Faculty Development on a Budget: Six Ways to Foster Faculty Development When Inter-Disciplinary Demands Are High and Budgets Are Low
Does your faculty feel like they need Ed.Ds in addition to their Ph.Ds in order to teach effectively? Do they have the IT department’s phone number on speed dial? Does thinking about the “flipped classroom” make them want to flip out? Expectations of faculty—from you...
How to Integrate Intercollegiate Athletics into the Intentionally Christ-centered Institution
Today’s ever changing trends in recruitment, retention, and branding often lead administrators to discuss how to develop programs that can accelerate institutional growth. Many of these discussions eventually arrive at out-of-the-classroom opportunities for...
Best Practices in Reference Services for Distance Education in Higher Education
You probably remember a time when a distant education student was a rare occurrence and academic reference services happened in the library while looking across the reference desk at the student before you. This is no longer the case. Many – if not most — higher...
How Far Can Your School Reach? St. Paul’s Plan for Influencing Your Region
Theological Schools Impact Communities (Excerpted from commencement address at Yellowstone Christian College) Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they...
A Model for Integration of Faith and Scholarship
Integration of Faith and Scholarship is not "a Given," Even in Christian Colleges We know we need God to somehow be involved in what we do in our schools. Can Christian schools depend on standard secular methods to achieve spiritual goals? A slavish imitation of a...
20 Realistic, Economical, Simple Initiatives to Improve Student Retention
For the hundreds of small, private colleges and universities that enroll large numbers of “at-risk” students, proactive retention activities are necessary to keep the school solvent. However, while maintaining retention is much discussed, it is rarely addressed in any...
The Issue on Which I Agree with Al-Qaeda and ISIS
Results of Funding Terrorist Training Before the Islamic State dreamed of taking over the world, Osama Bin Laden planned it, prayed for it, promoted it, and finally—he impacted. A key part of his plan focused on funding—funding for training. By promoting violence as a...
A Critical Reflection on Educational Processes
An 'A' Does Not Equal Effective Higher Education Assumptions regarding classroom success permeate the education system and families of individual students. For many an ‘A’ is the ultimate prize, a ‘B’ is disappointing, and a ‘C’ may signal inadequacy. Society as a...
Chief Financial Officer or Bookkeeper? Which Are You?
Many business officers holding the title of CFO are really bookkeepers. This is dangerous for the institution and for the employee. An institution hiring a CFO should receive high-level financial management. An unqualified CFO puts him/her self in a precarious...
Five Reasons Why Joining a Professional Library Association Will Increase Your Staff Productivity and Library Efficiency While Saving Money
In the current economic climate when administrators are under pressure to reduce expenses and still increase productivity, they may be tempted to limit professional memberships to one staff member per organization, or they might cut the budget for joining any...
Who Do You Want to Change America and the World: Howard Zinn or Jesus?
"Draftee's Prayer" Dear Lord, today I go to war: To fight, to die, Tell me what for? Dear Lord, I'll fight, I do not fear, Germans or Japs; My fears are here. America! —Excerpt of the 1943 “Draftee’s Prayer,” quoted in A People’s History of the United States ♥ Nearly...
Who’s in Your Classroom and Why Are You There?
I have been in a classroom of one kind or another since 1967. I got the call to teach, while serving in the United States Peace Corps in a small mountain village of 8,000 inhabitants at 13,000 feet in the Andes Mountains of Peru. I say “call” because I truly feel...
Board Members Do Contribute – Really!
Sometimes a board member gives nothing other than useless advice. Jesus prayed all night before choosing his disciples. Have you ever wished you had done the same before recommending certain people to join the board? Or, were you stuck with appointed members, people...
3 Ways to Unnecessarily STOP New Program Development
“Our job is to educate, and any involvement with Financial Aid will just complicate our mission.” Historically, that has been the mindset of academia in general and the administrative divisions of colleges, universities and seminaries, in particular. This is...
Biblically-based Counseling Resources: A Fresh Look
“I need help,” a student worker confides. “I don’t know who to talk to.” Academic librarians may often find themselves in counseling situations. More importantly, they need to assure that the resources are available for supporting courses in counseling… or even for...
Who Tempts College Administrators with Fake Accreditation?
She patiently slumps in the chair across from your desk. You hang up the phone and apologize for making her wait. Next you tell her how happy you always are to see an alumna like her. Then she begins. “The graduate school won’t accept me because I went to this...
