18 Jan HU Grad’s Commerical May Make the Super Bowl

Last May, Eric Church earned a degree in digital media arts from Huntington University. Now, he’s in the running to win a share of $5 million as part of the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” ad competition.

Church was part of a team that produced “Casket,” one of the top six finalists (out of 4000 entries). It features a man who stages his own funeral to eat Doritos and watch football.

People can vote for their favorite of those six finalists. The top three will then air during the Super Bowl. Voters also earn a chance to win Super Bowl tickets.

The “Casket” commercial was produced by Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic, a church in Whittier, Calif. Eric Church attends there.

“Shooting it was a blast,” Church says, “especially the whole falling out of the casket stunt. We used 70 bags of Doritos to cover him up inside. It was great!”

18 Dec HU Ending the Pastoral Training Program

The Huntington University Graduate School announced this week that it will discontinue the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, the program that prepares students for pastoral ministry. Classes will be offered through June 15, 2010.

Ministers can still receive plenty of training at Huntington University. The Masters programs in Youth Ministry Leadership, Counseling, and Education will continue. So will the undergraduate level programs in Bible and Religion, and Ministry and Missions. But the Ministry Leadership program is no longer viable.

The Ministry Leadership program is fairly small: 1 fulltime student, and 29 part-time students. Of those, less than half are United Brethren (1 fulltime, 12 part-time). Many of them receive deep tuition discounts. The program has one fulltime director, 4 adjunct faculty, and one support person.

Dr. G. Blair Dowden, in a letter he sent earlier this week to students in the program, wrote:

“Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly and is part of a comprehensive budget adjustment involving all parts of the university. Factors such as university-wide enrollment, reduced giving from donors, and changes in state financial aid have forced the university (and many other universities) to take unprecedented measures to balance our budget. The decision to discontinue specific programs was made only after much deliberation and prayer….

“I am saddened by the loss of the Ministry Leadership program at Huntington University, and I regret the position this creates for you and the other students enrolled in the program. Please know that we will work with each of you to find the best solution for completion of this degree or a comparable degree at another university.”

We need to recognize the financial issues that brought this to a head.

For over 100 years, Huntington University has been the primary training ground for United Brethren ministers. However, for many years now, the university has lost money on its graduate-level pastoral ministry track. They have tried different approaches, and have accepted the financial losses because of their commitment to the United Brethren church. But it finally reached the point where they had to pull the plug.

While I’m saddened by this decision, I understand why it is necessary. I do not fault Huntington University. They tried to make it work.

I feel for the students currently in the program. A couple of them have contacted me already. They are halfway through the program, and are understandably concerned. Have I wasted time and money? Will the credits I’ve earned transfer to another school? What about the tuition discounts I receive as a United Brethren student?

Mike Cook, the Director of Graduate Ministries, is investigating options for them. Huntington University plans to help these students in a number of ways, including negotiating transfer agreements with other Christian colleges and universities.

On a positive note: we can now take a fresh look at pastoral training. This will be healthy and exciting for us.

The United Brethren denomination has a responsibility to train its ministers effectively. Yes, they can earn degrees at any number of other institutions. But we need to decide what exactly we want for United Brethren ministers, and then steer them in the right direction.

It’s easy, when you have a college with a pastoral training program, to just let them do it. Our approach has been: whatever program Huntington University offers, that’s what our ministers need. We’ve been a bit spoiled.

But now, we must reexamine that question. Which colleges have pastoral training programs that fit what we’re looking for? Should we offer training beyond formal education–mentoring, workshops, seminars?

It will be healthy for us to take a fresh look at pastoral training. The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Team will lead the way. My hope is that this spring, we can develop a game plan that does two things:

1. Helps the students currently in the Huntington University program transfer to an institution where they can complete their training.
2. Sets the agenda for the training of future United Brethren ministers.

Yes, it’s sad to see the pastoral training program come to an end. It’s been an important aspect of our relationship with Huntington University, training hundreds of UB ministers over the years.

