“We are pleased to make this strategic appointment at this time in the life of the university,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “This title is appropriate to her comprehensive role and her leadership. Dr. Morris is highly regarded on campus and in the wider academic community.”

In her role as provost, Morris will provide leadership and vision for internal functions of the university developing collaborative relationships between university programs, departments, and divisions. Along with the president, the provost assists in representing the university to various constituent groups: church, community, and education. The provost serves in place of the president in the president’s absence.

In March of 2009, Morris was named vice president for academic affairs and dean at Anderson University. She is only the sixth person to serve in the role. She previously served as vice president and undergraduate academic dean at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.

While at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), Morris served as a faculty member in the Nursing Department, chair of the Nursing Department, Honors Program director, self-study director for EMU’s reaccreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, associate academic dean, and vice president and undergraduate academic dean.

Morris earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Eastern Mennonite University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in nursing administration from George Mason University. Her dissertation was entitled, Voices of Women: A Qualitative Study of Effective Female Nurse Faculty.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

The relationship between the department and St. Mary’s began in the late 1990s when administrators and staff at the school worked with Chuck Koontz and Sam Blanchard, computer science professors, to solve minor technological problems and to answer questions from staff as needed. Shortly thereafter, the relationship began to grow into what it has become today: Blanchard leads a group of gifted computer science students in serving as an information technology staff for St. Mary’s.

In 1998, a former electrician in the Anderson area wanted to transition into the field of computer science, so he began taking classes with AU’s School of Adult Learning to pursue his career aspirations. Blanchard received a call from St. Mary’s concerning a wiring and networking issue, and he took the student along to Muncie for a learning experience. “St. Mary’s has technology needs,” Blanchard said, “and we have students who want to learn. It’s a great combination.”

St. Mary’s leaders thought so highly of the work that AU computer science students and professors were doing that the school hired the AU Software Research Center (SRC) to become the IT staff for the private elementary school. Evan Cottle, a senior double majoring in business/information systems and Bible and Religion, appreciates the time he spends working with St. Mary’s. “It is a great opportunity for me. Vocationally I want to work in a church setting and this has prepared me for my hopeful career path,” Cottle said.

Josh Stefee and Chris Siebold, also senior business/information systems majors, feel fortunate for this opportunity.

“This partnership allows us to take classroom knowledge out of the classroom and apply it to real-life situations,” Siebold said. AU facilitates opportunities to learn not only in the classroom, but also to apply that knowledge in the real world as well. Such training and integration of learning into real-life situations prepares students for their futures in a way that classroom learning alone does not.

“We provide systems support for St. Mary’s School, as well as the parsonage,” said Stefee. “We’ve installed printers, run their servers with grades and records, assisted with the Lotus email program, maintained computer labs, and installed fiber optic cables.”

St. Mary’s leaders appreciate the assistance the AU students provide and work well with the AU student workers. “They’re really excited to have us there and understand that it is a work and learning experience,” said Steffee. “So if we make a mistake, they are understanding and work well with us.”

Blanchard spearheads this initiative with energy and enthusiasm that makes him easy to work with. “He has his cup of coffee and goes to town. He’s very enthusiastic about St. Mary’s,” Siebold said.

Stefee added, “He’s always available, very helpful, and passionate about the school.”

— Kyle Beckman is a senior from Auburn, Ind., double-majoring in communication arts and business-information systems and minoring in political science. Beckman is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson University continues to be recognized as one of America’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“While we are grateful to be included among the best of Midwest universities, we want most of all to be measured by our quality and our student success,” said Anderson University President Dr. James L. Edwards. “Our mission to transform lives through education will be met by nothing less.”

The 2012 Best Colleges guidebook provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and, for National Universities and National Liberal Art Colleges, “graduation rate performance” and high school counselor ratings of colleges.

For more information on the rankings, visit www.usnews.com/colleges/.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“Anderson University is a distinct place often described in the past by our alumni and others as ‘very special.’ We want to bring greater distinction and clarity to that idea that will gain wide affirmation from those who are a part of the AU family and those who will come to know us,” said Anderson University President Dr. James L. Edwards.

The process began more than two years ago. The new logo and font were designed and developed by Kerry Shaw, director of Publications at Anderson University. The logo features the university’s name with an overarching base and orange flame. Students and alumni will associate this graphic with the Eternal Flame landmark located in front of Decker Hall. Edwards added that the goal of this long and very widely involved process is “clarity and distinction.”

Dr. Marie Morris, vice president of academic affairs, said, “I don’t really view this as a ‘brand direction’ but rather clarifying the AU story – its rich heritage and its bright future. I’m thrilled to be at AU at this time for this very important clarifying moment. Our world is changing and how we educate and prepare students must also keep pace with the times. It’s a new day for us at AU.”

Established in 1992 to mark the university’s 75th anniversary, the Eternal Flame echoes the university’s mission to educate and prepare individuals for lives of faith and service in their families, churches, and society. The new logo is a visual stepping stone to help define the bigger story among the countless experiences yet to be told about AU.

“Many on campus know that we provide students with something spectacular at Anderson University,” said Chris Williams, director of university communications. “We need to learn to share the story of Anderson University with others. The new logo is just one of the many ways we will be sharing this story with a variety of audiences in the future.”

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Forbes.com included only the top 20 percent of all undergraduate institutions in the 2011 rankings. The rankings were prepared by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP).

“We have one more indication just how special Anderson University is, based on achievement of our students and graduates,” said Anderson University President Dr. James. L. Edwards. “The story of quality is another vote of confidence for a truly remarkable faculty. We are grateful for this recognition.”

Forbes executive editor Michael Noer explained the ranking process in an article on Forbes.com.

“Our annual ranking of the 650 best undergraduate institutions focuses on the things that matter the most to students: quality of teaching, great career prospects, graduation rates, and low levels of debt. … We try and evaluate the college purchase as a consumer would,” said Noer.

The rankings are based on five general categories: post graduate success (30%), student satisfaction (27.5%), debt (17.5%), four-year graduation rate (17.5%), and competitive awards (7.5). A complete ranking methodology may be viewed at http://blogs.forbes.com/michaelnoer/2011/08/03/americas-top-colleges/.

Data collected by Forbes is corroborated by data from the Student Satisfaction Inventory and the National Survey of Student Engagement. Data from the SSI, for example, shows that students rank Anderson University above the mean on a large battery of questions ranging from classroom instruction to campus safety.

Anderson University has been recognized for its quality programs in recent years. AU has been recognized by US News & World Report as one of America’s best colleges and universities for seven consecutive years. The Princeton Review also has recognized Anderson University as one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for 2011.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2011, US News & World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the eighth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Dr. Beverley Pitts, president of the University of Indianapolis and a 1968 graduate of Anderson University, received an honorary Doctor of Letters during the chapel. Honorary degrees will also be awarded to AU alumni Steven Curtis Chapman and Charles Myricks, Jr., during the May 7 commencement ceremony at Anderson University.

[Photo: Dr. Beverley Pitts and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

During her address, Pitts reflected on her experience at Anderson University and on those who made her education possible. She encouraged students to consider with gratitude those who made their own journeys possible.

“We are all part of a shared culture at AU,” Pitts said. “Faculty, administrators, and graduates long before us built an institution based on the Christian values of personal responsibility and concern for others, high quality learning, and a commitment to service. You don’t even know who they are, but much of what you are now experiencing, the privilege of an excellent education in a faith-based institution, is based on their humble beginnings. … Stand high on the shoulders of those who brought you to this point. Be grateful for the privilege that they have given you. I hope you will take great advantage of this privilege and do good with what you know.”

Students recognized during chapel:

Renee Bader, a psychology major, is a member and officer in Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Chi, and Psi Chi. She is also a Center for Public Service Fellow. Bader anticipates getting married and starting graduate school this summer. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to earn a master’s degree in school counseling.

Elizabeth Barrow, a biology major and chemistry minor, served as president of Sigma Zeta, president of Alpha Chi, president of the Pre-Professional Health Society, and was co-founder of Operation Foundation: Project Anderson. She served as a TA in a number of science classes and as a tutor in Organic Chemistry. She is also a Center for Public Service Fellow and an officer in Phi Eta Sigma. Barrow is active in a number of campus groups and participated in Tri-S trips to Australia, London, and Honduras. She plans to attend IU Medical School to obtain her M.D.

