Union University news office
JACKSON — Union University trustees welcomed five new members to the board and received a clean audit report during their Dec. 3 meeting on the university campus.
Beginning their tenure as Union trustees were Adam Dooley, senior pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson; Kay Griffin, a Union graduate and retired English teacher with the Jackson-Madison County School System; Willie McLaurin, vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee; and Ramona Yates, a Union graduate and retired owner of Machine Tool and Supply Corp.
Jeff Perkins, a Union graduate and business and ministry leader from Greenfield, returned to the board after a year’s hiatus following nine years of service.
Clay Hallmark, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington, Tennessee, also joined the board as an ex-officio member after his election last month as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver
“We’re so grateful for these faithful individuals who love Union, want to advance our mission, are committed to our core values and see the importance of Christ-centered higher education,” Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “Our trustees are godly men and women who serve Union well, and we are thankful to God for their leadership and service.”
In addition, trustees approved four new members for the Union Foundation board: Al Da Silva, Greg Parsons, Neal Rager and Laura Williams.
The audit report from CapinCrouse showed that net assets for the university increased from $159.2 million in 2020 to $174.5 million in 2021. The university also operated in the black in 2021, with a surplus of $3.6 million of revenue over expenses.
“We’re always grateful when the university’s audit report is a positive one,” said Robyn Hari, chair of Union’s Board of Trustees. “Our desire is always to carefully steward the university’s resources. We’re thankful for the way the Lord has provided over the past year, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to keep the university in a strong place financially.”
In other matters, trustees approved a 3.44 percent increase in tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year. Oliver said even with inflation growing, the university is committed to keeping tuition increases as low as possible.
Trustees approved changes to Union’s athletic training program after the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education’s mandate that all athletic training education programs move to the graduate level by May 2025. To comply with this mandate, Union will offer a pre-athletic training major for undergraduate students and a master of athletic training degree, pending approval by the university’s accrediting body. B&R
