Multnomah Home

As we welcomed the Reno-Tahoe campus to the Multnomah University family we received a funny little gift in the mail.

It’s a tumbleweed. We kind of just stared at it for a while. Multnomah being in Portland means we don’t see much tumbleweed in these parts. Sure, I think we all recognize these sand dwellers from the movies, but we really couldn’t understand why someone would mail us one (let alone three). Then we received an email from Jason Daniels the Administrative Director of the Reno-Tahoe campus detailing some facts about our new “friend”…

• It is sharp. (Check!)
• It is Nevada’s answer to the pet rock.

He also sent some display ideas…

• Hang it from the ceiling.
• Put it in your yard next to a wagon wheel!

We here at MU Portland are really excited about how our expansion east will extend the reach of Multnomah’s mission. Well, we want you all to know that the Reno-Tahoe campus connection is already being felt (or seen) on campus.

It is obvious that Multnomah University Reno-Tahoe is going to be a fun group to work with.

Here is a question for you. What do you think would be the Portland equivalent to a tumbleweed?

Today marks an important beginning for Multnomah—for two reasons. First, on this day we begin operating as Multnomah University. And second, as Multnomah University we now occupy a significant footprint in Reno, Nevada, right in the heart of the mountain west.

Background
Our Reno-Tahoe presence has been a long time in the making. Conversations began over nine years ago when several church and business leaders from northern Nevada approached Multnomah about the possibility of creating a Bible college in Reno.

“Many of our young people leave Reno for their college education,” says Multnomah alum Tony Slavin, one of the original trustees who serves on the pastoral staff of Grace Community Church, “but then they would never return to Nevada. We needed a place in Reno where they could be equipped to minister in the church here.”

For seven years, Multnomah, pursuing regional accreditation with NWCCU, could not launch extension education. However, Dr. Larry Ayers, a Multnomah adjunct faculty with higher education experience, spent a year in Reno organizing their board and securing approval from the State of Nevada to operate Meadows Bible Institute (MBI) as a state-authorized Bible institute, the only faith-based institution of its kind.

Agreement
Then, last February, Multnomah’s board of trustees approved a recommendation to take over the facility in Reno for the purpose of offering accredited, biblical education for northern Nevada. After MBI’s board accepted this recommendation, Multnomah and Meadows negotiated an agreement that would transfer all its assets to Multnomah. We signed this historic agreement the evening of June 30, 2008, with joy, prayer, and celebration.

Looking Ahead
Now the work begins. Jason Daniels will continue as administrative director of the Reno-Tahoe site, reporting to me and working with each of the Portland campus departments. In cooperation with our accrediting agencies, we hope to begin offering accredited courses, perhaps as early as this fall.

Rejoice with us! God has, I believe, opened a portal of opportunity to enlarge Multnomah’s mission and ministry into the mountain west region of the United States!

Read the official press release here