[Photo, from left: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean Dr. Marie Morris, Ambrosia Davidson, Joanna Tilley, Keith Sayer, Samantha Toeller, Beth Barrow, Renee Bader, and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

Ambrosia Davidson, a marketing major and Spanish minor, is a member of the AU Honors Program, Delta Mu Delta, Alpha Mu Gamma, Alpha Chi, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Center for Public Service. During her time at AU, she participated in Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), worked with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and served an internship at Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie. After graduation, Davidson plans to finalize details for her wedding and pursue employment in marketing communications or public relations.

Keith Sayer, a Bible/religion and English double-major, is a member of Alpha Chi, Sigma Tau Delta, and the AU Honors Program. He plans to attend either Vanderbilt Divinity School or Duke Divinity School this fall to pursue graduate studies in religion. Sayer hopes to teach religion at the undergraduate level and participate in teaching ministries of the church through research, writing, and possibly serving as a teaching minister.

Joanna Tilley, a pre-med biology major with minors in chemistry and Christian ministries, is a member of Alpha Chi, Sigma Zeta, Pre-Professional Health Society, Alacritas, and the Center for Public Service. She plans to pursue medical school this fall at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Va.

Samantha Toeller, an elementary education/special education major and applied music minor, has served in Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi. She is completing her full-year student teaching experience, with classroom experience in 2nd and 6th grades as well as in intermediate special education resource. Toeller hopes to receive a teaching position at a school in Indianapolis or Chicago, and to teach within a multicultural setting in the intermediate grades.

Gabe Miller, an exercise science major, is this year’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete. As a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team, he received 1st Team All-HCAC honors following both his junior and senior seasons. Miller led the Ravens in assist over the past four seasons and led in steals the past two years. He played a key role on the 2009-10 team that won the HCAC season championship and made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. He was the team captain during his junior and senior years.

[Photo, from left: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean Dr. Marie Morris, Athletic Director Marcie Taylor, Gabe Miller, Ellen Thompson, and AU President Dr. James L. Edwards.]

Ellen Thompson, a biology major, is this year’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete. She was a member of the women’s basketball team the past four seasons, a member of the women’s golf team during her freshman and sophomore years, and a member of the softball team the past two seasons. In basketball, Thompson earned HCAC All-Conference and team MVP honors during the 2010-11 season. She is the ninth leading scorer in school history with 965 points, second in free throws made (281) and free throws attempted (381), and fourth in free throw percentage at 73.8 percent. She was team captain during her senior season.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Chapman will address the graduating class of 2011 during the 3 p.m. (EDT) program and will receive an honorary doctorate along with the Rev. Charles Myricks, chief operating development officer for the National Association of the Church of God, and Dr. Beverley Pitts, president of the University of Indianapolis. Anderson University’s commencement will be conducted in the Ward Fieldhouse of the Kardatzke Wellness Center. Myricks will speak earlier in the day during Anderson University’s baccalaureate service at 10 a.m in Reardon Auditorium. All events are free and open to the public. AU will offer a live webcast during Commencement starting at 2:45 p.m. EDT.

Other events scheduled during Anderson University’s commencement day on May 7 include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted at noon in Schield Dining Room, Olt Student Center. The certification ceremony for the Teach for Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted at 10 a.m. in Decker Hall, Room 133.

Events earlier in the week include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 26, at 11 a.m. in Miller Chapel. The hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Ministry graduates will take place on Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

Individuals receiving honorary degrees during the May 7 commencement ceremony at Anderson University include the following:

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN — DOCTOR OF MUSIC

Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and author. He attended Anderson University in the early 1980s while starting his career as a songwriter. Chapman has developed into one of the most prolific singers in the genre, releasing more than 20 albums to date. Chapman has also won five Grammy awards and 56 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history. His seven “Artist of the Year” Dove Awards — his latest in 2009 — are also an industry record. In addition to his music career, Chapman, along with his wife Mary Beth (also an AU alum), established a nonprofit foundation called Show Hope (formerly called Shaohannah’s Hope) to mobilize individuals and communities to care for orphans through its international orphan care work as well as adoption aid grants. Chapman plans a summer 2011 album release for his new project titled re:creation.

CHARLES MYRICKS — DOCTOR OF DIVINITY

Charles Myricks, Jr., is a gifted musician and playwright with a deep love of music. He graduated from Anderson University in 1982 and went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. He has served as vice president and general manager of Word Gospel Records. Under his leadership, Word Gospel artists received 3 Grammy Awards, 8 Dove Awards, and 12 Stellar Awards. He has served as a trustee at Anderson University and in ministry with the Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio. He currently works as chief operating development officer for the National Association of the Church of God.

DR. BEVERLEY PITTS — DOCTOR OF LETTERS

Dr. Beverley Pitts serves as president of the University of Indianapolis. In that capacity, she oversees an institution with 4,500 students, including a branch campus in Athens, Greece, and doctoral programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and clinical psychology. She earned a BA from Anderson University in 1968 and an MA in journalism and doctorate in higher education from Ball State University. Prior to becoming provost at Ball State University, she held positions of associate provost, assistant provost, director of academic assessment, and director of general studies at Ball State. She was also founding chair of the Department of Communication at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

Experiencing another world
Over the past few years, Preston heard so many stories and positive experiences about Tri-S trips that he was determined to have one of his own before he graduated. “I thought about it, prayed about it, and narrowed it down to at least two or three places, but Uganda always stuck out in my mind,” he said. Preston knew that if he were called to do this, God would provide a way for him. He raised the majority of the cost through the support of his family and friends.

[Photo on left: A group of Matthew Preston's fellow travelers stops at the headwaters of the Nile for a photo.]

The team to Uganda carpooled to Chicago and flew to Amsterdam, which was roughly eight hours, and took yet another 8-hour flight into Entebbe, Uganda. The airport is just a few hours south of the capitol, Kampala, where Church of God missionaries Steve and Colleen Stevenson live and host Tri-S teams.

In Uganda, the team worked with Tumaini Aids Prevention Program (TAPP). TAPP started as a grassroots response to the AIDS Pandemic but has grown to 40 districts of Uganda and has crossed borders into Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Burundi. Tumaini is a Swahili word meaning “hope.” TAPP provides the opportunity for AIDS victims to make hand-crafted beads out of recycled paper and sell them in the United States. The project allows women to make the beads at home so they can care for their children. After the beads are glued, TAPP provides a place for all the members to work together varnishing and stringing the beads to make necklaces, bracelets, and earnings.

“We were able to experience a TAPP training conference with other Ugandans and pastors from Uganda, Congo, and Burundi,” said Preston. “They all came to learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and holistic medicine techniques and care. We did some work projects, but our focus was to come alongside the pastors as they were going through the TAPP training at Kasubi Church of God.”

Preston was able to apply some of his own knowledge and gifts to show the love of God to the Ugandan people.

“One of my projects was to help organize and improve an Internet cafe which had recently been started at one of the TAPP branches. It was neat to share technical skills that I have obtained over the years with a Ugandan who was my brother in Christ,” said Preston.

The team also participated in TAPP’s monthly home visits to HIV/AIDS victims, which provide food, clothing, treatment, prayer, and love. The visits are usually to women abandoned by their husbands due to the social stigma of the disease. The women are left to take care of their children — and often children of other family members who have died of AIDS — without a job, husband, or good health.

“On one of our visits, we went to a home and there was a little boy who smiled the whole time … He just kept smiling when we were there. He didn’t speak English, but you could tell he was overjoyed that we came to visit,” said Preston. “It really just taught me something about joy in meeting these people. They live in and are surrounded by crazy circumstances, yet he could not stop smiling. We just made his day by stopping and blowing bubbles with him.”

Preston fell in love with the smiling little boy who came to be known as “10–year-old John”, the eldest of five brothers and sisters. John’s father left his family when he learned his wife had HIV/AIDS. Their mother is left to take care of the children by working in a rock quarry, smashing rocks all day, even while she is very sick.

“The amount of joy John had shook me. I wanted to be able to give this kid a chance. I asked if I could sponsor him and soon found out I could. The neighbors helped me translate to John and his mother that I wanted to be his sponsor,” said Preston. “Somehow he managed to smile even bigger when he found out he was being sponsored.”

Finding a place in the world
Preston returned home from Uganda thankful for his experiences. He started just a week later as an intern at Interactive Intelligence, located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Professor Charles Koontz and the computer science department have a connection with Interactive, and Preston was one of the few chosen to intern with the organization over the summer.

