community of Christians, people who are dedicated not only to education but to each other. Faculty members wept openly and unashamedly as they dropped academics for a day to discuss with their students how to gain strength even in sorrow. Students, many of whom had never experienced the loss of anyone close to them, learned from others how to adjust to grief. All were faced with the reality that tears are not a sign of weakness but of caring. As Cedarville stands on the threshold of the second century, its physical resources will continue to expand. The Centennial Campaign announced in 1986 is the most ambitious in the history of the college: Cedarville's Centennial Campaign, celebrat– ing 100 years of Christian higher education, is currently in progress. Campaign projects include: 1. A new Library. Currently under construc– tion, it will be one of the finest of its kind. Consisting of 66,830 square feet, it will provide numerous learning advantages to our students, the technology of the information age, and the resources to support a growing enrollment and expanding curriculum. Cost: $4,200,000. 2. The retrofit of the current library building to house the Department of Business Adminis– tration. At 27,000 square feet, this corporate center will provide 12 classrooms, 18 academic offices, computer support throughout, and a unique business simulation laboratory. Cost: $727,000. 3. An increase in unrestricted giving which supports the general operating fund to a total of $2,000,000 over a period of 2V2 years. 4. An increase of $1,000,000 to the College's endowment. 13 In 1976 the college sought to raise 1.1 million dollars for a Chapel and raised $750,000 total. In 1981 the college raised two million of the three million dollars needed for the Athletic Center. When Paul Dixon and Vice Presidents Martin Clark and Kenneth St. Clair prepared their recommendations for the Centennial Campaign, they studied the needs of the new library and the retrofitting of the old library for a business center. Consultants tested the fund-raising potential of the college and prepared projections of costs, financing, cash flow, maintenance, and fund raising. As Dixon walked into the trustees' meeting with his pre– sentation, he was struck by the weight and sig– nificance of the decision to be made. It had been a long time since I had felt the weight of anything like I felt that day. I realized it was not just my responsibility. There would be other people involved, but as president I would bear a great deal of the responsibility in leading this effort. 14 Dixon's presentation to the Board lasted less than 20 minutes, and they immediately voted With the present information age, students must acquire computer skills. Since 1982, not only has an academic com– puter lab provided support, but also a micro computer lab has been added, which is available for all students to use no matter what their discipline. unanimously to move forward with the project. With the weight of the challenge still in his mind, Dixon leaned over to one of the trustees and said, "How can you spend five million dollars in 20 minutes!"lS Part of the answer to that would have to be the tremendous confidence that the Board of Trustees placed in the young president and the administrative team. During the early years of his presidency, Dixon proved to be a tireless worker in behalf of the college. He seemed to thrive on the challenge of wearing the many hats of the college president. In 1984 Dixon decided to pursue a doctorate of education. When asked why he would enter a doctoral program with all the other pressures involved in being a college president, Dixon's response was typical. This man who had been awarded an honorary degree early in his presidency was not willing to settle for that: I felt that the institution would fare well with a president who had an earned doctorate. Cedar– ville College has a strong testimony in the aca– demic community because of our growth dur– ing this time of decline. This has the attention of everyone in this state, and I think it will help the institution if the president has an earned degree. Second, I wanted the challenge of it. I wanted to go to school if I could develop those areas where I felt I was weak. 16 Dixon enrolled in the University of Cincinnati, where a program was designed to enable him to strengthen his understanding of such areas as finance, law, personnel, and history in higher education. He made a detailed study of strategic planning which culminated in his doctoral dissertation, Chapter XX/167