneau was the first ABET-accredited Christian one considers the natural academic traits of our school. These are core university in the country (1978).31 ABET accreditation is proof that a gifts and competencies that we should maximize even more. And yet, collegiate program has met standards essential to provide graduates ready embracing who we are as a “polytechnic” does not narrow our scope but to enter the critical fields of STEM education. Graduates from an ABET- rather names our genetic make-up and culture. In fact, it may surprise accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of some that the leading polytechnic institutions in higher education are in leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating fact also dynamic universities thoroughly committed to holistic teaching the welfare and safety needs of the public.32 and instruction. At LeTourneau, we build upon this foundation in a number of ways. For example, LeTourneau’s SafeHome senior design engineering project THE ROLE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS AT won first place in 2018 in the Annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition LEADING POLYTECHNICS sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse International with a lightweight shelter that withstood 130 mph winds. LeTourneau University is the What becomes abundantly transparent in investigating the scope and only comprehensive university aviation program in the state of Texas, nature of polytechnic schools in America is that by emphasizing the sustaining more than sixty years of aviation excellence. Our students technical and applied arts, it is not necessary to deemphasize the liberal won first place in Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) arts as traditionally conceived. There need not be a dichotomy between competition in 2018, and our STING Precision Flight Team won fifth a technical and applied education and a “liberal” one. The liberal arts place in the nation (ahead of the US Air Force Academy) in the National and sciences play a crucial academic role across polytechnic schools. Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) competition in May 2018. The In fact, the original land-grant institutions viewed the technical and university was awarded the Loening Trophy for having the best collegiate mechanical programs as building upon and alongside the “classic arts,” aviation program in the country in 2009. not marginalizing them.39 Today, the leading polytechnic and landgrant As of the fall of 2018 enrollment statistics, 63 percent of LeTourneau universities excel in the humanities and liberal arts and view them as University’s residential and undergraduate student body majored in critical to their educational mission. For example, Dr. Jeffrey D. Armstrong, engineering, aviation, or computer science.33 So almost two out of every president of California Polytechnic State University, comments, “Cal Poly’s three students on campus focus upon one of these three technical and distinctive Learn By Doing approach . . . provide[s] students with daily opportunities to apply classroom theory to real-world problems in the 31. Discipline-specific engineering majors were EAC-ABET accredited (back to 1978). The general engineering B.S. program at LeTourneau University was implemented in the 1987–1988 academic year and was first accredited by EAC-ABET in October 1988. 32. See “Why ABET Accreditation Matters,” www.abet.org/accreditation/what-is-accreditation/why-abet-accreditation-matters/, accessed April 4, 2019. 33. See LeTourneau University’s Fall 2018 Enrollment Statistics, published by the Office of Institutional Research and released on September 28, 2018. The enrollment numbers were: Engineering (475), Aviation (195), Computer Science (93). There were also 88 students in the graduate and online programs in engineering (9 graduate), aviation (48 online), or computer science (31 online). 34. Nursing (91), Kinesiology (47), Biology (28), Chemistry and Physics (27), Mathematics (10). 35. According to Cal Poly’s 2018 enrollment data numbering 21,037 undergraduates: Ag, Food, Environmental Sciences (4,005), Architecture and Environmental Design (1,840), Engineering (5,921), and Sciences and Math (2,784). See their quick facts at calpolynews. calpoly.edu/quickfacts.html, accessed April 4, 2019. 36. According to MIT’s 2017–2018 enrollment data numbering 4,547 undergraduates: Architecture and Planning (30), Engineering (2,455), and Sciences (737). See web.mit.edu/facts/ enrollment.html, accessed April 4, 2019. 37. Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 48. 38. For example, Seattle-based Payscale.com ranked LETU as second only to Rice University in Return on Investment (ROI) among private universities in Texas in its “Best Value Colleges in Texas” ranking for 2018 (www.payscale.com/college-roi/state/Texas). Also, from 2015 to 2017, our residential graduate placement rate averaged 96 percent, and our nontraditional rate was 92 percent. 39. See “What Is a Land-Grant College?,” Washington State University, February 24, 2009, ext.wsu.edu/documents/landgrant.pdf. FALL 2021 33

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University context of a comprehensive polytechnic education, grounded in the arts More recently, Jack Ma gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in and sciences.”40 2018 stating that we must approach education differently if the human workforce wants to stay relevant in a machine-driven and technological The single-paragraph mission statement of Cal Poly also includes, “As age. He suggests that we must teach the soft skills to prevent an a polytechnic university, Cal Poly promotes the application of theory to employment problem thirty years from now “so that a machine can never practice. As a comprehensive institution, Cal Poly provides a balanced catch up with us.”43 Scott Hartley, a Stanford graduate and author of The education in the arts, sciences, and technology, while encouraging cross- Fuzzy and the Techie: Why the Liberal Arts Will Rule the Digital World, says it disciplinary and co-curricular experiences.”41 this way: Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts is one of six colleges within its Finding solutions to our greatest problems requires an understanding of human university structure. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also context as well as of code: it requires both ethics and data, both deep thinking has a School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SHASS) as one people and Deep Learning AI, both human and machine; it requires us to of five schools within its academic structure. The reputation of MIT’s question implicit biases in our algorithms and inquire deeply into not just how strength in the liberal arts and humanities while also being a world leader we build, but why we build and what we seek to improve. Fuzzies and techies in technology is well-documented. In 2018, the Times Higher Education must come together and the true value of the liberal arts must be embraced as World University Rankings rated MIT the second-best university for arts we continue to pioneer our new technological tools.44 and humanities, just behind Stanford. All MIT undergraduates must take at least eight semesters of courses (approximately 25 percent of total To use Jobs’s metaphor, it is the healthy marriage of liberal arts and classroom time) in SHASS as part of the General Institute Requirements technical competencies, rather than their divorce, that top polytechnic for a diploma. universities recognize as vital for preparing the next generation of innovators. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest polytechnic in What these world-class polytechnics and land-grant institutions America (1824), has a School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences understand is that the liberal arts are not just complementary but central (HASS) as one of six schools within its academic structure. In view of the to educating today’s leaders. Any curriculum devoid of the traditional arts institution’s bicentennial, Rensselaer recently launched a comprehensive and sciences is deficient for preparing graduates for a motley world of revisioning plan of priorities titled “The New Polytechnic,” defined as “a applied technologies and problem-solving. There has been quite a swell of paradigm for teaching, learning, and research that sees the technological recent commentary and literature on the importance of the liberal arts in university as a profoundly collaborative endeavor across disciplines and our world of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.42 Amid public perspectives.” Rensselaer’s HASS has a central role in fulfilling this new comments by politicians and others about the value of studying the liberal polytechnic vision, as articulated in a university whitepaper called Wisdom arts at university, many return to the now-famous comments of Steve Jobs, Matters. The whitepaper argues for the critical perspective that the arts, for example, who lauded the humanities and liberal arts when he released humanities, and social sciences play in understanding “human agency,” iPad 2 in 2011: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough— the “immaterial,” and “wisdom” in a world dominated by “technologism” its technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that and “scientism.” The paper appeals to the unique opportunity of pursuing yields us the result that makes our heart sing, and nowhere is that more true than in these post-PC devices.” 40. Emphasis mine. This is a comment from the first paragraph of his welcome letter published on the university website, president. calpoly.edu/welcome-cal-poly, accessed April 4, 2019. 41. Emphasis mine. This comes directly from the mission statement from the website, president.calpoly.edu/welcome-cal-poly, accessed April 4, 2019. 42. See for example, Sydney Johnson, “As Tech Companies Hire More Liberal Arts Majors, More Students Are Choosing STEM Degrees,” EdSurge, November 13, 2018; Vivek Wadhwa, “Why Liberal Arts and the Humanities Are as Important as Engineering,” The Washington Post, June 12, 2018; Richard Feloni, “Microsoft’s President Says Liberal Arts Majors Are Necessary for the Future of Tech,” Business Insider, January 21, 2018; J. M. Olejarz, “Liberal Arts in the Data Age,” Harvard Business Review, July–August 2017; Christine Henseler, “Liberal Arts Is the Foundation for Professional Success in the 21st Century,” Huffington Post, September 6, 2017; Yoni Appelbaum, “Why America’s Business Majors Are in Desperate Need of a Liberal-Arts Education,” The Atlantic, June 28, 2016; George Anders, “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket,” Forbes August 17, 2015; Michael Rozier and Darcell Scharff, “On Academics: The Value of Liberal Arts and Practice in an Undergraduate Public Health Curriculum,” Public Health Reports 128, no. 5 (2013): 416–21. 43. Ma is the cofounder and CEO of Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate with an open market value of $352 billion dollars. He is recognized as one of the wealthiest people in the world. See this short clip of his speech at www.instagram.com/p/BkAZD9AAvtA. 44. Scott Hartley, The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why the Liberal Arts Will Rule the Digital World (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017), xi. For other recent books arguing for the necessity of competency in the liberal arts for success in today’s world of business and technology, see for example George Anders, You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Degree (New York: Little, Brown, 2017); Randall Stross, A Practical Education: Why Liberal Arts Majors Make Great Employees (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2017); Christian Madsbjerg, Sensemaking: The Power of the Humanities in the Age of the Algorithm (New York: Hachette, 2017); Joseph E. Aoun, Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2017); Cathy Davidson, The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux (New York: Hachette, 2017); Gary Saul Morson and Morton Shapiro, Cents and Sensibility: What Economics Can Learn from the Humanities (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2017). 34 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University complex questions of human flourishing at a polytechnic school. Consider, education, what impact does it make to claim the most provocative of for example, these statements from the paper: our descriptors—Christian? What if there were a Christian polytechnic? I contend that answering this fundamental question helps carve out our From within the techno-scientific crucible that is Rensselaer, HASS faculty God-given and distinctive vocation as a particularly polytechnic university. pursue cutting-edge research and develop unique academic programs that bring This is central to our organizational saga. a humanities logics to bear on the Grand Challenges. We harness the scientific and technological prowess needed to address problems of immense scale and THE CHRISTIAN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY? complexity while situating them within the critically necessary socio-cultural There is a slew of great books on Christian higher education that context so often bracketed out of more conventional problem solving approaches. At Rensselaer we counter these forces by seeking to produce broadly educated, help outline salient features of the enterprise.46 I would summarize the practical persons who have the capacity to ask wise questions that matter: “Just distinctiveness of Christian universities in contrast to secular ones in because we can, should we?” and “Where is the soul in social policy?” In HASS, terms of possessing a particular coherence, which in turn yields a number we embrace the “diverse world of others.” Our experience has demonstrated of unique features and applications.47 We educate with an anchor lodged to us that empathy, compassion, and wisdom emerge from attending to layers in a distinctly Christian story of the world. As Alasdair MacIntyre says, “I of social, political-economic, and cultural complexity through multisensory can only answer the question, ‘What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior experience, fine-grained interpretation, and close attunement to dissonance. questions, ‘Of what story do I find myself a part?’”48 And this question Yoked to the technoscientific sophistication of our students, the translational applies to universities too. Another way to ask it is, Within what metasaga humanities at Rensselaer are poised to be transformational.45 does our “organizational saga” fit? What I find fascinating about Renssellaer’s Wisdom Matters is that with At LeTourneau we are unashamed in positing that our center of gravity only a few Christian nuances to the document, this piece could easily for education is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the creating and redeeming resemble something we might publish at LeTourneau. It is very compelling work of the Triune God. We do not begin from a (false) position of and hits the felt needs of today’s students. Secular schools and scholars are neutrality but rather believe, “Through him all things were made; without realizing that today’s education, especially a polytechnic one, must address him nothing was made that has been made” ( John 1:3); “for from him and questions inherent to the humanities and liberal arts in view of alleviating through him and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36); and “He is before all suffering, solving societal problems, and promoting human flourishing. things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). And yet, the piece also highlights the great void, and even danger, in We believe that while modern science and society pose complex attempting to answer such questions without a coherent account of what questions and problems, Scripture outlines for us not simplistic answers it means to be a human being, what human flourishing looks like, how we but rather a clear vision for what human and societal flourishing looks define wisdom, what metanarrative of the world governs the discussion, like, what it means to be fully human, who created the world, how God and to whom we are ultimately accountable. is renewing all things, and to whom we will all one day give account. So, as admirable and compelling as Rensselaer’s vision is for educating While secular institutions and the technology industry grow more students toward “wisdom” and “human flourishing,” for example, we offer sensitive to the role of social and humanitarian factors in our world of a cohesive and true account of God’s purposes for the world and all of technological advancement, LeTourneau University’s unique call and creation. Without a coherent and true account of life’s deepest and most contribution as an institution within higher education grows increasingly clear. If our school fits squarely into the polytechnic milieu of higher 45. Access the full text from the HASS webpage at www.hass.rpi. edu/, accessed April 4, 2019. 