Interactive is a telephone software company that writes software for call centers to use phones more efficiently. From June to mid-August, Preston worked in the testing department at Interactive, specifically, on the automation team.

“The testing department is a crucial aspect of Interactive because in many ways the people in the department are some of the last people who see the product before it is shipped worldwide. Thoroughness and accuracy were vital parts of the internship,” said Preston.

Preston is thankful for his opportunity to intern with Interactive. “Along with the work experience, we also were provided with lunches a couple of days a week while we learned about the company and were also invited to the CEO’s house for a few pool parties,” said Preston. “Interactive is known as one of the best internship experiences in Indiana, and I would definitely agree with that accolade.”

Preston was well prepared for the internship and has already received an offer to return to the company as a full-time employee upon graduation.

“I have a skill with computers, but it is not something I could be passionate about long term. So I have been talking to different people and considering grad school with my Bible and religion major, meanwhile using computer skills,” said Preston.

Preston learned a lot about himself through these summer experiences, which he believes could influence the direction he takes in life. “The two big experiences of my summer were made possible by AU,” Preston said. “These experiences not only helped me figure out my immediate future after college but also continue to shape and affect the ‘bigger picture’ in my life.”

— Lydia Smith is a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., majoring in communication arts and and minoring in peace and conflict transformation. Smith is an associate with Fifth Street Communications™, writing on behalf of Anderson University Office of University Communications.

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 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Through this unique scheduling plan, a student can earn a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from AU in three years. The student can then work through the graduate curriculum at Ball State to earn a master’s degree in Information and Communication Sciences in 11 months.

[Photo: Anderson University Assistant Professor of Computer Science Sam Blanchard works with computer science students.]

The program grew out of a collaboration between Prof. Charles Koontz, chair of the Department of Computer Science at AU, and Dr. Steve Jones, director of CICS at Ball State. After learning about the accelerated graduate program at Ball State, Koontz looked at the AU curriculum and realized that a student could complete an AU bachelor’s degree in three years.

“The catch is that one would have to work year-round,” said Koontz. “Obviously, because of the effort involved, such a plan would only suit a highly committed student.”

Traditionally, a student seeking a master’s degree in the computer science field would spend four years earning a bachelor’s degree and an additional two years working toward a master’s. Along the way the student would likely rely on student loans, resulting in a large amount of debt at graduation.

Both professors saw the value of an accelerated program — especially for international students who would benefit from having multiple degrees from separate institutions before returning home. “Having that master’s degree when looking for a job makes one look strong,” said Jones. “In this plan, you can get it faster and save money along the way.”

Ball State’s graduate program has over a 90 percent job placement rate, and students have gone on to work for companies such as Intel, Cisco Systems, and AT&T. They generally fill a variety of roles such as account executives, support engineers, or work on IT infrastructure.

“The graduate curriculum at Ball State complements the strong problem-solving background the student develops through their liberal arts coursework here at AU,” said Koontz.

According to Jones, students from AU usually graduate in the top 5 to 10 percent of the Ball State graduate program. “Before they step foot on campus here, they have the tools already in place to hit the ground running with no prep-work needed,” said Jones. “It truly is a smooth transition.”

Koontz said the arrangement is a great option for students looking to go into computer science with more than an undergraduate degree. “If a student wants to come to Anderson but wants a higher degree,” said Koontz, “here is that opportunity.”

— Charles Holcomb is a sophomore from Westfield, Ind., majoring in communication arts and political science. Holcomb is an associate with Fifth Street Communications, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

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 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“We are honored to continue to be ranked as a top tier institution by U.S. News and World Report,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice president for Marketing and Strategic Planning.  “It is even more fulfilling to know this ranking is based greatly on the strength of AU’s academic reputation, respect for our quality faculty and wide recognition the many programs of academic distinction.”

The 2011 Best Colleges package provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and, for National Universities and National Liberal Art Colleges, “graduation rate performance” and high school counselor ratings of colleges. U.S. News has made some significant changes to the 2011 Best Colleges’ ranking methodology and presentation. For more details on these changes, go to www.usnews.com/collegemeth.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. News college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

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 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Although the show has had great success, the Web site was in need of improvement.

“The Dr. Wonder’s Web site has been stagnant for quite some time,” said the Rev. Marshall Lawrence, executive director of Silent Blessings. “We got a good start, but the people who designed it for us didn’t leave much room for growth and change.”

Now the Web site is getting some assistance from students at AU. The class divided into groups, each taking on a different part of the Web site.

“We are working on the ‘Kid’s Club’ section,” said Zach Gray, a senior computer science major. “The kids will be able to log in and have access to different games, print out activities, coloring pages, and lessons that teach American Sign Language (ASL).”

However, it’s not enough to simply change the Web site. The class wanted to make the site easier to navigate for the administrator, so necessary changes could be made quickly.

“It was actually a simple, straightforward design,” said Rembert Parker, assistant professor of computer science. “For example, now a movie clip is automatically found and uploaded to the Web site once it is posted on YouTube.”

Lawrence and his wife founded Silent Blessings in 1996. The couple’s youngest daughter is deaf, and it was difficult for the family to find Christian resources for her. They founded the organization to make it easier for families to communicate with their children who are deaf. Dr. Wonder’s Workshop is filmed mainly on-site at Silent Blessings, and the cast is made up of all deaf adults.

“We help bring healing to families in three different ways: we educate, advocate, and create,” said Lawrence. “We educate by letting the hearing church know of the need. We advocate by working with congregations that want to develop deaf outreach programs. And we create by designing resources, such as Dr. Wonder’s Workshop, that can be utilized by families with deaf children.”

Although the Web site is not yet finished, it is already better than before.

“There is still a lot of work to be done. It might be something we work on even next semester,” said Gray. “But I think it’s good to do something with the computer science knowledge I have and contribute to helping society.”

— Missi Martin is a junior from Goshen, Ind., majoring in communication arts. Martin is an associate with Fifth Street Communications, writing on behalf of the Anderson University Office of University Communications.

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 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPUS MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO AU.

During commencement, Anderson University will award two honorary degrees. Anderson University will award Dr. William G. Enright (the 2010 Anderson University commencement speaker) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and Dr. Mark W. Fulton (an Anderson-area dentist and the co-founder and President of Mission Haiti, Inc.) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 8 commencement day include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted at 12 noon on May 8 in Shield dining room, Olt Student Center. The certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted in Decker Hall, room 133, at 12 noon.

Events earlier in the week associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 20, at 11 a.m. E.D.T. in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in Reardon Auditorium.

William G. Enright, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and former Senior Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.

He is a graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California and McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. His Ph.D. is from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He also holds two D.D. (honorary) degrees from Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana and Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

Dr. Enright is currently a director of the Lilly Endowment, Inc, The Wishard Hospital Foundation Board and a trustee of Hanover College. His most recent appointment was as “Advisor for the National Cathedral Association” of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. His civic involvement in Indianapolis has included serving as a member of Envisioning Indianapolis, the Police Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of the Central Indiana Council on Aging, and the St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Board. In addition, he served as co-chair of The Mayor’s Taskforce on Racism. He is co-founder of the Celebration of Hope, a program for racial reconciliation, which was recognized by President Clinton as one of ten national programs to be honored at the White House. He has also been honored by two governors with a Sagamore of the Wabash.

He has authored several books, the latest being Channel Markers, and lectured at numerous colleges, universities and theological institutions as well as business associations such as The Young Presidents and World Presidents organizations. In July, 2005, he served as “preacher and chaplain” for the Chautauqua Institution in New York.

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 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Through national and regional conferences, the development and exchange of resources, and participation in online networking, NetVUE will help institutions deepen vocational exploration by their students. The goals of the network are to share knowledge, best practices, and reflection on experiences among campuses while facilitating the incorporation of additional independent colleges and universities into this enterprise.

In announcing the launch of NetVUE, CIC President Richard Ekman said, “Over the past several years, the Council of Independent Colleges has made a commitment to advancing vocational exploration as a guiding force in American independent higher education. The concept of vocation emerged as a significant factor from various sources and has been applied in different ways for different campus constituencies. CIC hopes that NetVUE will capitalize on what has been learned about the theological exploration of vocation and how it can be adapted and developed to strengthen colleges and universities, their leadership, and the education they provide for their students.”

