The [PCC] Board of Trustees adopted a motion to implement the plan, contingent upon reaching a fundraising goal by June 1, 2012. The decision to adopt this motion, which would effectively end our proposed partnership discussion with Covenant, was a very difficult one.

The Board of Providence Christian College (PCC) in Pasadena, Calif., voted on April 30 to withdraw from merger discussions with Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga. The PCC Board of Trustees, at a special meeting, voted to implement a proposed plan of action prepared by Providence’s administrative cabinet.

The intent for a possible merger was approved by the Covenant College Board on March 16, 2012, after being approached by the Providence Board. In the announcement at that time, the following was said:

Both institutions’ boards of trustees have approved a letter of intent that paves the way for due diligence and a potential completion of the merger as soon as the summer of 2012. Under the terms of that letter, Providence will continue to operate on its Pasadena campus under the name Providence Christian College in combination with the name of Covenant College.

In a letter to Mr. Martin Moore, Covenant Board Chairman, from Mr. Pete Nanninga, PCC Board Chairman, he stated:

“On Monday evening, April 30, the Providence Christian College Board of Trustees met in a special meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss “Plan C,” a proposal prepared by the members of Providence’s cabinet. Our Board Executive Committee tasked the cabinet with putting together a plan whereby Providence could remain as an independent institution in the event that a proposed partnership with Covenant College did not work out. The plan that the cabinet presented proposed that Providence should remain as an independent institution, but with a restructured curriculum offering only a B.A. in Liberal Arts major, and with a number of concentrations.”

The letter continued, “Following the presentation by the cabinet on this proposal, the Board of Trustees adopted a motion to implement the plan, contingent upon reaching a fundraising goal by June 1, 2012. The decision to adopt this motion, which would effectively end our proposed partnership discussion with Covenant, was a very difficult one.”

The PCC letter listed some of the reasons for the Board’s decision. There were concerns for the students. “A survey of the students was completed last week following their meetings with Covenant’s representatives about their individual teach out scenarios. There was a great deal of concern among the students about the added curricular requirements in order for them to graduate. The concern was sufficiently widespread that we became concerned about our ability to retain enough of our students to make our projections viable,” the letter stated.

Another stated reason was the reaction from major donors and the constituency: “During recent visits with some major donors and a cross-section of our constituency, most people said that they would be willing to support a ‘Covenant Providence institution.’ However, nearly all of them expressed that their number one desire was that Providence would remain independent, if possible, and they demonstrated a willingness to contribute toward that end.”

Also stated was PCC’s accreditation process, which the Board is optimistic can be completed successfully.

The letter continued: “We recognize that the risks of staying independent are very high. We stand amazed that there have been many times in the history of Providence where a difficult decision had to be made, or a seemingly insurmountable problem surfaced, and each time God has always presented us with solutions, often unforeseen just weeks before. While we are uncertain what the future has in store for Providence, we are confident today that God will lead us in the direction that he wants us to go because we have seen what He has done for us in the past. We stand in faith that He will continue to grant to Providence the necessary support to allow it to grow and to flourish in the months and the years to come.”

The letter concluded by expressing PCC’s gratitude and appreciation to the Covenant College Board and administration for their work in exploring the proposed partnership between our two institutions, and at the same time encouraging continued cooperation between the two colleges in the future.

The Providence administrative cabinet has been directed by the Board to prepare a timeline and plans for the college’s future. The Board will be meeting soon to review, approve and implement these action items.