46. The one I find particularly helpful for out context is Perry L. Glanzer and Todd C. Ream, The Idea of a Christian College: A Reexamination for Today’s University (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2013). See also Perry L. Glanzer, Nathan F. Alleman, and Todd C. Ream, Restoring the Soul of the University (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017); Joel Carpenter, Perry L. Glaner, and Nicholas S. Lantinga, eds., Christian Higher Education: A Global Reconnaissance (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014); Michael Higton, A Theology of Higher Education (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013); Phil Eaton, Engaging the Cul-ture, Changing the World: The Christian University in a Post-Christian World (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011); Perry Glanzer and Todd Ream, Christianity and Moral Identity in Higher Education (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009); Nicholas Wolterstorff, Educating for Shalom: Essays on Christian Higher Education, ed. Clarence W. Joldersma and Gloria Goris Stronks (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004); Robert Benne, Quality with Soul: How Six Premier Colleges and Universities Keep Faith with Their Religious Traditions (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002); George Marsden, The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996); George Marsden, The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994); Jaroslav Pelikan, The Idea of the University: A Reexamination (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1992); Arthur F. Holmes, The Idea of a Christian College, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985); John Henry Newman, The Idea of a University (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1960). 47. Glanzer and Ream posit at least three central and overlapping qualities of Christian universities. Christian universities educate beyond pure biblical knowledge and calls to traditional Christian ministry. They focus on not only the transmission of ideas and practices but also the discovery, search, and creation of such. And they are devoted to the worship of God and the study of theology as the center of knowledge. See Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 8. 48. Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1984), 210. FALL 2021 35

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University pervasive questions, it is at best uncertain how students are being formed, brokenness and the sin of the human heart. While technology is constantly including their version of flourishing.49 Education is inherently formation. changing and advancing, there yet is still “nothing new under the sun.” In An educational program with loose ends prides itself on so-called this way, a truly Christian and polytechnic education is an inherently and neutrality and doubt as virtues of inquiry. In contrast, Christian educators robustly well-rounded one that takes into account what all disciplines have work from and toward a particular version of human flourishing.50 In this to offer in telling the most comprehensive story—that of creation, fall, way, we teach and mentor in love, wonder, joy, and delight rather than redemption, and restoration. The technical and the skillful is bound to the doubt, in part because of Augustine’s notion of “moving to action. . . so as thorough and thoughtful. Thus we understand that to teach, to delight, to sway.”51 a Christian university will continue to prize the relationship between the liberal In contrast to state and secular institutions that never held, or have lost, arts and one’s vocation. Since it values placing everything in a larger story, it a true commitment to a distinctively Christian approach (and purpose) to will place a vocation in the context of theology, history, sociology, and other education, a truly committed Christian university has at the very least a disciplines. It will attempt to help students see God’s role in the story of this common and overarching denominator for living and learning. In fact, a vocation and the humanness of the vocation—the wondrous creative role it Christian university fulfills the original idea of being a university at all. As plays, its limits in light of the larger human story and realm of knowledge, and one scholar notes, its potential with the body of humanity for good. Without such a perspective, the university becomes little more than a technical school in that it focuses In the Middle Ages, the very word “University” implied, as often recognized, upon practical job skills and is reduced, in the phrase of one philosopher, to “the the many turning toward the One: with the diversity of human labors and barbarism of specialization.”53 vocations, we return—for reference, communion, corporate self-understanding, community, and a common sense of purpose—to that One in whom all our Another way we talk about this storied polytechnic education is with wisdoms are hidden, and whose members, like spokes of a wheel, we are to be the phrase we all have grown accustomed to: “the integration of faith and as the world turns.52 learning.”54 This is the commitment as scholars and educators to recognize the ways our Christian faith illumines and aligns our work, play, study, There is a particularly Christian coherence at LeTourneau University, leisure, and everything curricular and cocurricular on a college campus. A secured to the story of the gospel, that adds context and depth to our truly integrated education eliminates a divide between the classroom and polytechnic education. For example, by virtue of being distinctively the athletic field, knowledge and application, and at times the sacred and Christian, we help students not just create or apply the latest technologies the secular. There is a coherence to learning and living that is bound to the but also to evaluate them critically in light of what is good for humanity Christian story and its telos. By virtue of being distinctly Christian, we and creation. We prepare students to seek the ways modern innovations remember that can alleviate pain, suffering, and disease while also exploring how advances in technology can be used for evil, greed, pride, and domination. While if Christian universities hope to remain more than training grounds for narrow working on the cutting edges of technological inventiveness, we also forms of competence, they must avoid the secular temptation to be satisfied help students understand that innovation will never remedy spiritual with simply providing disciplinary expertise in a field of study Christian universities must continue the grand quest to offer the world wisdom about 49.See recent literature about Christian education as formation rather than mere information dissemination. For example, James K.A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006); Paul D. Spears and Peter R. Loomis, Education for Human Flourishing: A Christian Perspective Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009). 50. “A Christian university will emphasize that one’s primary motivation stems not only from a concern for serving others, the common good, or the good of a particular group (e.g., citizens, shareholders), all of which secular universities will usually emphasize, but it will stem primarily from a sense of accountability to the One whose creation we are stewarding.” Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 72. See also 72–74. 51. For the idea of delight and the reference to Augustine’s comments in his Teaching Christianity, see the helpful essay by Susan Felch called “Doubt and the Hermeneutics of Delight,” in Christianity and the Soul of the University: Faith as a Foundation for Intellectual Community, ed. Douglas V. Henry and Michael D. Beaty, 103–18 (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006), at 105. 