22 Oct EXCEL Expands to Fort Wayne

In February, Huntington University’s EXCEL Adult Degree Programs will begin offering classes in Fort Wayne, Ind. That makes four EXCEL locations, the others being Huntington, Columbia City, and Wabash.

EXCEL offers evening classes tailored to the schedule of most working adults. Classes are held one night per week, one subject at a time. Classes last 5-8 weeks and lead to an associate degree in organizational management or bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration, human resource management, or not-for-profit leadership.

11 Sep HU Goes to China

The Huntington University site posted a lengthy article, with photos, about this summer’s teacher training project in China.

09 Sep Huntington Keeping Some Impressive Company

Forbes.com placed Huntington University on its Top 100 list of America’s Best Colleges. HU was ranked No. 65. For perspective, other schools in the top 75 were:

• University of North Carolina (66).
• Wake Forest (69).
• Cornell (71).

This is impressive, too: only five Indiana colleges made the top 100. They are:

• Wabash College (12th).
• DePauw University (47th).
• Huntington University (65th).
• Notre Dame (77th).
• Earlham (94th).

Here’s the Forbes.com listing for Huntington University. Or, check out the state-by-state list.

08 Sep $75,000 for HU’s Nursing Program

In a presentation Sept. 2, Parkview Huntington Hospital awarded a $75,000 grant to Huntington University’s nursing program.

This gift is in addition to a $100,000 grant the hospital gave the university in February 2006 and a $75,000 grant presented in May 2007.
“Huntington University’s new Bachelor of Science Nursing program will help to address the ever-growing national need for more healthcare workers,” said Darlene Garrett, chief operating officer of Parkview Huntington Hospital. “We are proud to be able to contribute to this important educational opportunity.”

The grant funds were used for the construction and equipping of the main lab/classroom in the Nursing Department located in the lower level of the university’s Science Hall. The room is named in the hospital’s honor as the Parkview Huntington Hospital Lab/Classroom.

Dr. Margaret Winter, director of the nursing program, said, “An essential part of nursing education for the students is to practice the necessary skills and procedures in a state-of-the art skills facility and then to transfer this knowledge into the clinical setting. Parkview Huntington Hospital is providing both of these opportunities with their financial support and in offering the hospital environment for student clinicals.”

Huntington University has 38 students enrolled in the pre-nursing program with the first class of nursing majors set to graduate in May 2011.

08 Sep Record Enrollment at Our College: 1209

It’s another record enrollment for Huntington University: 1209 students for the fall 2008 semester.

• 978 traditional undergraduates (a new record).
• 130 students in the EXCEL adult degree programs.
• 101 students in the Graduate School (the first year the grad programs exceeded 100).

The 327 new fulltime traditional undergraduate students is a new record.

The new student residence, Livingston Hall, opened in time for the fall semester. It’s already 97% full. Overall student housing is at 90% capacity.

“The long-range plan,” said HU President G. Blair Dowden, “calls for increasing enrollment to 2000 students by 2016.”

Other tidbits about the HU student body:

• 7% of incoming freshmen represent US ethnic minorities.
• Students come from 36 different states and Puerto Rico (with 56% from Indiana).
• 31 international students represent 17 countries.

02 Sep Students Plunge into Volunteerism

Hundreds of Huntington University students plunged into their college experience by volunteering at several places throughout the Huntington community on August 23.

For 15 years, the university’s new students have participated in the Joe Mertz Center’s Volunteer Plunge. This year, 28 teams comprised of more than 350 freshmen and transfer students, 28 mentor students, and 30 faculty worked on projects from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Volunteer Plunge is a part-day of community service held each year in conjunction with Huntington University’s three-day new student orientation.

The teams helped with painting, cleaning out facilities, building maintenance, lawn care, mulching, washing vehicles, socializing with nursing home residents, picking up litter and repairing fences.

Said Grace McBrayer, director of first year students and volunteer service, “A summer’s worth of orchestration culminated as students and staff spread out into the community of Huntington and a bit beyond. Certainly many thanks go to the myriad of people and organizations willing to host our students out in the community, as well as the Joe Mertz Center student staff who worked hard during the days before the plunge to arrange details regarding the vans, work supplies and other logistics.”

Service locations for the 2008 Volunteer Plunge included the Huntington Head Start, YMCA, Bible Baptist Church, Homier Baseball Field, The Church of Our Glorious King, Salamonie Interpretive Center, The Huntington County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Helping Paws, Miller’s Merry Manor, the Huntington County Boys and Girls Club, Salamonie Reservoir, College Park Church, Victory Knoll, Love INC, Pathfinder Services, Forks of the Wabash, Dan Quayle Center, Riverview Middle School, Good Shepherd Church, Huntington Church of the Brethren, Huntington First Church of the Nazarene, Kids Kampus, Springwater Church 509 Ministries, and Habitat for Humanity.

Founded in 1992, the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service has become an integral part of Huntington University campus life. During the 2007-2008 academic year, students, faculty and staff volunteered for more than 12,900 hours, serving families, organizations and programs.