Dr. Marie Morris, vice president for academic affairs and dean stated that “Anderson University has a long and rich history of changing students’ lives through its commitment to educate students for a life of faith and service, through its focus on academic and Christian discovery and opportunities for experiential learning. We thought it important to join with others who share a commitment to fostering discovery and exploration in vocation as we prepare students for this ever changing world. As a member of NetVUE we look forward to increased opportunities for collegial sharing and to the future impact we anticipate in furthering our school’s mission.”

NetVUE is generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., which has funded similar programs over the years. “We have discovered,” said Craig Dykstra, Lilly Endowment’s senior vice president for religion, “that structured programs that encourage and guide students in the theological exploration of vocation do indeed help them draw on the wisdom of their religious traditions as they make decisions about their futures and figure out how to lead lives that really matter. We have been approached by hundreds of colleges and universities seeking to enhance their educational programs by incorporating vocational reflection more intentionally into their curricular and co-curricular activities. We are delighted that CIC is committed to sustaining and extending this important conversation and helping colleges across the country to advance their educational missions in this way.”

For more information about NetVUE, visit www.cic.edu/NetVUE.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 600 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing, and theology.

“We chose Anderson University and the other terrific schools we recommend as our ‘regional best’ colleges primarily for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s Vice President of Publishing. “We also work to have our roster of ‘regional best’ colleges feature a range of institutions by size, selectivity, character and locale. We choose the schools based on institutional data we collect from several hundred schools in each region, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of independent and high school-based college advisors whose recommendations we invite. We also take into account what each school’s customers – their students – report to us about their campus experiences at them on our 80-question student survey.”

The 158 colleges The Princeton Review chose for this year’s “Best in the Midwest” designations are located in twelve states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The Princeton Review also designated 218 colleges in the Northeast, 123 in the West, and 141 in the Southeast as best in their locales on the company’s 2010 Best Colleges: Region by Region section on its Web site. The 640 colleges named “regional best(s)” represent only about 25% (one out of four) of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in its 2010 Best Colleges Region by Region Web site section. The Princeton Review survey for this project asks students to rate their own schools on several issues — from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food — and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.

The Princeton Review is known for its tutoring and classroom test preparation courses, books, and college and graduate school admission services. Its corporate headquarters is in Framingham, MA, and editorial offices are in New York City. It is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

“I’m looking, but …,” said 37-year-old Dawn Vetor, of Madison County, her voice trailing off. “I have some prospects, but nothing fluid.”

Angela Shelton, 30, Anderson, a former paraeducator at East Side Middle School, was a little more upbeat.

“I’m optimistic,” said Shelton, her silver braces shined as she flashed a bright grin. “I’m looking for a job.”

Both women, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in organizational leadership, were among the 700 students going through Anderson University’s 91st commencement.

Like Shelton, many graduates were hopeful of their future job prospects, despite not yet having offers.

“I’m trying to be optimistic,” said Jon Weber, 22, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. “It’s rough.”

Weber, who received a degree in marketing, said he’s had five interviews and applied at 15 to 20 companies. But he’s received no offers.

Emily Wasonga seemed nonplused at her job prospects. The 21-year-old native of Kenya earned degrees in international education and communications on Saturday. She said she had no concrete career plans, but emphasized the university’s aim of instilling a sense of Christian service in its students. She said she wants to work in a humanitarian field.

“If it’s a matter of making money,” Wasonga said, “there are a lot of ways to make money.”

Commencement speaker Carl H. Caldwell touched on the unsettling nature of the times.

“To say you graduate in an uncertain time is an understatement,” he said. “If you’re not worried about this, I guarantee your parents are.”

But Caldwell said there’s a lack of certainty at all times — including when he graduated from Anderson University in 1966 during the Cold War.

“Every graduating class has had to face problems,” he said.

Caldwell, the school’s vice president of academic affairs, retired at the end of the school year. He had been with Anderson University since 1996. He earned his master’s degree in history from Ohio University and his doctorate in history from Indiana University.

Next year, Caldwell and his wife, Carolyn, an accounting professor at AU, will move to the Middle East, where they will teach at American University of Iraq in Sulaimani.

But Caldwell’s speech offered a reassuring tone.

“Seeing you before me, I feel very proud of our future,” he said.

For a full gallery of photos, visit The Herald Bulletin site.

—Shawn McGrath is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Photo credits: Don Knight. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Senior Zachariah Smith, a computer science-math major, was fortunate to know before starting his senior year he had a job waiting for him in Arkansas at corporate headquarters for Walmart.

During his sophomore year, Smith was looking for a summer job. While searching, his friend Danni Sorey, a 2009 graduate along with Smith, connected Smith with her dad, Steve, a 1978 alum who works in the Information Systems Division at Walmart. After interning for 12 weeks before his junior year, Smith was asked to return in the summer of 2008 and was offered a position as a software developer in August 2008.

Since connecting with Smith and fellow 2009 graduate, John Rigsby, with internship opportunities, Sorey has visited the computer science department during the academic year in hopes of offering more student internships at Walmart.

Searching for a different experience before moving away from his hometown of Indianapolis, Ind., to start his career August 17, Smith decided to plan a biking trip across Europe.

“My dad [Mark Smith, 1980 AU graduate] took a similar trip after his graduation for a few months with his friend Dave Fuller [AU 1980 graduate] and it was something I wanted to experience as well,” said Smith.

In past summers, Smith spent time with his dad and other friends biking around Indianapolis from 30 to 50 miles in a day. For his trip in Europe, Smith has a goal of 100 miles a day but believes he will average between 50 and 75 miles.

To plan out his biking trip, Smith received help from department of history chair, Dr. David Murphy, and director of international education, Willi Kant.

“I planned the trip around the dates of the Tour de France so I could see part of the race,” said Smith.

With the help of Google Maps to plan out his trip, Smith will be able to view the Tour de France at the finish line, July 26. He will be flying into London on June 11 and will travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and France. Smith hopes to spend the last part of his trip in Ireland if time permits before returning to Indianapolis August 7.

During his trip, Smith’s dad will be joining him for two weeks while his cousin, AU freshman Jacob Lockhart, will join him for part of the trip.

Currently, Smith has been biking trails in Anderson and running to train for the trip and plans to start training daily after graduation.

—Stefanie Leiter is Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Thomas, a Center for Public Service fellow, first gained cross-cultural experience by traveling with Tri-S to London in 2005. Since London, she has participated in five additional Tri-S trips and in May will travel to Australia. [Pictured left with students in Russia.]

“Carrie exemplifies the scholar/leader who is committed to academic excellence, international travel and education, public service, as well as campus and community leadership,” said Joel Shrock, Director of Center for Public Service. “Carrie’s record of accomplishments is beyond impressive, it is dazzling.”

Through each international experience, Thomas learned it was possible to pursue her career outside the traditional American public school system. Along with a strong interest in European culture, Thomas started her international teaching journey at Anderson University by serving on the licensing feasibility committee for adding the English as a New Language Program. She will be receiving a certification in English as a New Language.

“Dr. Nelson encouraged me to think about applying for the Fulbright Scholarship during an international politics class I took in the fall of my junior year,” said Thomas. Thomas started the application process after accepting a position at Dubravushka Boarding School in Obninsk, Russian Federation, as an English Language teacher for students ages 5-17.

Most recently, Thomas was a student teacher in Vienna, Austria, this past semester at the Danube International School. She student taught English A and English as a Second Language, in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for grades 6-10.

“Both Russia and Austria were different opportunities and experiences,” said Thomas. “In Russia, teaching was more difficult because I had few resources and little structure with which to work. In Vienna, I had more support and was paired with a great collaborating teacher as opposed to teaching on my own. I think teaching on my own first was a more backwards approach but one that served as a great opportunity.” [Pictured right in Vienna.]

Thomas’ award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Her responsibilities will include teaching English as a foreign language at Gymnasium Jura Hronca (Grammar and Secondary High School) in Bratislava, Slovakia. She will also work on conducting some independent research on language teaching and the education system of Slovakia.

Thomas is graduating May 9 with a 4.0 GPA and is a Presidential Scholar, Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society) 2007-08 president, Kappa Delti Pi (Education Honors Society) 2007-08 secretary, AU International Education Committee member, AU English as a New Language Committee member and Athletic Committee member. Thomas also started her own Carrie Thomas Youth in Philanthropy Endowed Fund through the Hendricks Community Foundation which provides grants to youth organizations and is a member of AU’s Women’s Golf Team.

She is the only AU English major to have received the Recognition of Excellence for her PRAXIS II English Language, Literature, and Composition exam. This honor is earned by scoring in the top 15 percent of candidates nationwide who took the test in the past five years.