52. David Lyle Jeffrey, “Faith, Fortitude, and the Future of Christian Intellectual Community,” in Henry and Beaty, eds., Christianity and the Soul of the University, 95. Clark Kerr coined the phrase “multiversity” to characterize today’s universities in his book The Uses of the University, 5th ed. (Cambridge: MA, Harvard University Press, 2001). 53. Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 73. For an even more dogmatic warning, see Reinhard Hütter, “Polytechnic Utiliversity: Putting the Universal back in University,” First Things (November 2013). www. firstthings.com/article/2013/11/polytechnic-utiliversity. 54. There is a generally accepted consensus that this phrase has its shortcomings, though it still holds currency across the Christian academy. See, for example, James K.A. Smith, “Beyond Integration: Re-Narrating Christian Scholarship in Postmodernity,” in Beyond Integration? Inter/Disciplinary Possibilities for the Future of Christian Higher Education, ed. Todd C. Ream, Jerry Pattengale, and David L. Riggs, 19–48 (Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2012); Perry L. Glanzer, “Why We Should Discard the Integration of Faith and Learning: Rearticulating the Mission of the Christian Scholar,” Journal of Education and Christian Belief 12, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 41–51. 36 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University what God’s story of creation, fall, and redemption entails for the good life and And so the pressing question becomes, If we are indeed “The Christian a good world.55 Polytechnic University,” where does this call take us? How are we to steward our particular organizational saga? How does this shape us and This plays out in a number of ways on our campus through our help us make strategic decisions into the future? teaching, scholarship, service, and mentorship of students.56 It begins the first time we meet a prospective student and family as we share our heart EMBRACING “THE CHRISTIAN POLYTECHNIC as a university. And it continues as we prepare students to procure a job, to UNIVERSITY” SAGA locate a venue within God’s world to express their gifts and training. This Christian-storied philosophy of education means that we prepare students We are stewards of our organizational saga. The adventure story of to find jobs, but even more, we prepare people, not just professionals, to LeTourneau University continues. There will be twists and turns and love God and neighbor.57 more heroic achievements to come. And all the while, as curators of the institution for this moment of LeTourneau’s history, we must press into “THE” our calling in deliberate and intentional ways to prevent mission drift from Having a distinct, holistic, Christian approach to education—a whom God has created us to be. What does it mean to be The Christian Polytechnic University into the coming decades? How do we maintain our particular coherence—is not all that unique. In fact, if one narrowed the core competencies while also expanding our influence? How do we not scope to the CCCU, there are about 180 other colleges and universities only preserve our unique niche within higher education but carve it out claiming the same thing. What makes LeTourneau University special is our even more? How might we shape our university priorities together to organizational saga, which has led to the reality that there is not another achieve “a long obedience in the same direction”? institution of our kind. There is no true parallel to LeTourneau University within the CCCU or otherwise. While other Christian colleges and Unfortunately, the medium of this essay only allows for a one-way universities may establish new engineering programs and other technical exchange. I look forward to a much more collaborative and ongoing majors, none of them have the percentage of technical and stem majors “So what? / Now what?” conversation, either over a cup of coffee or that LeTourneau does nor the polytechnic history. While there are other more formally. But for starters, here is a brief sample of what I view as universities that fit “polytechnic” (and it may even be in the name), none of fundamentals for responding to our calling on both the curricular and co-/ them are distinctly Christian.58 Thus it is not just branding that constitutes extracurricular levels. the definite article in front of “Christian Polytechnic University,” but rather it is a reality that there is not a peer school with our composition. Curricular This is not to say that a student cannot get a quality STEM education at another Christian university, but it is to say that God has created a We need to maintain a high percentage of undergraduate and residential particular environment and culture, a particular DNA, and a particular majors in the technical areas. As a predominantly undergraduate institutional commitment to an education immersed in technical, applied, institution with a longstanding residential identity, it is crucial that we and Christian outcomes. anchor our identity to the Longview campus in this way. We need to maintain a target of at least 60–65 percent of our residential university This coherence not only requires that we approach things from a majors in the technical and applied areas of Engineering, Aviation, and Christian point of view but that we also understand our organizational Computer Science, with an overall STEM enrollment target of 70–80 saga as a distinct calling. LeTourneau University has a specific vocation percent. This does not preclude the strong pursuit of growing other majors that was created and crafted by the Triune God for his kingdom purposes and programs. In fact, a solid and comprehensive polytechnic university in this world. It is not by chance that LeTourneau University was founded means that non-STEM majors grow and flourish in their own right. Rather in Longview, Texas. It is not by chance that our institution was first built it is about the right balance of the overall composition to keep our unique upon, and remains gifted with, technical and professional competencies. polytechnic identity. That will place a healthy pressure on the institution And since we believe that the Lord established LeTourneau University to increase the enrollment growth of the technical and STEM areas as at just the right time and within a distinct set of realities, that coding other majors prosper. becomes a calling. LeTourneau University has developed a certain vocation within higher education that requires us to steward and maximize our As is commonly accepted in industry and academia, the liberal arts institutional gifts for the good of the world. It is not by chance that, at are of vital importance to a holistic polytechnic education, especially least in this point and time, we are the Christian Polytechnic University. an intentionally Christian one. We need to highlight and reinforce the liberal arts at LeTourneau University. This entails creating opportunities to maximize our liberal arts faculty in both curricular and cocurricular 55. Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 149. 56. On the topic of Christian scholars’ call to engage in creative scholarly work for the good of student learning, see Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 64–65. 57. Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 147. 58. Not to mention that we are fundamentally a teaching institution and not an R-1 institution like the leading polytechnics in the U.S. FALL 2021 37

