Judson — Year full of events that are sure to please everyone
During the 2000-2001 academic school year Judson College will offer students, friends and alumnae many opportunities to enjoy the beautiful campus. Special events will include the first performance in the Concert/Lecture series featuring renowned Christian artist Babbie Mason, weekly chapel services, a production of “The Nutcracker,” Christmas Tea and Vespers, intercollegiate sporting events, and J-Day weekend. Judson’s calendar is full of events and activities that are sure to please everyone.
Founded in 1838, Judson College is the sixth oldest women’s college in the nation and the only women’s college in Alabama. Service, missions, volunteering, worship, Bible study, and campus ministries are integral to the college and its relevance to society.
Extraordinary leadership positions in honor societies, student government association, dormitory councils and a host of other clubs and organizations assure women of opportunities to develop communication skills and gain peer recognition.
Intercollegiate and intramural sports, a Wellness Center, and activity courses encourage teamwork and fitness. Horseback riding, canoeing and cycling are activities students enjoy on and around the beautiful 80-acre campus.
Resident halls equipped with Internet access provide students the World Wide Web, broadening their research capabilities. The current college-provided computer-to-student ratio is a low seven to one.
With a 10-to-one student-teacher ratio, and 66 percent of the full-time faculty holding doctorate or terminal degrees in their field, students are offered every advantage to succeed in their course of study. Ninety-five percent of recent graduates have been accepted into graduate programs of their choice or have achieved full-time employment. At Judson College, all efforts and facilities are directed toward enabling young women as they strengthen their minds, hearts and souls.
Judson students are eager to take part in changing their world. Since its beginning, Judson has produced missions-minded women. This tradition continues today. Each year students give their Spring and Summer breaks to serve on the domestic or the international mission field. Judson women travel as far away as Singapore and Venezuela or stay as close to home as WorldSong at Cook Springs. These women give their time to missions in their own communities and all over the world.
Judson College is proud of the alumnae and their accomplishments. Alumnae established the first shelter for battered women in Alabama, were the first from Alabama to perform with the Metropolitan Opera, were among the first to take Christianity to China in the19th century, are among the first women to head research laboratories, are among the distinguished MacArthur Fellows, are distinguished as educators and are listed among best-selling authors. The College achieves this remarkable record as a liberal arts college for women that seeks to engage the minds, hearts and souls of women in the pursuit of truth. Judson College remains committed to providing quality Christian higher education. (JC)
Mobile — New sights, activities, courses greet students
Students arriving on the University of Mobile (UM) campus for the start of the 2000-2001 academic year will be greeted by an impressive sight — the stately columns, new pitched roof and graceful cupola which complete the renovation of Weaver Hall.
“Weaver Hall is the first classroom and administration building constructed on campus. When the original flat roof needed replacing, we decided to use the opportunity to update the 1960s-style exterior,” said UM President Mark Foley.
In an impromptu gesture symbolic of the proud heritage and bright future of the university, founding president and current chancellor William K. Weaver Jr. joined Foley as they placed their signatures on the cupola before it was raised atop the new roof.
“This is an exciting and visible enhancement which complements the enthusiasm and energy of our students, faculty, staff and alumni,” Foley said.
That energy will be evident when Off-to-College (OTC) Week activities kick off the new school year. Residence halls open Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. Registration and orientation will be held Aug. 28 and 29. Classes begin Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. For detailed information about registration, contact the office of admissions at 1-800-946-7267 or e-mail through the newly redesigned Web site at www.umobile.edu.
During OTC week, students will be treated to cookouts, free movies, an Upper Room Dinner Theatre production, Rams soccer games and late-night bowling. On Aug. 30, a prayer meeting will be held at 7 a.m. prior to the start of classes, with Prime-Time Praise at 9 p.m.
The campus activities board will extend the back-to-school celebration to the community with a musical concert Aug. 31 by Christian recording artist Ginny Owens.
OTC week activities are just the start of what promises to be a busy and productive year for UM students, faculty and staff who are focusing on “Changing Lives to Change the World.”
“We are preparing our graduates to be ethical, moral leaders with the academic and technical skills they must have to succeed,” Foley explained. “We intend for our graduates to be known as individuals who demonstrate value-centered leadership characteristics; excellent academic and technical preparation; a spiritual dynamic in life; and personal responsibility to family, community and country,” Foley added.
