Simpson University - Concerns Raised Over Ongoing Roof Leaks and Potential Mold

REDDING — Persistent roof leaks at Simpson University have raised questions about moisture intrusion and possible mold growth in several major campus buildings, according to information reported to Shasta Unfiltered. Affected areas reportedly include dormitories, the library, seminary, faculty offices, and the cafeteria.

Sources familiar with campus conditions say the roof tiles on multiple buildings are approximately 30 - 36 years old and may need replacement. The underlayment beneath the tiles is also believed to be compromised in places. A 2021 hailstorm damaged numerous roof tiles across the campus. At the time, a roofing contractor documented fresh breaks in the tiles and obtained engineering reports attributing the damage to hail. The university’s insurance carrier denied the claim, stating the damage resulted from natural expansion and contraction rather than hail. Simpson University Chief Operating Officer Brent Thompson was questioned on the phone by Shasta Unfiltered about the 2021 hailstorm damage. He stated that he was fairly new to the position at the university and was unaware of any unaddressed roof problems. Thompson has been at the university since 2024 and was selected as COO in October of 2025. When pressed for more information, he subsequently replied by email as follows:

I checked with our Campus Director of Operations today. The 2021 hailstorm did damage some portions of the university’s roofing. Insurance covered some, but not all, of the resulting work, and the university has continued to fund repairs and replacements since then.

We were able to prevent significant structural damage, although some cosmetic damage to certain roofing tiles remains.

According to a knowledgeable source, various buildings are having issues. Below are images of ceiling tiles from various buildings that provide evidence of persistent leaks.

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In an earlier email, Thompson stated the following:

Over the past eight years, Simpson University has invested approximately $5 million in its facilities and other depreciable assets. That work has included addressing roof and moisture-related issues, including repairs following the 2021 hailstorm. We are also currently working with a roofing company on a long-term plan to rehabilitate the university's highest-need roofs over the next five years. In the meantime, we are reviewing the specific concern you raised to assess their current condition and determine whether additional corrective work is needed."

When the university receives a report of active water intrusion or suspected mold, we investigate the source, address the moisture problem, evaluate the affected area, and arrange appropriate cleaning or remediation. If a condition poses a potential health or safety risk while work is underway, we restrict access or relocate occupants as appropriate.

Like many institutions with buildings of varying ages, Simpson University has ongoing maintenance and capital needs, and we do not minimize those challenges. As a small Christian university, we strive to steward the resources God has entrusted to us faithfully. That responsibility sometimes requires difficult decisions about where limited resources can have the greatest impact. It never means, however, knowingly leaving a health or safety concern unaddressed. Such concerns receive immediate attention at the highest levels of university leadership, and we work to resolve them as promptly as circumstances, available personnel, and resources allow.

...We do not claim that every facilities issue has already been resolved, but these concerns are not being dismissed or ignored either.

According to reports received by Shasta Unfiltered, a discreet system of buckets has been used in some locations to catch water leaking from the roofs during rain events. Carpets in affected areas have required professional drying after water intrusion. In certain spaces, testing conducted after occupants experienced prolonged symptoms returned positive results for mold.

Health Considerations Related to Indoor Mold

Exposure to mold in damp indoor environments is associated with a range of symptoms, primarily respiratory and allergy-related ailments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, common effects include:

• Sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion or runny nose, and postnasal drip

• Red, itchy, or watery eyes

• Throat irritation

• Skin rashes or irritation

• Wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, particularly in people with asthma

  
  

Damp buildings have also been linked to the development or worsening of asthma and, less commonly, to hypersensitivity pneumonitis — an immune-mediated lung condition that can produce fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and breathing difficulty. Symptoms often improve when a person leaves the affected environment.

Campus buildings serve students, faculty, staff, and visitors daily. Persistent leaks and moisture create conditions that can support mold growth and affect indoor air quality even when visible growth is limited.

It appears that Simpson University may need additional funding to better manage its aging roofs, or it may need to forgo new capital projects and initiatives until it can replace them. Recently, a new campus building originally slated to cost $2.5 million has evolved into a larger project costing approximately $9 million. The Business, Technology and Engineering Building (also called the STEM Building or the Hugh and Hazel Darling Center for Business, Technology, and Engineering) will open sometime this fall.

Follow-up Financial Information for Simpson University

In earlier reporting, Shasta Unfiltered stated that Simpson University reported a net operating loss in its 2024 Form 990 filing. We now have information related to its 2025 Form 990 filings:

Operating Results

• Fiscal year ending April 30, 2024: Total revenue $38,655,486 Total expenses $39,663,609; net loss ≈ $1,008,123

• Fiscal year ending April 30, 2025: Total revenue $43,528,233; total expenses $43,111,415; net income/profit ≈ $416,818 (slightly positive, roughly 1% of revenue)

Revenue growth was driven mainly by higher program service revenue (tuition/fees, up ~13.8%) and contributions (up ~16.5%). Contributions totaled about $4.52 million (2024) and $5.26 million (2025), including government grants. Net assets rose modestly from roughly $19.41 million to $20.15 million. Total assets increased from about $50.4 million to $53.7 million. Cash remained relatively stable/slightly higher (around the $5.7–6.1 million range in available summaries).

Shasta Unfiltered will continue to follow this matter. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the newspaper.