Ideological Drift at a Local Christian University

What Goes Woke - Goes Broke?

Simpson University, Redding, CA (Credit: Simpsonu.edu)

For many years, when families across the North State sought an institution of higher learning that upholds Biblical principles, faith-centered education, and conservative values, they would turn to Simpson University. Now, troubling reports are emerging from this local institution, which still characterizes itself as a Christ-centered school, highlighting a growing concern: what happens when leadership veers from its foundational mission? While many Christian universities remain steadfast, numerous examples nationwide show that those embracing progressive ideologies—often labeled "woke"—frequently face poor outcomes, including enrollment challenges, internal division, donor disillusionment, and a loss of distinct Christian identity.

Nationwide Trends Show Risks of Compromise - Research and reports on Christian higher education reveal a clear pattern. Institutions that maintain a strong commitment to Biblical inerrancy, traditional moral teachings, and conservative values often experience resilience or growth amid broader declines in higher education. In contrast, those who hire liberal-minded educators, soften on key doctrines, or prioritize social justice frameworks over Scripture frequently encounter difficulties. These include mission drift leading to closures or mergers, plummeting retention rates, lawsuits over wrongful terminations, and alienation of their core constituency of conservative Christian families.

Schools that are perceived as drifting have sometimes seen retention rates plummet in certain departments due to ideological clashes, with students from rural, conservative backgrounds leaving after encountering viewpoints that contradict the values their families expected. Broader data indicate that evangelical institutions resisting such shifts tend to outperform those that accommodate progressive cultural pressures, particularly as families prioritize environments fostering genuine discipleship over secular trends.

Local Concerns at Simpson University - Closer to home, leaders at Simpson University have drawn scrutiny for decisions that appear to prioritize liberal perspectives over traditional Christian conservative values. A number of sources have reported to Shasta Unfiltered that there is resistance to conservative student initiatives, including considerable pushback against approving a Turning Point USA chapter on campus. The process reportedly took months amid reluctance from executive management, including assistant provosts and a provost known for liberal leanings. One faculty member described tense confrontations, including reprimands for holding and expressing conservative Christian views, which were labeled as homophobic, racist, and misogynistic by a particular liberal Director at Simpson.

Further highlighting the ideological conflict, university leadership declined to host a Turning Point USA revival event on campus—a non-political gathering focused on faith and renewal. The event ultimately took place successfully at the Redding Civic Auditorium, drawing community support and underscoring demand for unapologetic Biblical messaging.

Additional accounts point to hiring practices that favor liberal-minded educators, including individuals with socialist views, in key roles such as in political science. This has allegedly contributed to very low retention rates in affected departments, with students—many from the conservative rural areas within a 200-mile radius—expressing discouragement. Concerns also surround the handling of external grants, such as a significant Ronald Reagan Institute program, where selections for scholarships and internships reportedly favored non-American, non-Christian candidates over those aligned with Reagan’s legacy of conservatism and anti-socialism. Conservative candidates for the internship were reportedly passed over in favor of less qualified individuals. Three of the students who were sent to the Reagan/Pepperdine program this summer from Simpson were dismissed from the program for violating Reagan and Pepperdine policies involving the use of alcohol and vaping, which underscores the importance of proper selection criteria when awarding internships.

These decisions come amid ongoing financial strains at Simpson, including rising debt, questions about resource allocation for new facilities that have ballooned in cost while delivering limited academic value, and a long-running lawsuit that Simpson University lost in the lower court for wrongful termination of a conservative dean (Sumner v. Simpson University), which is now in the appeals court. The case centers on contractual obligations and grievance policies that Simpson University was found to have breached. In the near future, Shasta Unfiltered will publish a separate article on the lawsuit, which has been active since 2012.

Simpson University traces its roots to 1921, when it was founded in Seattle, Washington, as Simpson Bible Institute by W.W. Newberry. Named in honor of Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843–1919), a Presbyterian minister and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) who pioneered the Bible institute movement, the school initially offered two-year programs focused on spiritual growth and training for Christian service, particularly foreign missions. It relocated to San Francisco in 1955, becoming Simpson Bible College as it began granting bachelor’s degrees, and later expanded into a broader liberal arts institution, renamed Simpson College in 1971. In 1989, the school moved to its current scenic campus in Redding, enabling significant growth in enrollment, academic programs (including graduate studies and the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary), and facilities. It officially became Simpson University in 2004, maintaining its evangelical Christian identity as California’s only Christian university north of Sacramento while serving students from diverse denominational backgrounds.

IRS returns for 2024 show Simpson University's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, with program service revenue of approximately $33 million, grants of $12.5 million, contributions of $4.5 million, total expenses of $39.6 million, and a loss for the tax year ending April 30, 2024, of approximately $1 million. Total liabilities were $30.9 million, and total assets were $50.4 million. Simpson University employs approximately 546 individuals and pays $13.4 million in salaries and benefits. For the 2026-2027 academic year, full-time traditional undergraduate tuition at Simpson University (Redding, CA) is $40,336 per year ($20,168 per semester), and approximately 1,060 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are enrolled.

The question that comes to mind is, why has Simpson University drifted from its core mission and ideology? What role did the 21 members of the board of trustees have in this process? Confidential sources have confirmed that faculty members hired in the last decade have not been required to be Christian. Faculty need only affirm that they are open-minded about Christianity. However, confidential sources state that some faculty members show open hostility towards conservative Christian views, and don't seem open-minded at all. They are allegedly actively espousing alternative nontraditional, nonconservative views in the classrooms and giving failing grades to students who do not agree with them. This seems in direct contradiction to Simpson University's identity statement:

Identity Statement

Simpson University, a school of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, is a Christ-centered learning community with an enduring commitment to world service and faith-infused education in professional studies and liberal arts.

Broader Implications for Shasta County - Such developments raise serious questions as Simpson University positions itself for expanded roles in the community, including proposals for a medical school. Critics argue that proven mismanagement and ideological misalignment make it a risky steward for major initiatives, while established institutions with stronger track records could serve the region more effectively. Families and donors deserve transparency and accountability from any institution claiming a Christian mission.

Shasta Unfiltered has championed faith, family, and country. We urge Simpson University's board of trustees and leaders, including Simpson University President Dr. Norman Hall, alumni, and donors, to closely examine the institution's direction. True Christian education equips young people with academic excellence grounded in unchanging Biblical truth—not diluted ideologies that lead to division and decline. North State residents deserve universities that honor this calling without compromise. We hope that by bringing light to some of these troubling issues, corrections will be made to allow Simpson University to again prosper and align with its historical mission and valuable identity.

We will continue monitoring these issues and welcome verified community input. Anyone wishing to weigh in on this topic with their perceptions about the current situation at Simpson University can contact Shasta Unfiltered by emailing us at contact@shastaunfiltered.com