Houston Baptist University has changed its name to Houston Christian University, President Robert B. Sloan announced during a Sept. 20 open forum with faculty, staff, past and present trustees and students.
“Houston Christian University more accurately epitomizes our student body and reflects the faculty, staff, alumni and community we serve,” Sloan said.
“We are committed to being a distinctively Christian university that welcomes all Christians to benefit from our excellent academic programs,” he added. “This historic university appeals to people all across the spectrum of Christian denominational life, and this new name clarifies who we are.”
Plans to expand
The renaming is part of a growth campaign to expand the university’s residential campus to 4,200 students and online campus to 5,800 students.
“We want to extend the influence of our mission while also appealing to as many students as possible,” Sloan said.
The university has considered a name change several times over the last 16 years, Sloan noted. A task force of trustees arrived at this new name after two years of consideration, research and prayerful review, he noted. On May 17, the board of trustees officially approved the change.
New partnership
The university is partnering with Carnegie, a leading higher education marketing and enrollment strategy firm “to take our brand of traditional Christian higher education to the next generation of students,” Sloan said.
During the forum event, Sloan also affirmed the university’s core convictions, saying its historic Christian commitments have not and will not change.
“We believe that authentic and faithful Christian higher education, rooted in a scriptural worldview, is ever more critical in a fractured society in need of reconciliation, hope and healing,” he said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was edited and posted by The Baptist Standard and originally published by Houston Christian University.
