NCU leadership commit to standards and values
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Northern Caribbean University (NCU) leaders have pledged that the Seventh-day Adventist institution will remain competitive in a difficult economic environment even as it holds on to traditional moral, religious and ethical values.
Addressing recent graduation ceremonies at the NCU’s main campus here, Pastor Everett Brown head of the Seventh-day adventist Church in Jamaica and chairman of the NCU’s board of governors, as well as NCU president Dr Trevor Gardner underlined core principles.
Gardner stressed that “outside interference” would not be allowed to undermine the NCU’s “high strandards”.
Citing a downturn in economic and moral standard of the wider society, Brown said that the Seventh-day Adventist Institution will “never roll over and die..”
He said NCU had grown over the years to become a dynamic and complex institution of higher learning in an environment which had changed dramatically.
“I believe that NCU has been responding admirably to these changes as she seeks to meet the growing demands and needs of those we serve. We have our concerns and I am aware of your concerns. But, be assured that we will never roll over and die in the face of competition, or divert from our mission to integrate faith and learning because of declining financial resources,” said Brown.
He was addressing more than 900 undergraduans, and post-graduates at the two commencement services at the University’s main campus in Mandeville.
Despite a fall in the number of students due to hard times, Brown reiterated the University’s commitment to excellence and Christ-centeredness.
“We are committed to excellence, but will always remain focused on our mission to offer an excellent Christ-centered product to all those who enter these halls of learning. But, contrary to the plan or wishful thinking of our detractors, we will never compromise on those moral principles and core values on which this institution was established,” he explained.
Gardner echoed the need to maintain high academic, spiritual and social standards.
“While some students may find our standards in academics, spiritual and social conduct too restrictive, there will be no diminishing of such standards under this administration. While we support each student’s right to an education, we will not support that right at the expense of our historical tradition for excellence in morals and ethics. While we do not challenge anyone, we advise that outside interference will not be allowed to interfere with our high standards,” Gardner said.
For the past academic year, NCU had a student population 4,900 students on its main campus and three extension sites in Kingston, St Ann, and Montego Bay. Gardner said a significant number of students dropped out after failing to secure scholarships.