The Anderson University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter recently discovered a whole new way to teach students about trading and operating in a free market—chickens. SIFE’s Global Chicken Challenge, conducted on the AU campus Sept. 4, gave students a chance to experience the world of bartering and trade first-hand, in a game as unique as the name suggests.

Faculty, staff and returning students are on hand today to unload cars and vans as new students and families arrive on campus.  Across all academic units, Anderson University will welcome a total institutional population of approximately 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students when classes open on September 2.

Although precise numbers are not available until the third full week of classes (week of September 22), the university is projecting an increase of 12-15 percent for first-time freshman over last year.  Within this year’s enrollment are approximately 600 new undergraduate students and a total undergraduate population of roughly 1,850 students.  The AU undergraduate student population includes persons from more than 30 international countries and 47 states.

US News and World Report has again ranked Anderson University among the best universities in the Midwest offering master’s level degree programs. Institutions in this category offer a full range of both undergraduate and master’s level degree programs.  The magazine’s 2008 guide to “America’s Best Colleges” marks the fifth consecutive year that Anderson University has been listed among the best in its class.

A bacteria, E. coli, has been the culprit in a wide range of food poisonings.

Bruce Applegate, an associate professor of food science at Purdue University, thought there must be a safer, cheaper way to detect the food-borne pathogen.

Anderson University is looking ahead to a full slate of classes offered this summer for interested students. AU will offer four, 4-week sessions that provide flexibility and variety. Sessions provide both introductory and advanced courses on campus for specific majors and enrichment purposes. Classes began May 12.

“Service and selflessness” was the message of the 90th commencement ceremony at Anderson University.

Thousands of people still hustled to find their seats in Ward Fieldhouse as the color guard presented the flags to begin the ceremony.

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Friends and family members of all ages, dressed in all kinds of attire, sat among each other for the joyous day—to celebrate the graduation of the university’s class of 2008.

AU announced the addition of several new majors with the release of the 2008-2010 Academic Catalog, including the addition of a Global Business major, an Entrepreneurship major and a Youth Ministry major. Other changes include the restructuring of the Department of Communication Arts and the option for dual licensing through the English as a New Language (ENL) program.

Anderson University recently announced that James T. Morris, Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and President for Pacers Sports and Entertainment and former Executive Director for the United Nations World Food Programme, will address the graduating class of 2008 during commencement exercises, May 10. The 3 p.m. EDT program will be conducted in the Ward Fieldhouse of the Kardatzke Wellness Center. Speaking during Anderson University’s baccalaureate service will be Rev. Kimberly Majeski, campus pastor at Anderson University. Baccalaureate will take place earlier that day in Reardon Auditorium at 10 a.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Falls School of Business Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) won the regional championship in Cincinnati on Friday, March 28th. The team also received top awards for the individual competitions of Business Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability by ranking in the top 20 in each topic.

This year’s competition marked the best results in Anderson University SIFE history. In previous years, the teams have won two individual topics. This year, the team added Entrepreneurship to their tally.

The team has worked extremely hard over the past five months to create their presentation of SIFE:Full Throttle. “Other SIFE teams pack out our room at regionals to see what we have been up to over the past year,” explains Stacey Jaracz, president of SIFE. “They view us as a model of how they should run their teams. We’re proud of that.”

Ben Hayhurst, vice-president of SIFE Consulting explains, “My favorite part was when our team presented, and there was standing room only in our presentation room. Students from many other SIFE teams crowded into our presentation room to watch our presentation and learn about our projects. I saw jaws drop and eyes open wide as our team presented our work for the past year. In short, those people were there to watch Anderson University because of the great work our SIFE students do.”

The students in SIFE do much more than compete, however. Throughout the year SIFE gives back to the economic community. “I’m proud of what AU SIFE is accomplishing in our community, Jaracz states. “We’re a group of hardworking students who take what we do seriously. Whether dealing with students or business professionals, AU SIFE is fully committed to servant leadership. I couldn’t have chosen a better way to spend the last four years in college than the time I spent with SIFE. Students who get involved are truly making a difference, not just in our community, but across the globe.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Five Anderson University business students, Jonah McDonough, Peter Odren, Perry Childs, JinAyla Sexton, and Chad Schubert recently participated in the second annual I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana. They joined students from Ball State University, Huntington University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Taylor University.