As part of that emphasis, the University of Mobile has added a Biblical Ethics course to the core curriculum. Beginning this fall, all undergraduate students will take this course as part of their basic study program. The School of Leadership Development is focusing on adult studies in organizational management, an undergraduate minor in leadership and professional development seminars in value-centered leadership. In addition, Foley will teach a course titled “Issues and Leaders” featuring case studies of ethical leadership and decision-making in today’s society. Distinguished guest lecturers will provide a perspective on the challenges UM graduates may face in their careers, communities, families and churches.
“As a part of the Alabama Baptist family, the University of Mobile is working to fulfill the Great Commission by graduating young men and women who are persons of character,” Foley said. “We want these individuals to be persons who know how to think, who know what is right, who have the courage to live and work according to their beliefs and who have the willingness and skills to use their influence in appropriate and effective ways to change the world around them.” (UM)
Samford — New science building marks changes
New and returning Samford University students will find the school’s beautiful Georgian-Colonial campus embellished this fall with towering cranes and the occasional detour sign.
“This academic year is going to be dominated by construction,” said Samford President Thomas E. Corts. “The new science center is already under way. It is the largest and most expensive single project Samford has ever undertaken,” he said.
The new $23 million-plus science building will provide about 90,000 square feet of space for the biology, chemistry and physics departments. The facility will contain classrooms, research labs, lab support space, administrative offices and other related areas necessary to support 35 total labs. It will also include a conservatory and a 60-seat planetarium.
As the science building construction hits full stride across from Reid Chapel, so does planning for other projects.
“At this very moment, architects are working furiously to develop plans necessary for construction of the new University Store, and the addition to the kitchen of the university dining hall,” said Corts. “Next summer (2001), the entire Ralph W. Beeson University Center is slated for remodeling and renewal.
“It is an exciting time to be at Samford. The first academic year of the new millennium promises to be one of increased vitality,” he said
Some 4,500 students are expected to begin classes Aug. 28. This fall’s 28 new full-time faculty members include Carol Ann Vaughn, who has been appointed director of Samford’s new Christian Women’s Leadership Center. The center, a cooperative effort of Samford and Woman’s Missionary Union, will prepare women for leadership roles in human services and helping professions in business and education, and in church work.
April L. Robinson is new this fall as director of Student Ministries. The 1993 Samford graduate will speak at a special campuswide worship service on Aug. 29.
New academic programs include the availability of a flexible schedule for Cumberland School of Law students to complete their degrees, and the launch of an LL.M/S.J.D. program in law, religion and culture. The “flex” program will allow law students a maximum of five years to complete their studies. The program is expected to appeal to nontraditional students such as career professionals or parents of school age children.
The new LL.M./S.J.D. degree at Cumberland offers intensive study in the related dimensions of law, religion and culture. Candidates for the degree will receive grounding in five subjects: church and state relations in American constitutional law, legal and religious history, jurisprudence and the sociology of religion and theology.
This academic year at Samford will see the implementation of a $750,000 grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to develop reliable ways to document the scholarship that goes into creating certain college courses and to measure the effectiveness of these courses. The study will look at what goes into designing and teaching courses that use the Problem-Based Learning technique.
Followers of Samford’s athletic program will notice a sleek new Bulldog logo in use by the eight men’s teams and nine women’s teams. A new Web site, samfordsports.com, will offer sports news, updated statistics and ticket information. Fans can use the Internet to listen to Samford football and men’s basketball games, which will also be carried on WVSU 91.1 FM radio.
The Seibert Stadium track is being expanded to eight lanes, making it suitable for major NCAA events. Field event surfaces are also being upgraded.
The Bulldog football schedule begins with an away game at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on Aug. 31, followed by a home opener against Murray State. Other upcoming Samford dates of interest are Family Weekend Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Homecoming Nov. 4. (SU)
BCM evangelism training
Alabama Baptist Campus Ministers recently completed training in The NET: Evangelism for the 21st Century. This group was the first group trained since the release of the material. Campus Ministers will be implementing this strategy this fall on campuses all over the state.
The NET, the latest evangelism strategy from the North American Mission Board, is a process designed to guide believers in sharing their stories. The approach is a natural, conversational one that is culturally relevant, testimony-driven and requires minimal memorization. It is easily adaptable to any situation.
Mike Nuss, director the office of collegiate ministries, is excited about The NET and what it will produce on campuses this year. “Campus Ministries has always been about the business of reaching students for Christ,” Nuss said. (BCM)
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