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University formats as well as tailoring our liberal arts offerings to address the Co- and Extracurricular questions raised by technological innovations of our day. The cocurricular activity and opportunities on campus should also All our academic programs, whether face to face or online, should have accent what a Christian Polytechnic learning environment offers. For distinctly Christian polytechnic outcomes. In turn, we need to consider example, we already launched a lecture series this spring on faith, science, how to enhance liberal arts and other non-STEM degree programs and technology, which is a good start for creating a more conversant (e.g., business, education, etc.) with a special polytechnic focus. Since context for challenging questions posed by technological advancement. all disciplines are impacted by technological advancement, LeTourneau I can imagine creating a Center for Faith, Science, and Technology that should be the university of choice for these majors as all address cutting- would not only facilitate faculty, staff, and student dialogue but also offer edge questions about technical innovation in their field. In this way the a range of other opportunities that enhance the curricular programming. LeTourneau University environment allows the non-technical majors I can imagine an arm of the Center partnering with our Department to develop an identity that one would not necessarily find at the more of Career Services to concentrate on what employers are looking for in traditional liberal arts university. today’s employees.61 Hartley writes, Making all programs distinctly Christian polytechnic begins with 92 percent of nine hundred executives polled by the Wall Street Journal in 2016 our General Education. We need to redesign our General Education stated that soft skills were “equally important or more important than technical curriculum to reflect our Christian polytechnic focus. This would entail skills,” and 89 percent of those executives further stated that they had a “very or a thoughtful mix of courses in the liberal arts and sciences as well as a somewhat difficult” time find candidates with those requisite skills.62 “Polytechnic Core” integral to 100 percent of university undergraduate degree program, both residentially and online. This Polytechnic Core This might include creating nonacademic certificates for all our is a balance of technical, applied, and liberal arts components. It might graduates in areas like Soft Skills and Communication, Organizational comprise a simple collection of three to five classes, but they would Health and Wellness, Mindful Leadership, Life Balance, and so on. These be courses thoroughly LeTourneau-esque and Christian polytechnic are practical cocurricular programs not necessarily tied to academic in nature.59 We also should require every non-engineering student at credits, but they would enhance the skills and profile of our students. LeTourneau University to take a course like “Our World of Engineering Student leadership programs like IMPACT also offer real opportunities to and Design”60 and for every major to have a core/capstone class on develop the soft skills of leadership in a technology-laden environment. technology and innovation in their given field. Our Theology and Vocation core should be bolstered by intentionally exploring how the fundamental Pursuing our identity as “The Christian Polytechnic University” also questions around technological advancement and innovation must entails banding together as faculty and staff to create an extracurricular be answered and grounded by the biblical story and biblical vision for campus environment conducive to developing healthy people for a humanity and human flourishing. rapidly advancing technological world. Glanzer and Ream remind us that “the Christian university comes closest to fulfilling its mission when We all recognize how important our online and graduate programs the curricular and the cocurricular, following the lead set by common are to our university and how the nontraditional population has always worship, work in an integrated fashion to cultivate the whole being of all been an integral piece of LeTourneau. We need to expand our portfolio of community members.”63 technical programs in these areas. How can we capitalize on our ingenuity and creativity to enhance and grow engineering online, for example? What We need to thread Christian Polytechnic outcomes through the entire new graduate programs in technology should we be launching? How can campus experience to appropriate the right virtues for living in our world we reach more nontraditional and working adults that would benefit from of technology and innovation. Every unit on campus—from the chapel to receiving vocational training certificates and badges, continuing education the athletic field—should address the questions and conundrums of our opportunities, and other industry-centric education besides the full technological way of life by assessing our learning and living spaces, places, degrees we offer? The Christian polytechnic thread should weave through and practices. LeTourneau University should be just the type of place all programs and platforms. maximizing the possibilities of technology while confronting the dangers of the unexamined consumption of it. It is widely acknowledged that depression and anxiety is on the rise in college students. Many are pointing the finger at technology as the leading factor in the general malaise of a 59. I can imagine classes like “Faith and Technology,”“The History of Technology and Innovation,” “Technology and the Liberal Arts,” and/or “Virtue Ethics and Technological Advancement,” for example. 60. “The polytechnic concept ensures that even graduates in degree programs outside of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas will have training and education in those areas and develop skills applicable to the 21st century economy.” Mercer and Ponticell, “Polytechnic Education,” 49. 61. Perhaps we should rename this department to “Vocational Services” to indicate we think about careers differently. 62. Hartley, Fuzzie and Techie, 206. 63. Glanzer and Ream, Reexamination, 98. 38 LETOURNEAU NOW

LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University society that has drifted from a healthy view of what it means to be human. that is ordained and sustained by the providence of the Triune God. We Can “The Christian Polytechnic University” craft learning outcomes, can fully embrace our identity as “The Christian Polytechnic University” environments, liturgies, and curricula that inspire students to imagine a because it is an apt way of describing how we fulfill our mission. For this fuller vision of the good life than what society presents? And in doing so, is who the Lord has gifted us to be. He began an exciting adventure-story can we create a healthier student body, which translates into healthier of historic and heroic achievements in 1946 that continues to develop and graduates for flourishing workplaces? take shape even today. These questions and ideas are just a start at imagining ways to respond We are a one-of-a-kind institution of higher learning (The) because to the call to be The Christian Polytechnic University as an academic of our abiding commitment to the Gospel story (Christian) in offering a community. I look forward to the collective and creative wisdom that will technology-centric (Polytechnic) education, where all academic disciplines come with more campus conversation. and community practices share their goods in common (University). May the Lord equip and empower us to fulfill this collective vocation with joy CONCLUDING THOUGHTS and passion for his kingdom’s sake to the glory and praise of Father, Son, I hope this essay has provided clarity and confidence for our shared and Holy Spirit. Amen. work at LeTourneau University. We have a unique “organizational saga” “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33) Access \"LeTourneau University as the Christian Polytechnic University\" online at letu.edu/tcpu FALL 2021 39