“Carrie is best described as an ambitious academician, intellectually courageous, highly admired by faculty and students, always considerate of the needs of others, and one who works well with people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Dean of the School of Education Diana Ross. “She has been an outstanding student leader at Anderson University.” [Pictured left in Slovakia.]

Thomas’ grant starts in the fall of 2009 and will last 10 months. She plans to start graduate work in the future on comparative and international education along with second language acquisition.

“It is amazing how God places people in your life at the right time and right place,” said Thomas. “ God has blessed me with opportunities like Tri-S, ENL and people like Dr. Nelson, Dr. Shrock, and Dr. Ross who have helped shape and guide my future plans.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

- Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Director of the Career Development Center Maryann Coty shared that over 700 current undergraduate students have utilized the center’s resources and services.

“Using our office resources, meeting with our staff, or simply viewing the Career Development Center web site can help direct students with their internship and employment search,” said Coty.

Alumni contacting the Career Development Center for career advice, resume help, or connecting them to other alumni has increased due to layoffs and the current economy since the fall of 2008. Through a new intuitive headed by the Alumni office, the Alumni Mentoring Program creates a connection with students and alumni, and even alumni with other alumni to network professionally in their given industry and region.

“Connecting with our office is important either as a student, an alumni, or serving as an Alumni Mentor,” said Coty. “Industry networking connects students to the organizations they wish to pursue in an effort to research the job market, how the economy affects the industry, and the different sectors to their career choice.”

One example was the recent April 3 Media Career Day the Career Development Center, INvision AU and the Dept. of Communications Arts hosted in Reardon Auditorium. The Career Development Center brought in alumni from a television station, radio station, reporters, a publishing company, and newspapers to allow students to see all the job opportunities and majors encompassed in the media industry. This not only helps with networking efforts but helps undeclared students to see the vast opportunities in the media field. [Media Day pictured left.]

INvision AU is another tool the Career Development Center offers in finding paid internships for students. The Lilly Endowment grant allows AU to place interns in an organization with an agreement that the company matches the grant for future interns.

“This is a great opportunity to help students find internships, to gain experience, build required soft skills, connect students with an organization, and build a foundation for their career plan,” said Coty.

Coty breaks down each class year below to prepare students for internships and employment:

Senior Year

• Make sure your resume clearly identifies the education and skills you’ve obtained. When apply for a job, target your resume toward the organization and the job description.
• Actively get in touch with your network list. Contact everyone you know, relationships built over your time at AU, alumni connections, internships, part time jobs, volunteering in the community, etc.
• Let your network know what field you are interested in and that you are graduating.
• Attend job fairs to learn about organizations and job opportunities, and to make connections.
• At the start of your senior year have a good understanding as to when organizations within your field of interest recruit for employment. Some organizations may recruit in the fall for the following summer. This requires a great deal of researching of organizations. With today’s economy be open to taking internships.
• Follow up with the organizations in which you’ve applied for employment.

Junior Year

• Actively search for a summer internship. Talk to your faculty advisor, an alumni mentor, your network, and the career center.
• Contact the career center to prepare for interviews.
• Research the different skills you will need to develop and/or improve upon within your field of interest. Internships are a great way to develop communication, organizational, team building, leadership, and other skills organizations seek in entry level employees.
• Determine your strengths versus your weaknesses.
• Prepare to be competitive in the job market.

Sophomore Year

• Connect with alumni. Learn about the job opportunities available within your field of interest. Alumni can help educate you on what is current in the industry.
• Begin to create your network list. Include family, friends, faculty, alumni, and other professionals.
• Start networking early with alumni and everyone you know. Connections are the key to building lasting professional relationships.

Freshman Year

• Develop a short- and long-term career plan that meets your career goals with the assistance of a career counselor.
• Your resume allows you to see the knowledge and skills you currently possess.
• Sign up for LART 1200, Career and Life Planning, if undeclared. The class encourages those students who are undecided to determine interests relative to the current job market.

To view further information on a student timeline, click here.

“I wish employers knew how much we desire to have jobs and how eager we are to enter the work force – that’s a charisma not a lot of employees can say they still have,” said senior art major Dane Benton on today’s economy and job market search.

The CDC assists students and alumni with applying their academic and life experiences to attain career goals; provides them with the services and resources necessary to make better informed career decisions; and develops the skills necessary to implement their career plans.

—Stefanie Leiter is the Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,750 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

While at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), Morris has served as a faculty member in the Nursing Department, Chair of the Nursing Department, Honors Program Director, Self-Study Director for EMU’s reaccreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, Associate Academic Dean, and Vice President & Undergraduate Academic Dean.

Dr. Morris earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Eastern Mennonite University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Administration from George Mason University. Her dissertation was entitled, Voices of Women: A Qualitative Study of Effective Female Nurse Faculty.

Dr. Morris has been listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and she is an Executive Leadership Development Fellow within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). She has received the Bennett, Kellogg, & Mellon Scholarship, the Edgar A. Thurman Foundation Grant and the Lilly Fellows Faculty Mentoring Program Grant.

She presently serves as a Board Member with Lilly Fellows National Network; Chair of the Mennonite Education Agency Deans & Marpeck Deans; Member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society (Epsilon Zeta and Pi Mu), and Institutional Representative for Virginia Network for Women and a Reaccreditation Evaluator for Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPUS MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO AU.

During commencement, Anderson University will award four honorary degrees. Anderson University will award Rev. Emory Williams (distinguished Church of God minister) with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, Billy Jo Hall (longtime member of the Anderson University Board of Trustees and investment advisor at LPL Financial Services in Mount Sterling, Ky.) with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, Thomas J. Snyder (president of Ivy Tech Community College) with the honorary Doctor of Laws degree and Bobbette Snyder (executive director of the Madison County Leadership Academy) with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 9 commencement day include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees.

The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education and the Master of Music Education will be conducted at 12 noon on May 9 in Shield dining room, Olt Student Center. The certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program (TIP) will be conducted in Decker Hall, room 133, at 11:30 a.m.

Events earlier in the week associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 28, at 11 a.m. E.D.T. in Miller Chapel. On Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m. E.D.T. the hooding ceremony for the Doctor of Ministry graduates will take place at Miller Chapel / Tallen Hall in the SOT. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

Dr. Carl Caldwell is a 1966 graduate of Anderson University and is the fifth chief academic officer in Anderson University’s 91-year history. Caldwell’s responsibilities have focused on the development of Anderson University programs, faculty and strategic planning. Before coming to Anderson University, Caldwell served as vice president for administration, vice president for academic affairs, and dean of the college at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.

Caldwell received a master of arts in history from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and a doctorate in history from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He has completed individual research and study seminars at Oxford University in England, as well as in Israel, Syria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen Arab Republic.

In addition to having held several teaching assignments, Caldwell has also lectured on Middle East history, political structures and policies. His administrative positions have included associate dean for academic affairs at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and dean for academic affairs at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va.

In November of 2002, Caldwell received the national Chief Academic Officers Award from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). The award, delivered at the Institute for Chief Academic Officers, is annually presented to an individual who advances academic excellence at private colleges and universities. It is one of the Council’s highest honors for exemplary academic leadership. He has been a member of the Chief Academic Officers (CAO) Task Force, a frequent speaker at CIC’s Institute for Chief Academic Officers, and a mentor to new CAOs.

In October of 2008, Dr. Caldwell announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year from a distinguished career of 38 years in academic and administrative leadership. He has served at Anderson University since the spring of 1996.

Caldwell and his wife, Carolyn, a 1964 graduate of Anderson University, have two sons and four grandchildren. Following retirement, the Caldwells will continue to serve in full time positions at the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani.

Dr. Kerry Robinson is the senior pastor of East Side Church of God, in Anderson, Ind., a congregation he has served since December 1996. East Side Church is located near the campus of Anderson University and Church of God Ministries, Inc. and is widely recognized for its mission to “Lift up Jesus Christ so that people may Discover Hope for Life.” As the primary speaker for East Side Church of God, Dr. Robinson shares passionately to groups of various sizes in diverse settings in an effort to help individuals discover the hope of Jesus Christ.

Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Robinson was the Senior Pastor of White Chapel Church of God and President of Warner Christian Academy in Daytona Beach (1992-1996) and Senior Pastor of Scott Memorial Church of God, Chattanooga, TN (1983-1992).

