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.

The institute seeks scholars who are interested in how regional perspectives comment on wider national and global issues, and how regional material can enhance the undergraduate curriculum.

Through the grant from the National Endowment for Humanities, Noble will be researching the life of Heinrich Adam Herrmann, a German immigrant known in historical documents as Adam Harman, one of the earliest settlers to southwestern Virginia.

“I have a passion for this area of the country, and to be able to spend four weeks studying the culture, history, literature, and religion of the region is very exciting for me,” said Noble.

Noble is one of 25 professors selected to participate in the institute. Participants come from a variety of disciplines from across the nation. The Institute will examine Appalachian issues that link regional study to the liberal arts.

“An emphasis of the summer institute is to consider ways that regional studies impact the liberal arts,” said Noble. “I hope to bring back to AU a better understanding of how this might be done in the liberal arts classes I teach.”

—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.

“Radaker’s Thoreau is an intellectual treat of the first order,” said Dr. George Frein, Director of the National Chautauqua Tour. “Weaving together Thoreau’s best known lines with sentences from his journals and more obscure works, Kevin’s monologue is compelling, and his in-character answers to audience questions afterward are so authentic and aptly chosen that people are persuaded they are visiting and thinking along with Thoreau himself.”

Radaker has presented his portrayal of Thoreau at universities, colleges, libraries, museums and state and national parks over 300 times in 23 states since 1991. Additionally, his portrayal of Thoreau has been a part of summer Chautauqua tours in the Great Plains states (1991-1993), Missouri and Illinois (1997,1998), Massachusetts (1998), the Carolinas and New Hampshire (2001), Oklahoma (2003), and Maryland (2004).

In addition to his performances, Radaker has presented numerous papers on Thoreau at academic conferences, and he has published articles on Thoreau, Annie Dillard, and Wendell Berry in encyclopedias and academic journals.

Radaker teaches courses in American Literature, Modern Drama, Environmentalism in American Culture, American Literature and American Painting, and upper-division writing.

To learn more about Dr. Kevin Radaker’s dramatic portrayal of Thoreau, visit his Web site at www.thoreaulive.com.

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.

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 a major in Theatre Arts. 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.