Thursday, September 07, 2006

First Week, Day Two

Today I felt like a new student. I graduated from this institution in 1996. I was in the last class under the "old curriculum." And though students who started after me were doing the "new curriculum," I really didn't pay that much attention to it; I had enough to deal with navigating the old.

Since being back on campus and having a husband graduate under the "new curriculum," I have discovered a few changes since my time — the Bible proficiency exam, classes like "Reading the Audiences" and "Creation and the Triune God I & II" were new. I knew faculty and staff didn't just slap a new name on old classes, so it was very interesting to learn the "method behind the madness" as Dr. Lose, Academic Dean, put it.

Here is what I learned. There are three areas that the curriculum focuses on in forming missional leaders:
  1. Learning the story—learning the foundational biblical and historical understandings and language of the faith.
  2. Interpreting and confessing the story—discovering through study, discernment and dialogue the story of the faith and owning it.
  3. Proclaiming the story (rhetoric)—art of persuading and inviting others to be a part of the story.
Students also have the option of participating in "Discipleship," a small group facilitated by faculty or staff offering support, guidance, fellowship and prayer. These groups meet weekly.

Throughout the day as I participated and observed the planned activities I heard and saw over and over again, from faculty and staff, in a variety of ways these commitments — "we care about students, we want to help students to succeed, we want to know our students, we are available to students, and we are so glad you are here." I heard this message from those who led or hosted First Week orientation events today:


Professor Mark Throntveit and Patricia Lull, Dean of Students


Professor Mary Hinkle Shore


David Stewart, Director of Library Services


David Lose, Academic Dean


Professor Jim Boyce, Professor Terry Fretheim and Nina Bliese, wife of the President


President Rick Bliese

All of this makes me want to be a student all over again. And even more, it makes me want to invite students to study here. This is a different place then it was ten years ago and yet the same place where students are educated and formed to be leaders in the Church.

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