THE POLYTECHNIC WAY Faculty Snapshots: School of Business Kathleen Mays, D.B.A. Dean, School of Business | Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship Dr. Kathleen Mays earned a Doctor of Business Administration from Anderson University and a Master of Business Administration in Management at Troy State University. She returned to LeTourneau in 2019. “Entrepreneurship is the running theme, the mindset, that all of our business students are introduced to, in year one. Engaging with them, and the entire business faculty, as they explore the entire creative business process, from ideation and trial & error, to actual business creation, and making the pitch, is incredibly rewarding. Having worked at LeTourneau for years, and returned, it feels like home—and it’s more ‘LeTourneau’ than it’s ever been. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a cross section of LeTourneau business & engineering students in our entrepreneurship classes, so I get to see the inspiration and legacy of R.G. LeTourneau come to life in such a modern, tangible way. Our engineers are exposed to foundational business principles as applied to tech-based companies, and nothing is more ‘Christian polytechnic’ than seeing the lightbulbs go off in a fresh way as they begin to see the path to bringing inventions to the marketplace.\" Beverly Rowe, Ph.D., C.P.A. Professor of Accounting “The Bible says, ‘Acknowledge Him in all your ways,’ and at LeTourneau, I can freely acknowledge Christ in everything I do. Not only freely, but I am expected to do that. That gives me great joy and lets me walk the path that God has called me to walk. It allows me to use the gifts that God’s given me to build things here, to serve him.” Dr. Beverly Rowe holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Management from Purdue University. Her undergraduate background is in theatre. She returned to LeTourneau in 2016. “I do a whole lot more than teach accounting. Yes, I teach accounting. Yes, I prepare accounting students to get ready for a career. I help them find internships, I help them guide into those careers, but more importantly, I am called to help them learn more about how to walk with Christ, how to mature in the Lord, how to follow Him, how to trust Him when they really don’t have a clue what’s going on, and God has let me live that out. I can speak it with experience—my pathway looked pretty zig-zaggy, but God had a plan, and it was a pathway. I can honestly say to them, ‘Don’t be really concerned about whether God’s going to use this or do that or you have to do it this way because He doesn’t waste anything. There is nothing that will happen in your life that will ever be wasted.’” PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN & JEREMIAH SHEPHERD 40 LETOURNEAU NOW

Business is inherently tied to the historic foundations of LeTourneau University, and today's School of Business is leaning into its entrepreneurial heritage now more than ever. The current suite of programs runs the gamut—accounting, business administration, finance, management, and marketing—but shares a unifying thread, all led by a team of faculty experts who truly 'get' that entrepreneurship is more than just a gig. It's a mindset that supersedes sectors of service, and a creative vehicle for a tangible, relational brand of business where earnings and engagement co-exist for kingdom glory. Nothing more 'R.G.' than that. These pages give a glimpse into the hearts of our full-time core business faculty, and touch on some of their ongoing contributions to business at LeTourneau. Meet the full suite of instructors at letu.edu/business. Karen Jacobs, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Business “I love the fact that LeTourneau is faith-based. I get to preach to my classes about who I am and what I do. I mean, when I get to pray for students, they tell me that things are going on and sometimes it’s really hard stuff. But the cool thing is, I get to sit and pray with them, encourage them. Students have lived with me, students have traveled with me. We’ve gone through births, we’ve gone through deaths, gone through divorces with some... and the undercurrent is always the same: the fact that God is there.” Dr. Karen Jacobs has a Ph.D. from Northcentral University as well as Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. She began teaching at LeTourneau in 2002. “Part of what we do is research, which means we go into the community, we talk to business owners, we see what they do in their business, and we get to make suggestions. Small class sizes; there’s a benefit. So, students get to know the businesses, get to know the owners, get to understand why faith is important to them and what they do, and then hopefully, make those connections they’ll use the rest of their lives.” Robert H. Roller, Ph.D. Calvin Howe Professor of Finance “I want my students to see how the Bible speaks to their situation, how the Bible speaks to economics, how the Bible speaks to finance, [and] how the Bible speaks to business ethics. Now, part of the reason we feel that it’s important in the School of Business is because we see business as a high and holy calling.” Dr. Bob Roller has a Ph.D. in Strategic Management & Organizational Theology and Finance & Research Methods from Oklahoma State University and an MBA in Finance from Oral Roberts. He returned to LETU in 2019. “We see business as a place where our graduates can go into the world and make a difference, not only by being excellent in terms of business, but by being a light in a place that’s often very dark, being a voice for the kingdom of God, being an example to others of how life should be lived to its fullest, how people can flourish.” M. Isabella Cavalcanti Junqueira, Ph.D. Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marketing “I have always enjoyed my experiences of growing up in a family business. Our discussions around the dinner table revolved around business concepts coupled with conversations about art, history, classical music, and creativity. Over time, all these themes unfurled across the weaving threads of our stories. For this reason, I became fascinated with the study of entrepreneurship and marketing with a concentration on strategy. My commitment, therefore, is to foster sound research, strategy, and entrepreneurial mindset practices in the classroom.\" Dr. Isabella Junqueira joined the LETU business faculty in the Fall of 2021. She received her Ph.D. in Management from the Lancaster University Management School, in the United Kingdom, and her Master of Science in International Business Development from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon-Bourgogne (Burgundy School of Business, in France). \"I aim to provide learning opportunities for my students that inspire curiosity, analytical thinking, ethical actions, trust formation, and transformative faith-based experiences. Drawing on the example of Jesus Christ and His great love for people, we follow the entrepreneur and customer journeys through quantitative and qualitative methodologies. In this respect, I purposefully apply a scriptural perspective to the entrepreneurship and marketing curriculum to engender novel academic, professional, and faith-based discussions, and proficiencies.” FALL 2021 41

THE POLYTECHNIC WAY Innovating & Claiming a Future of Co-Creating by Grant Bridgman If necessity is the mother of invention, As Christians, we have a specific and innovating, making new things just like God creativity must certainly be its father. understanding of what it means to be did when he created the universe.” creators, and why every person is designed What does it mean to be a creator? Does to feel the urge to create something out of So what does that mean for us in the our world need more creators? If we are nothing. While there may be moments where context of intellectual property? Should we called to some aspect of original creation, creation is mandated by a job or a relationship claim intellectual property? Wouldn’t the how do we incorporate that into our lives and of some kind, the deeper desire to create Christian approach be to create something vocations? How does a Christian university must certainly have been placed on us long to share with the world without claiming respond to this need in the world? before any external expectations came onto “rights” to the creation, in the name of the scene. Creativity, perhaps, is hardwired service? Or would it? According to the U.S. Patent and into our DNA, as a gift from our Creator. Trademark office, the U.S. has declined in its As computer science professor and LETU Besides his work as professor of chemistry, overall percentage of patents filed over the inventor Dr. Glyn Gowing, states: LETU faculty member Dr. Gary DeBoer is the past three years for the first time since 2009, on-campus champion for faculty intellectual while other countries show high percentages “As Christians, especially as people working property as founder of the LeTourneau of patent filing growth. This statistic, in the field of technology, I feel that by inventing Innovation Center, and he is licensed to however, is not necessarily an indication and creating, we are even more so reflecting the practice patent law. Addressing these types of a drop in creativity or innovation since image of God, and representing the image of of questions, Dr. DeBoer believes that if we it doesn’t account for the inventions or God by doing the things that God does: Loving, are called to be in every workplace in every creations that were never submitted for caring for people and creating. Because, you nation, that realm includes intellectual patent status. Or is it? Is there a kink in the know, God created all of this. And as a scaled- property, and intellectual property law. He hose of ideation? Is it a resource in limited down version, ultimately, no, we're not creating shares the following anecdote to further supply? Where's the source? universes and all that; but we are also creating address these questions: just give our stuff away,\"There’s this Christian thought that we should just and that’s not always the best thing to do.\" PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN 42 LETOURNEAU NOW