The JMC is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. The JMC aims to involve students in the local community, instill a lifelong tendency toward service and promote the idea that one person can make a difference. The Joe Mertz Center has been listed as an exemplary program in the John Templeton Foundation Honor Roll of Character-Building Colleges.

02 Sep Huntington University Teams with Attaboy

When Attaboy launches its Rock Hop & Roll tour in September, three of the band members will take their alma mater with them. The Huntington-based alternative rock group has partnered with Huntington University.
Attaboy includes (left to right) Micah Beckwith, Amos Caley, Jeff Edgel and Chris Brumbaugh.

• Drummer Micah Beckwith graduated from the university in 2005 with a double major in business management, and economics and finance.
• Amos Caley, also a 2005 alumnus, has a bachelor’s degree in Bible and religion.
• Guitarist Jeff Edgel majored in elementary education and graduated in 2004.
• Though bassist Chris Brumbaugh is not an alumnus, he has lived in Huntington all of his life and is a United Brethren member.

“I’m really impressed because we’re always touring, and we’re always thinking about how we can market ourselves creatively,” said Caley, vocalist and pianist for Attaboy. “We’ve seen many colleges and universities not thinking the same way. They don’t try things out of the box….We’ve never seen a university hitch its wagon to a band. We’re fully anticipating extending the partnership.”

From the university’s standpoint, Attaboy offered access to thousands of teenagers and young adults who otherwise may have never heard of Huntington.

“It’s a catchy way to get students’ attention,” said Nate Perry, the university’s director of undergraduate admissions. “Obviously, music is popular. Young people love music. The other thing is for Attaboy, it’s not just about being in front during a concert. It’s about trying to build relationships with students. Students truly appreciate that. Anyone can get on stage and play, but it takes someone special to develop relationships with an audience.”

The partnership involves co-branding between the band and the university – everything from Web site links to T-shirts to concerts at the university.

Attaboy’s music has appeared on three promotional CDs and one DVD for the university. Acoustic hip-hop artist Heath McNease and indie-rock newcomers The Fabulous also have tracks on the CD and are part of the Rock Hop & Roll tour.

“With this CD, the university has the power to help us get our music out to thousands of people that we wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Beckwith said. “That’s great for us. It helps us tremendously as a band to have that level of exposure.”

Creatively, the band’s messages resonated with the audience that Huntington targets with its admissions efforts.

“Another pretty natural connection is that the music we write is very focused around junior high, high school and early college students – their struggles for acceptance, maturity, trying to figure out who they are. Those questions lead to much of our songwriting. We try to add a positive spin with hope and encouragement.

“I think the overall message of our concerts blends well with the message Huntington wants to send with its education. It’s a match made in heaven.”

The month-long Rock Hop & Roll tour kicks off at the South Whitley United Methodist Church in South Whitley, Ind., at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6. For more information, log on to www.attaboyonline.com.

27 Aug Soccer Camp in Walbridge, Ohio

The Huntington University men’s soccer team partnered with Mainstreet Church in Walbridge, Ohio, to host the Onside Soccer Camp August 11-14. Two coaches and 23 players worked with 86 children, ages 4-13. The children participated in drills, games and team time activities. This is the second camp the team has organized for the church and the community.

“Not only do we share the game of soccer, but we also have an opportunity each night to share our faith with the children,” said Russ Lawson, head coach of the Huntington men’s soccer team. “This stretches most of our players and moves them out of their comfort zones. This week also allows us to learn more about each other and prepare for the season with a handful of training sessions.”

Lawson added that Cathy Burson, children’s ministry director for Mainstreet Church, and her staff volunteers “do an amazing job of taking care of us.”

21 Aug Four New Huntington University Faculty

L-r: Lee Shortridge, Michael Slane, Jonathan Krull, Jay Duffer.

Four new members are joining the Huntington University faculty this fall.

Lee Shortridge, assistant professor of art. His resume includes a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1982 from Rosary College Graduate School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy (he focused on drawing and painting). Shortridge has taught courses for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, Bradley University, and Northeastern University. His areas of expertise include graphic design and fine arts.

Michael Slane, assistant professor of theatre. He holds a Masters degrees in theatre from the University of Kentucky (2001) and Ohio University (2008). His areas of expertise include theatre design and technology.

Jonathan Krull, visiting professor of philosophy (a one-year appointment). He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., and is pursuing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of South Carolina.

Jay Duffer, visiting professor of theatre (one-year appointment). He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Baylor University. He is a professional actor, director and playwright. He has performed in venues ranging from Off-Broadway and New York theatre to regional houses as well as working in productions overseas.

For the past few years, Duffer has directed the popular New York-based sketch comedy troupe, Freedumb. The troupe played to sold-out crowds at the 2006 and 2007 Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the 2005 and 2006 Toronto International Sketch Comedy Festival, and the 2007 DC Comedy Festival. From 2004-2007, he served as the executive director of New Works for Threads Theatre Company, a faith-based arts company that promotes and supports Christian writers in the secular marketplace.

You can read more about them on the Huntington University news page.