Dr. Robinson is a graduate of Anderson University, Anderson School of Theology, and has done postgraduate work at Emory University in Atlanta. He is a graduate of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, AL., with a Doctor of Ministry Degree. Dr. Robinson has served in leadership for the Church of God at the state, regional, and national levels.

Dr. Robinson is married to the former Becky Meyer and they have two adult sons.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

But several college students are changing the way some kids see their future, and themselves.

College Mentor for Kids, a program founded in 1994 by two Indiana University students, works to change all that and help kids to dream big.

Twice a week in Hartung Hall on the campus of Anderson University, 40 college students and 40 elementary kids in the first through fourth grades merge together to experience college life and all it has to offer.

Both Robinson Elementary and Anderson Elementary students know that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of every week during the school year, they get to ride a bus to campus and partner up with their “big buddy.”

After snacks and reading time, participants break into groups and do different activities on campus.

“We get to see people, like famous basketball players and nurses,” said Jalen Cooley, a second-grader at Robinson Elementary. “I want to be a lawyer.”

Another Robinson second-grader, Amy White, said, “I like meeting people and we got to go to the library … I think I want to be a veterinarian someday.”

Derek Thurber, sophomore at Anderson University, said he likes working with the kids and finds it a good experience. “I work with Juan, a first-grader at Robinson Elementary. He seems to be improving in his behavior and enjoys the activities.”

Students on campus who are interested in mentoring children in this program must go through a three-step process. The president and vice president of the program will interview each candidate to find out what experience they have with kids, what their goals are and why they want to participate in the program.

Then the candidates give a short impromptu speech, answering questions such as how they would explain or answer the children’s questions. The students must also demonstrate how well they work with and communicate with children by being observed in a group.

“I got involved in College Mentor for Kids because I am an education major,” said Michelle Milius, sophomore at AU. “Michael, my first-grade buddy, has improved so much, and I’ve learned a lot of patience.”

Alexis Gentry, a freshman at AU, has two little buddies, a boy and a girl. “One of my buddies wants to come here when he grows up and asked if I will be here when he comes.”

She said they found it interesting that the college students have roommates in a dorm and do not live with their parents.

Michael Watts, a junior at AU and president of College Mentor for Kids Anderson Chapter, explained what makes this program unique:

“We have them do various things around the AU campus … activities such as going over to the wellness center and meeting with athletic trainers to see what you would do to become an athletic training major, or going to the library and seeing what librarians do, how to research and how to use the computers, and then we’ve been over to security to see what a police officer would do — basically to get them familiar with the college campus and what is a college education.”

Watts said when the children are new to the program, he asks them what they think college is and what people do there. Responses are pretty limited, but by the time the program ends each one has a better understanding and idea of how college could play an important role in their future.

“I would tell anyone wishing to aspire to great things or goals, to always believe in yourself. No matter the situations or circumstances for the present time, the future may hold something different. If you keep your head up and your eyes set on your goal, you can achieve anything,” said Watts.

He’s enjoyed watching his own little buddy grow and become a better student in school. “He even takes an interest in me and asks me about my own family. I like that I can impact and help even one student.”

—Kim Ousley is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin. Story republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Approximately 40 colleges in each of the six geographical regions in the U.S. were selected as meeting four key criteria that make a college truly exceptional: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. These are the “hidden gems” of higher education institutions – as determined by a review board of academicians, guidance counselors, and parents.

“We are truly honored to have received the designation of ‘College of Distinction’ by Students Horizons,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice president for Enrollment Management and Information Systems. “We believe that this distinction will provide a level of pride for our students and their families for this recognition, and confidence that we have been acknowledged by our peers for having high quality faculty, uncommonly good teaching, nationally recognized programs, and very engaged students.”

Anderson University was required to go through an application process to be considered, be nationally recognized by education professionals, employ outstanding teachers that provide innovative learning experiences, have an active campus and community that allows for personal development, and be highly valued by employers for its outstanding preparation. Colleges of Distinction also recognized an impressive nine other colleges in the state including: Goshen College, Butler University, Manchester College, St. Joseph’s College, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Saint Mary’s College, Taylor University, University of Evansville, and University of Southern Indiana.

College seekers can also visit the Colleges of Distinction website to learn more about featured schools, including Anderson University. Furthermore, visitors can read tips from high school guidance counselors and essays from college students, presidents, and other members of different campus communities.

Student Horizons, Inc. is a digital services company devoted to higher education. Founded in 2002 by concerned parents and admissions professionals, their mission is to enable students to find colleges and universities that appeal to and complement their unique personalities and aspirations. Student Horizons, Inc. is located in Bethesda, MD.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,750 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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Dr. Dale Bales of the department of chemistry and physics was the eighth person at Anderson University to receive the John A. Morrison faculty award this past year. Bales first joined the faculty of AU in 1976, left for a brief time in the early 1980’s, but returned in 1987 to stay. He has served the institution for 28 years.

Chad Wallace, now chair of the department of chemistry and physics taking over the title from Bales, indicates the following: “I had the great opportunity to know Dale Bales at two different times in my life. The first was when I was a chemistry undergraduate student attending here. ‘Dr. Bales’, as I knew him then, was my teacher, adviser, and mentor. I saw a man of great knowledge, insight, wisdom, and humility. He epitomized to me the perfect blend of scientist and committed Christian.

In fact, for all of these years I have known him, he has almost always been a pastor of some local congregation while excelling in his duties at AU. He so inspired me, that I knew I wanted to attend graduate school so I might one day come back to my alma mater and hope to influence students’ lives a fraction of what he did.”

The recipient of the John A. Morrison staff award has served in various capacities in her lengthy tenure of 34 years with the university. She has been a student, taught classes, and is currently a staff member serving as Manager of Student Technology Services and Group Coordinator for Information Technology Services.

In her most recent assignment, Jan Schmidt, along with her colleagues in the ITS department, has been an integral part of equipping our campus with up-to-date technologies and training us in their use. Schmidt has also committed significant time to leading a number of Tri-S service trips around the world (including Calcutta, India, Grand Cayman and London) where she has developed powerful and meaningful relationships with students and those they served.

The Morrison award is designed to recognize faculty and staff who go beyond excellence in performance and have demonstrated a commitment to something larger than self. Each year, one staff and one faculty member will be selected from those nominated by the faculty and staff and announced at the annual Recognition Luncheon. Nominees for the Morrison Award should demonstrate a commitment to the university’s mission and core values.

—Stefanie Leiter is Web Content Manager at Anderson University.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

As Dean Branson, director of student programming, pointed tightly-packed vehicles toward temporary parking spaces, returning students and some experienced parents waited for any chance they had to help another freshman into the dorms.

“They’re responsible for unpacking, but we get their stuff up to the room as quickly as we can,” Branson said.

Cars came loaded with all the comforts of home — lamps, rugs, television — downsized to fit into each of the single rooms that most students must share with an unfamiliar roommate.

“We have to know that the people coming here have never done this before,” Branson said. “So we have to make them feel at home.”

Hominess is what attracted Nathan Breneman to AU. The freshman from Dublin, Ohio, said the size of the campus made the school seem like a good fit. He was settling into Dunn Hall on Thursday, but said he wasn’t nervous about starting classes, although he was worried that living without his own car would take a lot of getting used to.

His parents were also wondering about how their lives would be different with their oldest son out of the house.

“I just know the home will be a lot quieter,” said Jenny, Nathan’s mother. “He’s the talker. He’s the one who always has something going on.”

Nathan is one of an estimated 600 new undergraduates enrolling at AU this fall, the school reported. The university expects the size of its full-time freshman class to increase between 12 and 15 percent this year, but exact figures will not be known until late September.

Approximately 80 percent of new undergraduate students are coming from Indiana or neighboring states, but 47 states and 30 countries are represented in the total undergraduate population of about 1,850 students, the university reported.

Callie Zelber and Kelly Thomas moved into Rice Hall on Thursday. Strangers less than a year ago, the two girls met though Anderson University’s new social networking site for accepted students, a Web site that lets people seriously considering AU to talk.

Admission’s counselor Christy Kihm said lots of students had found roommates using the site. “It was a big hit.”

Zelber, of Indianapolis, and Thomas, of Miamisburg, Ohio, said they connected over their shared love of the Disney princesses, and now their dorm room is festooned with images of Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”

The girls said it was a challenge to decide which clothes to bring, and they both made a point to pack photographs and their beloved teddy bears.

