Sheldon Jackson College denied $2 million in emergency funds By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Friday, October 8,1999 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The General Assembly Council has denied a request for emergency funding from Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska. The college, which is $4 million in debt and heavily mortgaged, needs $2 million to stay open through the current academic year. "Sheldon Jackson has reached the end of the line," said Duncan Ferguson, associate director of colleges and universities. Ferguson said the school needed approximately $1 million to get through the current academic school year and a second million to develop new programs. The 225 enrollment does not reach the needed "critical mass to sustain a viable institution," said Ferguson. The Council voted to respond to the request for funds with the following statement: "The General Assembly Council has listened with distress, understanding and profound empathy to the financial situation of Sheldon Jackson College; the General Assembly Council celebrates the marvelous mission of the institution across the years, and; the General Assembly Council prays that the extraordinary mission may continue. Unfortunately, we do not have the financial resources to grant the college's request, but the General Assembly Council will continue to support Sheldon Jackson College as far as it is possible through the Christmas Joy Offering, Restricted Funds, and emergency funds." The college receives approximately $320,000 annually from the Christmas Joy Offering and received an emergency grant of $20,000 recently. The college staff is considering merging with either Alaska Pacific University, a private Methodist-related university in Anchorage, or the State of Alaska system, which has a community college in Sitka. Other possibilities include redesigning the college into a two year college or a two year college preparatory academy.

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