Dear Returning AU Student:

I hope that your summer has been a good one thus far. Hard to believe that we are approaching the end of June. Summer goes by too fast!! Although we enjoy the rest and change in schedule that comes when classes are out, we are also excited about this upcoming Fall and some of the new people and things that you will return to.

Renovations are coming along smoothly in both Smith and Martin Halls. Both will feel like new buildings with air conditioning, new furniture, remodeling of lounge space and bathrooms, and all new surfaces (carpet, paint, etc…) in the building. An exciting announcement was recently made on campus that our football field will be receiving synthetic field turf, similar to the surface the Indianapolis Colts play on. The field will also receive lights. This will not only be great for our football team but this surface can be used heavily without any damage and consequently there will opportunities for other intercollegiate sports, like soccer, and our Intramural programs also use the field.

There will be just a few new faces on our Student Life team when you return to campus. Mr. Todd Faulkner has been hired as our new Campus Pastor. Todd comes to us most recently from being the senior pastor locally at the Pendleton Church of God. He is married to Cindy and has two children, Caleb (5 yrs.) and Anna (3 yrs.). I think you are really going to enjoy getting to know Todd. I know he is excited to begin working with you.

Our residence life team returns nearly intact with only one new staff member. Joe Thomas has been hired to serve as the Resident Director in Dunn Hall. Joe is a 2006 graduate of AU and was very active while a student, playing football and serving as an RA and a CABbie during his days here.

The other thing I wanted to share with you is our Student Life theme for next year, "Root, Grow, Bloom." Our theme is more an icon that represents some ideas than a phrase this year. You can see that it is a tree with expansive roots, a solid trunk, and full foliage. We will thinking together about the ideas of how our faith must be grounded and rooted, how we grow substantial ‘trunks’ of faith that are strong, and the good fruit that comes as we grow in our faith. Our messages in Chapel will follow the theme and relate to the words Root, Grow, and Bloom. The book that we have selected to accompany our theme this year is by Brian McClaren and entitled "A Generous Orthodoxy." I encourage you to read it this summer or during the upcoming school year.

I hope you find the content of this e-newsletter helpful. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions. Have a great remainder of the summer!!

Sincerely,

Brent Baker
Vice President for Student Life
and Dean of Students