With five days left before classes start, Kelly said she’d be using the time to relax, meet some new people, and if there’s time, find out where her classes are. dresser to herself, she joked that it was a good excuse to go buy more clothes.

VIEW FLICKR PHOTO ALBUM OF 2008 MOVE-IN DAY

—Barrett Newkirk is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin. Story republished with permission.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

To rank schools, US News first organizes colleges and universities by category, and then ranks them within each group. Rankings are based on a wide range of criteria, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources to name a few.

“While the best college for a given student will always be measured by personal fit, we are truly honored to be listed among the best in our region,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University.  “These surveys give our students and their parents the confidence that we are highly regarded and worth considering as they make their important choices for the investment of their college years.  We consider this highly regarded listing a tribute to our faculty and staff who are deeply committed to excellence and to student success.”

“We are pleased to be recognized as one of the best colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News and our peer institutions,” said Dr. Michael Collette, vice-president for Enrollment Management and Information Systems. “We are blessed with a strong faculty and we are encouraged by the financial resources provided by donors as well as the continued acknowledgment of our academic strength at an affordable value.”

The US News rankings will appear on the magazine’s web site on Friday, August 22. College-bound students can use the site to search for colleges according to their own interests, fill out interactive worksheets and search for scholarship and financial aid information. Excerpts of the college rankings will be published in the September 1 edition (on newsstands August 25) of the weekly news magazine. The full rankings will be published in the annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook, also available in libraries and bookstores on August 26.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Summer school students also have the opportunity to select offerings such as reading courses of assigned textbooks, journals and research documents; flexible online study; tutorial courses which regularly meet with an arranged instructor; or special Tri-S courses that provide academic credit through study abroad.

“Summer school is an opportunity for students to get ahead or catch up on graduation requirements. The rate per credit hour is approximately two-thirds less than traditional tuition during the regular school year,” said Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning. “For students who are able to stay in the area during the summer, there are three- and four- week face-to-face classes in the day and evening with tutorial options. For those going home or studying abroad, an online course or reading independent study course is a good option. These options make summer school attractive and affordable.”

Registration continues until the first day of each scheduled class. View the Schedule of Undergraduate Classes [PDF] for the summer of 2008. Tuition for summer school at AU in 2008 is $310 per semester hour. All current AU students enrolled in the spring semester are automatically admitted for Summer School. New and former students wishing to enroll should contact the AU Admissions Department at 1-800-428-6414.

For further information and details about Summer School 2008, please contact Aleza Beverly, Dean of the School of Adult Learning and director of Summer School, at 765-641-4251.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

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

VIEW PHOTOS OF GRADUATION ON FLICKR

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.

The ceremony hasn’t changed much over the years, said sisters Nicole Fischer, 26, and Kate Lintondo, 31.

The two women sat with their grandparents in the audience as their mother, Katrinna Fischer, 49, received her master’s degree in teaching.

Katrinna Fischer teaches at Eastside Elementary School in Anderson. Her family has sat through several commencement ceremonies at Anderson University as other family members have graduated: Nicole; Kate; Kate’s husband; and Katrinna.

“We just like education,” said Nicole, who is now in law school.

Katrinna Fischer earned her bachelor’s degree from Anderson University not too long before she started the graduate program. Next year, she’ll start at Ball State University to earn her doctorate.

“She’s excited,” Kate Lintondo said. “She’s looking forward to it.”

All of the graduates, and their teachers, seemed excited for the future.

Commencement speaker James T. Morris, who was given an honorary doctor of law degree, said he was told this group of students was the most prepared class for public service from the university.

“The world is eager for you to make your mark, to do what you can,” he said.

Morris, executive director for the United Nations World Food Programme, talked about Myanmar and the world’s efforts to help the country, which was recently hit with a disastrous cyclone. He also spoke about efforts to eradicate world hunger and help the children of the world.

“Spending time on a team of people, seeking a common cause for a common good, that is the most rewarding experience that a human being can have,” Morris said. “This is a Christian university. This is a university with global outreach. … The practical application of our faith, whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, brings us together in a common ground.”

Coming together is how the world will rid itself of hunger, Morris said.

“You never feel so good about yourself with someone else working for someone else,” he said. “Leadership and being an effective person is about seeing your calling in its biggest context.”

The joyous occasion ended as most do—some were laughing and some were crying, but all were ready to go on to another adventure.

—Jessica Kerman is a reporter for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story republished with permission.

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.

Eric Davis is a Computer Science major from Anderson, Ind. After graduation Eric will pursue a career with Interactive Intelligence, a software company located in Indianapolis that focuses on business communication.

Michelle Deal is a Nursing major from Fishers, Ind. Michelle plans to enjoy her summer by spending time backpacking and traveling to Egypt and the Grand Canyon. In the fall, she will begin a masters program at Vanderbilt University to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Alex Erwin is a Christian Ministries and Mathematics double major from Greenfield, Ind. Upon returning from his last Tri-S trip to Africa after graduation, Alex plans to pursue a career in a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on helping the poor and disenfranchised.

Aaron Kaczmarek is Bible and Religion and History double major from Glendale, Ariz. After graduation Aaron plans to participate in an Americorps program for a year. He will then pursue Masters degree in Theological Studies primarily focusing on the intersection of cultural theories and theology in the urban context.

Mark Price is a Biology and Chemistry double major from Massillon, Ohio. After graduation, Mark will attend either Ohio State University or Case Western Reserve Medical School to pursue a career in medicine. This summer, he will participate in a cross-country bicycle trip from Indiana to California to help raise money for the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) association.

Melissa Miller is a Social Work major from Goshen, Ind. After graduation, she will attend the University of Oklahoma for their advanced standing Master’s program in Social Work
The ceremony also honored outstanding senior athletes, Gwen Kemple, Amanda Nagy, Sean Hudson and Denny Kimmel.

Gwen Kemple competed with the cross country and track team for four years. She won the 5,000 and finished second in the 10,000 in each of the last two HCAC Championships (2006-07). In 2006, she won the 5,000 at the HCAC Track Championships and qualified for the national meet in the 10,000. Kemple has been All-Conference, All-Regional and an All-American in cross country. She won the HCAC championships in cross country in 2004 and 2007. She has been an Academic All-American in both track and cross country and is on the Dean’s List at AU. She is an English major from Rushville, Ind.

Amanda Nagy competed with the track team for four years. She won the 100, 200, 400 relay and 1,600 relay at the 2007 HCAC Championships and was named HCAC Track MVP in 2006 after winning the 100, 200, 400 relay and 1,600 relay. In 2006, Nagy qualified for the national meet in the 100. She also won the 100 and 200 at the HCAC Championships in 2005. Nagy currently holds school records in the 55 (7.32), 100 (12.08) and 200 (25.28), 400 relay (49.53), 800 relay and 1,600 relay (4:05.10) team. She is an Athletic Training major from Wickliffe, Ohio.

Sean Hudson competed for four years with the cross country and track teams. He was All-HCAC and All-Regional in 2006 after finishing second at the HCAC Championships and 15th at the Great Lakes Regional. He was All-HCAC in cross country in 2005, finishing second at the HCAC Championships. Hudson qualified for the national meet in the 5,000 in track and is a two-time HCAC champion in the 1,500. He was HCAC Freshman of the Year, All-Regional (25th), Academic All-American and All-HCAC after finishing third at the HCAC cross country meet in 2005. Hudson is a History major from Shelbyville, Ind.

Denny Kimmel led the football team in rushing last year despite playing in only three games before using a medical redshirt. He holds the NCAA Div. III record for career receptions by a running back with 171 and was an All-American and the North Region Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 after rushing for a school-record 1,308 yards and 10 TDs. Kimmel set eight school records in 2005. In 2004, he was 2nd Team All-HCAC after rushing for 785 yards and an HCAC leading 13 TDs, and also caught 44 passes for 317 yards and a TD. Kimmel is a Criminal Justice major from Markleville, Ind.

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Students in the Falls School of Business will have a new choice in major beginning in the fall of 2008. The Falls School of Business will be offering a Global Business major beginning with the next catalog year. The 65-credit hour major also requires students to enroll in at least six hours of international experience to be approved by the dean and take additional hours of a foreign language.

“Anderson University, by tradition, is internationally focused,” said Terry Truitt, dean of the Falls School of Business. “Strong programs like Tri-S, our foreign language department, and AU-East Africa show the University’s broad reach… The global mindset isn’t something new; we are just building on our strengths.”