But at the same time, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at the crucial task of ministerial training. That will be good for us.

17 Dec HU Athletes Buy Gifts for Local Families

The Huntington University Athletic Department teamed up with Love INC to sponsor local families for Christmas. Each of the 15 athletic teams purchased gifts and food for Huntington County families. Staff members from the President’s Office and Public Relations Office joined the student-athletes’ holiday project. Through these efforts, the children of 13 families will have presents to open on Christmas morning.

09 Dec HU Adds Bachelor’s Degree for Registered Nurses

In March 2010, Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs will begin offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) for registered nurses.

Classes will be held on Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. on the university’s main campus.

The RN to BSN program seeks to build on the experience and education nurses already have gained in the field, and to teach nursing theory, leadership, and care through a Christian lens.

Students will complete the nursing core in less than two years. The program consists of 17 courses comprising 49 credit hours. These courses include Bible and writing as well as nursing courses such as research, ethics, and current issues in nursing. Transcripts from previous educational institutions will determine the amount of transferable coursework and the courses needed for graduation.

“Our program is designed for adult learners who work and have family responsibilities,” said Diana Shenefield (right), an R.N. and instructor in nursing.

She added that the university’s smaller size allows for a more student-centered approach to learning.

“Students have more of an opportunity to speak out in class,” Shenefield said. “They can ask questions as well as engage the professor in dialogue in and outside of class.”

04 Dec Bishop Whipple Addresses Visiting UB Students

This morning (Friday, Dec. 4), Bishop Phil Whipple spoke briefly to a group of youth from United Brethren churches who were visiting Huntington University. They met in the Longaker Recital Hall in the Merillat Centre for the Arts. The students had come for the Toby Mac Winter Wonder Slam concert, held the night before at Huntington University. They represented these churches:

• Cochranton Community (Cochranton, Pa.)
• Pathway Community (Jackson, Mich.)
• Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.)
• Fowlerville UB (Fowlervile, Mich.)
• Banner of Christ (Byron Center, Mich.)
• Bethel UB (Elmore, Ohio)

19 Nov HU Sophomore Wins College Singing Competition

Sarah Yanovitch, a sophomore vocal performance major at Huntington University, took first place for the second year in a row, in the sophomore women’s division of the Indiana NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition held Oct. 31 at Anderson University.

She performed “Ah, non giunge” from Bellini’s “La Sonnambula,” in a competition that included singers from Indiana University, Indiana State, Depauw, Ball State, as well as several Christian colleges. Yanovitch is from Griswold, Conn.

01 Nov tobyMac at Huntington University Dec 3

Christian musician tobyMac will perform at Huntington University on December 3 as part of his Winter Wonder Slam tour. The concert will also include Stephanie Smith, B. Reith, and Attaboy. It’ll be held in the athletic fieldhouse.

As in past years, Winter Wonder Slam will benefit the work of the U.S. Marine Corps in its annual Toys for Tots campaign. Concert goers are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to the event.

Sys tobyMac, “I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ. The Winter Wonder Slam Tour does have a Christmas theme, but every band will be playing their hits and doing it the way they do.”

Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:

• $23 in advance
• $25 at the door
• $18 per person for groups of 10 or more.

To purchase tickets by phone or mail, contact:
Trinity Communications at (260) 484-1029.
Huntington University’s Box Office at (260) 359-4261.

Follow the link to read about the performers.
(more…)

31 Oct HU Nursing Students Give Flu Shots

Junior nursing student Megan Durham gives HU employee Grace McBrayer her flu shot while Professor Diana Shenefield looks on.

Huntington University’s Department of Nursing, in collaboration with the Huntington County Department of Health, offered flu shots on October 22. After learning fundamental skills this semester, the first class of nursing students from participated in giving seasonal flu vaccines at the flu shot clinic. The clinic took place in the university’s Science Hall.