\"When we lived just north of campus, there way to bring these things to people to better their in hands-on work related to their courses, was a vacant lot where our teenage boy and all lives. That’s sort of the bigger picture. There’s this even during times when classes might be held his buddies played airsoft, and nobody cared. Christian thought that we should just give our remotely. In the spirit of the cross-discipline You know, we’re all happy to see the kids playing stuff away, and that’s not always the best thing collaboration that is so prevalent around and have a good time being outside. We made to do.\" LETU, the beginnings of this invention sure the local police knew that they were playing. stemmed from an engineering faculty It was all good. Everybody had a good time. On DeBoer helps LeTourneau faculty and member reaching out to Gowing. the other hand, nobody wanted these teenagers students pursue patent filings, most recently playing airsoft in their house, right? That’s why working with Dr. Gowing, and Mathematics \"Dr. Hoo Kim contacted me one day and said we’re all happy for them to play in the vacant Professor Dr. Curtis Wesley. ‘I have an interesting problem, and I wonder lot. The difference here, is we’ve invested in our if you can help me figure out a solution.’ And house. So the point is if you have an invention Gowing invented a circuit trainer device he said ‘I want to find a way to be able to take that takes investment to bring it to a market, which is able to test circuits and read/ electronics courses, like your basic circuit courses, people aren’t going to invest unless they can compare target output values. “I came up with and find a way to teach them online where they exclude others from using it. You’re not going to the idea of this device because I knew enough can still do hands-on labs.\" buy a house if people can just walk through it about electronics because I've been playing with without your permission. In order to claim the microcontrollers for years. So I knew enough Gowing expressed his enthusiasm for intellectual property, we need to know what the about these things like, ‘Hey, these things can inventing and creating, his passion for \"rules\" are, otherwise the work will never get to read voltages so we can use this, you know, you exploring new ideas, and how meaningful it market. People will never build a house if they do a circuit instead of the old fashioned way is to him personally to \"take simple things, put can’t exclude other people from using it. We need where you go and put your multimeter and test them together, make them more complex...make to know all the differences between a vacant lot the circuit. Just connect it to the inputs and them more useful, make them more beautiful.\" and, you know, building a house. For Christians, have it read the values and see if the circuits are we’ve been thinking everything’s a vacant lot, but right and have it put up lessons or assignments; As Gowing takes the simple and makes everything is not a vacant lot, right? And we just engineers can just press the button and it tests to it more complex, Wesley strives to take need to educate ourselves as to what’s the best see if it's right.” something stereotypically complex and simplify it. Gowing’s device allows computer science students and engineering students to engage Wesley invented a card game that is meant for introducing mathematical principles to all FALL 2021 43

THE POLYTECHNIC WAY \"take simple things, put them together, make them more complex... make them more useful, make them more beautiful.\" different kinds of people, especially children, In discussing these deeper meanings of They exemplify how leaning into this part of as young as seven years old. This game is language and communication as they relate to our make-up could result in more Christian intended to be simple and intuitive. Knowing our role as co-creators with God, Wesley went involvement and influence in the innovation he had to do away with 'scary sounding' on to say: “There are mathematical relationships voids and creative solutions in our world. mathematics words, Wesley utilized basic throughout our lives. There is an inherit logic shapes and colors on cards and created a behind all that we do. We get that logic from Certainly our world is ever in need of new game. The goal of the game is simply to build God. God breathed in us the breath of life, and ideas and perspectives, and ingenuity and different combination of shapes/colors from gave us the ability to create, think, and discover. logic, for many of its problems. A certain different cards, and position the cards in We can think deeply about our world, and our amount of brokenness in our world will only different ways, to achieve the value of one. place in the world.\" be redeemed at the return of Christ; however, some redemption may take place through the In addition to the basic goals of playing the With the guidance and expertise of work of the Creator in us, through our own game, Wesley highlights a deeper potential Dr. DeBoer, Drs. Wesley and Gowing creative solutions. Some of these solutions outcome of the game. have provisional patents on file for their may actually need to be ‘claimed’ in order inventions, and plan to keep moving forward to reach their fullest potential and have “Many people approach math and say, oh it’s in the patent process. Their work individually, the widest impact. As DeBoer states, \"it’s about equations, or about numbers, or about but even more-so, collectively, showcases the not just about bringing in revenue. It’s about graphs, etc. But math is actually a language. culture of innovation and cross-discipline teaching students about the application of Not only is it a language for communication, collaboration that are distinctly 'LeTourneau'. intellectual property and claiming the value in but a language which gives us a way to write what you do. And where better to do that than out a story of how one thing can relate to Necessity drives many practical outcomes, at a polytechnic university? At the Christian another. This is what I wanted to convey in the but DeBoer, Gowing, and Wesley lead Polytechnic University.\" card game. When you play this game, you are us to conclude that the creativity, logic, expressing an idea. It’s not about the symbols on and beauty behind every valuable idea is the cards. It’s about the idea that’s conveyed.\" ultimately a result of how we were created. 44 LETOURNEAU NOW

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UPONHHeerrititaaggee and Texas ForeverLeTourneau’s 75th, Longview’s 150th, by kate day C ertain people are drawn to LeTourneau University. They skew curious, intentional, grounded, and practical. They know how to get from point A to point B, but are sure likely to pick an inventive way to get there. They know how to fix things. They’re familiar with effort, working hard and praying harder. They connect with a calling and aren’t in it for more than the satisfaction of a job well done—one done for a much higher purpose than what meets the eye. But this isn’t news to you. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re one of those certain people. 46 LETOURNEAU NOW