The Department of Communication Arts has undergone extensive restructuring in this new catalog. Communication Arts majors now have the option to specialize in Audio/Video/Cinema Production, Broadcast Journalism, Journalism and Public Relations. The department also offers opportunities for practical experiences seldom seen at the undergraduate level.

Donald Boggs, chair of the Department of Communication Arts, said, “Communication media have changed dramatically since our Mass Communication major was created in 1977 and we have restructured the department and the major to reflect the changes. The Internet and other factors have brought a ‘convergence’ of media and specialized media. Meeting the needs of niche audiences will represent the future of communication.”

Through the Federal National Professional Development grant, the ENL program is now able to provide students with an ENL license, training educators to assist English language learners in the classroom.

The ENL program helps educators serve the needs of English language learners, gain cross-cultural understanding and experience hybrid classes with face-to-face and online work. Ryan Weiss, Assistant to the Director said, “New teachers often face a challenge in teaching LEP students. We give teachers the tools and instruments to overcome these obstacles.”

—David Hynds is the Web Content Specialist for Anderson University.

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 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPUS MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO AU.

AU will award James T. Morris with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and Phyllis R. Naylor with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Other events scheduled on Anderson University’s May 10 commencement day include the Falls School of Business hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Byrum Hall for candidates of both Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees. In addition, the hooding ceremony for the School of Education will also be conducted at 12 noon on May 10 (as well as the certification ceremony for the Teach in Indiana Program–TIP) in Schield dining room of the Olt Student Center.

Earlier events associated with commencement weekend include the School of Theology Senior Recognition and Awards Chapel on Tuesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. EDT in Miller Chapel. In addition, a special pinning ceremony for the Anderson University School of Nursing will be conducted on Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. in Byrum Hall.

James T. Morris serves as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and President for Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Before joining the Pacers, Morris spent five years as the Executive Director for the United Nations World Food Programme. As head of WFP, Morris oversaw the world’s largest food aid organization, with more than 12,000 staff members, 90 percent of whom work in the developing world.

In July 2002, Morris was appointed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, a region which continues to be gripped by a major food emergency. In 2003, he successfully guided the World Food Programme in carrying out the largest humanitarian operation in history, feeding 27 million Iraqis.

After serving six years in city government in Indianapolis, Ind., Morris moved to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. in 1973. He served as president for six years until 1989. Morris then became chairman and chief executive officer of IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company.

While serving in these leadership roles and on several corporate boards, Morris has carved time out of this already busy schedule for volunteer activities. He was affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee as treasurer and as chairman of the audit and ethics committee, was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, and was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. He has contributed time and guidance to many civic and community organizations.

Phyllis R. Naylor, author of the 1992 Newbery Medal winner Shiloh, was born in Anderson, Ind. She wrote her first book in kindergarten and sold her first story at age 16 for $4.67. Before she started writing full-time in 1960, Naylor worked as a teacher and editor. Since she sold her first children’s book in 1965, she has written 136 books for children and adults.

Shiloh is the story of an 11-year-old Marty Preston who chances upon a mistreated beagle pup in his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia. Marty is not prepared for the ethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, only to have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he steal food to help the poor creature? Marty’s efforts to cope with these questions provides the moral backbone for this story, which is presented in a language and manner that will be understood by third- and fourth-grade readers.

Kimberly Majeski grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from college with a degree in Political Science. After serving on the staff of a United States Congressman and two state representatives including the Speaker of the House and the Majority Floor Leader, Majeski received a call from God to preach. She immediately began preparing and studying for what has now become her life’s work.

Majeski served on the pastoral staff of the Trinity First Church of God in Nashville, Tennessee and also served as the Director of Education for the Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center where she enjoyed an extensive speaking ministry taking the message of truth and purity to many churches, women’s events and to over 13,000 young people in the public school system.

Majeski was ordained in 2000 and earned her Master of Divinity in 2003 from Anderson University School of Theology while serving as a Ministry Coordinator in the national offices of Women of the Church of God. During her career, she has served as a conference speaker, women’s retreat leader, Bible teacher, and pastor, She is married to Kevin Majeski and the two now live in Anderson, Indiana where Kimberly is the campus pastor of Anderson University.

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.

To rank schools, US News first organizes colleges and universities by category, and then ranks them within each group. Rankings are based on a wide range of criteria, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources to name a few.

“For nearly a quarter century, consulting the U.S.News & World Report rankings has been a vital first step for prospective college students and their parents in the complex process of determining which institution best fits their goals,” said U.S.News & World Report’s editor, Brian Kelly. “Designed as a one-stop resource, the rankings supply hard data and analysis to help college applicants make apples-to-apples comparisons of schools across the country. Through these rankings, and the ‘America’s Best Colleges’ guidebook, our goal is to help equip students and their families to make a knowledgeable decision based on clear, comparative research.”

All the US News rankings will appear on the magazine’s web site on Friday, August 17. College-bound students can use the site to search for colleges according to their own interests, fill out interactive worksheets and search for scholarship and financial aid information. Excerpts of the college rankings will be published in the August 27 edition (on newsstands August 20) of the weekly news magazine. The rankings will also be available online.

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.

Three years prior to the 2006-07 academic school year, AU started meeting about an Honors Program through a development committee. With the program (made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment), came planning, surveys to current students and alumni, curriculum intentions, and many other factors to create such a program for the university.

“We wanted a cohort of committed Christians who wanted to excel in learning, who were leaders in the community and knew how to represent AU’s campus,” said Dr. David Murphy, professor of History an co-director of the Honors Program. “We believe in combining our goals of intellectual and social learning in keeping with our mission to the program and AU.”

From the “Christian ideals” of the program it states the following: Anderson University is committed to the highest ideals of Christian higher education. As an integral part of that commitment, the Honors Program seeks to prepare students of demonstrated achievement for leadership in a range of fields of endeavor. Within this context, our scholars will be challenged to cultivate the life of the spirit, maturing in the virtues of integrity, justice, and generosity.

Dr. Carl Caldwell, vice president for Academic Affairs, nominated and appointed members to the committee to organize such a venture for incoming students. Committee members met to determine the desire and structure for such a program thus beginning the research and contact with other colleges in preparation for the program launch.

“We feel as though we learned from these other colleges and received feedback into how to structure and create such a program,” said Murphy. “For instance, we wanted to integrate these students with others on campus through dorm life and classes. Many other colleges have separate living quarters for honors students but we felt an overwhelming urge not to create such a lifestyle.”

Vivian Coffman, who works in the Center of Public Service (CPS) office and part-time for the Honors Program, appointed two upper classmen mentors, from CPS, to work with the cohort students. In addition, 2004 alum Erin Coffman and two other colleagues helped lead orientation sessions in adjusting to college life as a student and leader (curriculum from a youth leadership development program where she works in Washington D.C.)

“Because we did not have other honor students on campus we felt it was important to have upper classmen serving as mentors to these students and to see a familiar face when in the honors office,” said Vivian Coffman.

Rebecca Nelson, one of the first students to enter the program from Oak Lawn, Ill., felt that the three-day orientation program served the Honors Students in more ways than one.

“With arriving four days earlier on campus to adjust being away from home then coming into the honors orientation with three youth leadership experts, helped ease my anxiety coming into college,” said Nelson.

“I feel our roll in being mentors to these students is that they will use our mentorship how they see fit,” said senior Stephen Hawkins. “To let them know we [with sophomore mentor Lauren Roller] are people they can come to if they have problems, need questions answered, and to help them transition to college is important.”

Through CPS, Tri-S, SGA, and many other organizations on campus, Dr. Janice Fulkerson, associate professor of Education and co-director of the Honors Program, looks to these students as being future leaders on campus and in the community.

“We hope each year to have more and more applicants to the program and to have these students become ambassadors for the program in their hometowns and when talking to students and community members,” said Fulkerson.

“Retention is a huge factor for this program,” said Murphy. “We need to keep the brightest and best students in Indiana and in doing so need to create a program with a strong sense of belonging, which I think we have accomplished this year with our first group.”

Upon successful completion of 23 credit hours (one class per semester) over four years that will stand for and meet 17 liberal art credit requirements, students will receive special recognition at commencement, and on their transcripts and diploma.

For more information about requirements and the program itself, please visit www.anderson.edu/honors.

—Writer Stefanie Leiter is the editor of the Anderson University Web site in the AU Office of Communications.