Trinity's endowment, largely funded by the James A. and Leta M. Chapman Charitable Trust of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The stronger endowment allowed Trinity to construct a new, modern campus and increase the quality and range of its faculty while maintaining a high faculty to student ratio. In 1969, Trinity entered into a covenant agreement with the regional synod of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that affirmed historical connections but transformed Trinity into a private, independent university with a self-perpetuating board of trustees. The campus continues to be a "historically connected" member of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities.
=== Development and expansion ===
Trinity's development continued under Ronald Calgaard, who followed Laurie's successor, Duncan Wimpress, in 1979. Under Calgaard, the university implemented a number of changes. These included its transformation into a residential undergraduate school, the cutting the number of master's programs offered from more than 20 to 4, …