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Eyeball the lot of us, and you may not meaningless without God guiding and being westward after the Civil War, and with it be able to see it by looking. The unique at the center of it.” followed the same thing that’s always lured personalities, perspectives, areas of interest, folks west: promise. Methvin sold 100 acres and experiences are all over the map. But There’s a concentrated intentionality to the Southern Pacific Railroad for one start to listen, and it’s clear. The ‘who’ may to those drawn to Christian polytechnic gold dollar to persuade them to build their vary, but the ‘why’ is consistent. There’s education. People don’t end up here by line in the direction of the land he owned. A an unspoken commonality, and it’s the accident. R.G. and Evelyn sure didn’t. And town site was assembled in advance of track magnetizing force that brings us together. neither did you or I. construction, and that town was dubbed The draw is in the drinking water, inherent Longview. The heart of this initial outlay from the get-go—a quality that flowed from Whenever I meet students, alumni, or new was near Center and Tyler streets, and the R.G. and surfaces constantly to this day. A employees, I have a perpetual habit of asking original 100 acres granted by Methvin is distinct thread linking the people who return, them how they found LeTourneau University. today the city’s downtown One Hundred and the people who stay. In my years on staff, I’ve asked hundreds of Acres of Heritage. And yes, the town moniker people, and there is a curious congruity to was inspired by Mr. Methvin’s view atop his As a Longview native, I sure didn’t mean most answers. homestead, Rock Hill. to. Funny how that happens. Grew up here, and figured I’d get away. Went off to college, For some, the logistical guide was Google. Three quarters of a century later, along moved back home, and took a job working in But for most, a seemingly coincidental came an evangelizing industrial inventor with LeTourneau’s marketing office. Thirteen years introduction to the school feels like divine blueprints that would forever change not only later, this university feels as much my home as direction: “I stumbled upon Mover of Men south Longview, but countless lives—with Longview does. and Mountains at my grandpa’s house,” or jobs, education, and a faith that resonated “My mom’s colleague had heard of it,” or “My because it worked. There’s a subtlety to this place. It isn’t cousin’s best friend went there and the way flashy. It won’t coddle you, but it will care for they spoke of it struck a chord.” Much to my There’s nothing like a good origin story, you deeply. Christian conviction is the core grateful chagrin as a marketer, the Lord and you know our part in this one: how of our common purpose, but that connection works in much more mysterious ways Robert Gilmour and Evelyn LeTourneau came runs layers deep. It’s the bond of belief in than advertising. to town when they visited East Texas on the practical solutions. That a spark of an idea hunt for the site of their new manufacturing might just ignite and turn into something A Time, Place, plant. Harmon General Hospital had recently that makes a difference. That the path from and a Purpose been abandoned after serving its purpose, ideation to tangible invention is a traversable and 25,000+ GIs, as a World War II U.S. one, and that ‘back to the drawing board’ is a LeTourneau University itself didn’t end up Army Hospital. It captured the eye of ‘Mom’ sacred destination. here by accident—neither in existence, nor LeTourneau. Why not a school, in addition to in a particular spot called Longview, Texas. the plant? You can sense this unspoken manifesto Our home, and tens of thousands of students’ in labs, at lunch tables, even in overheard temporary home-away-from-home, celebrated With the help of Longview News publisher conversations: “I believe in solutions. I 150 years since its founding this past year. Carl L. Estes and other local civic leaders, believe in getting the job done. I believe the deal was made. Our founders purchased there is something bigger at play here than It all started in 1870 when farmer Ossamus the 156 acres and 232 buildings of Harmon what meets the eye. I believe that this is Hitch Methvin, Sr., convinced the railroad General from the United States government to come through his neck of the good ol’ for, guess what? One dollar. LeTourneau pine curtain. Rail expansion was continuing To get production know-how requires a Peaches & Cream.combination of two things which are like Each is good, but they are far better together. We need the combination of the academic and the practical education in order to do the job. 48 LETOURNEAU NOW

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Sure, they traveled extensively, but The Dean of Earthmoving made East Texas, and LeTourneau University, home. University has now been around for half of years on a cream diet appeal to many. But I’ll hit another big growth spurt in the 1950s. Longview’s existence, celebrating 75 years bet I could live a long time in a rowboat on LeTourneau Technical Institute grew right in 2021. both of them together.” along with it, welcoming female students in 1961 and beginning a decades-long The LeTourneau Way He and Evelyn also dug into Longview. journey toward becoming an increasingly Literally, in some cases: Lake Cherokee comprehensive university, drawing students From there on out, The LeTourneau’s did was developed in the late 1940s by private from around the nation and embarking on what they always did: they dug in and built. interests, and the right man was on hand the next chapter of working adult education, They dug into the lives of the men in the to get the forest clearing and excavation from VHS correspondence course tapes to alter-day program, making an education job done (all while testing the latest heavy fully online classes. Campus has transformed work for weary veterans after an era of the machinery forged at his factory). over time, but there’s something about unexpected. As we know, Mom’s hospitality LeTourneau that will always be recognizable. was legendary, and Pop’s make-it-work Some Things Change, mentality was seemingly limitless. They built But Some… The way our 75 years have unfolded seems the legacy that is now LeTourneau University to have surprised no one. The fact that there and was LeTourneau, Inc., inherently It was a time of expansion—for the post- used to be go-kart races on campus and knowing the two—knowledge and practical war nation, for East Texas with its oil & gas students built their own out of whatever application—went hand in hand. boom, and for LeTourneau. Things literally scrap was laying around? Nope. That students started to take flight around here with the helped run and maintain the city’s ambulance The Longview Daily News headline read dedication of the Gregg County Airport in service? Not that either. That as a wider “LeTourneau Plant Dedicated at Diamond the summer of 1947. Longview’s population variety of majors were offered, the heart of Jubilee: Industrialist Stresses Need to Merge had tripled in the 1930s and was on track to them all continued to be that faith-driven Education, Practical Work.” It was Tuesday, practicality? Not in the slightest. The decades April 13, 1948, two years after ground broke of storied pranks, mattresses skidding down on the LeTourneau plant, and 18 months after the berm, first solo flights, ingenious senior the first bulldozer rolled off its line. design projects, epic dorm lore… the list of nearly 30,000 individuals’ memories, proud “To get production know-how requires moments, and unforgettable connections is a combination of two things which are beyond capturable. like peaches and cream,” Mr. LeTourneau asserted. “Each is good, but they are far better This university history of ours is together. We need the combination of the short—a mere lifetime. The magnitude academic and the practical education in order of transformation in this flash of time is to do the job. Nobody could relish living for remarkable, both for our alma mater and our years on peaches, nor does the idea of several PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LLOYD AND LARRY SMITH 50 LETOURNEAU NOW