2008 Woodie Awards
Campus Conversations provide variety
Grant Abston, Student Reporter
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: News
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Campus Conversations, the new format for Tuesday Chapels, began Tuesday and aims to engage students on a more personal level while providing a variety of forums.
Beginning this semester, Tuesday's Chapel has changed, stemming from student response to how Chapel operates.
Dr. Wayne Barnard, university dean of spiritual formation and assistant professor of higher education, helped develop the
new format to create a better Chapel experience.
"In the online Chapel surveys, I heard students ask for a greater variety, so this format was the answer to their request," Barnard said in an e-mail.
Campus Conversations offers eight different forums, each meeting at different places around campus. Facilitated by faculty members, students will meet in a smaller setting to engage in deeper conversation.
"The purpose is to have students and faculty in smaller, intentional conversations, which students choose to attend,"
Barnard said.
Students were required to register online, ranking the eight different options.
"With eight choices, everyone should be able to find topics of conversation that interest them, even if it is their second or third choice," Barnard said.
Barnard said registration went well, with a steady flow of registrations up until the deadline.
"I'm very pleased with the numbers, and I think the conversations will be great," he said.
Blaine Martin, junior accounting major from Fresno, Calif., said there are positives and negatives to the new format.
"I think that the idea behind it is good and gives more students the opportunity to be more engaged. But logistically, I feel it is poorly designed because of the student cap, not allowing students to get the ones they want."
However, Barnard said the choosing of the format and numbers will allow Campus Conversations to be successful.
"We wanted to begin with eight groups, which is much more manageable, and then assess where we are at the
Beginning this semester, Tuesday's Chapel has changed, stemming from student response to how Chapel operates.
Dr. Wayne Barnard, university dean of spiritual formation and assistant professor of higher education, helped develop the
new format to create a better Chapel experience.
"In the online Chapel surveys, I heard students ask for a greater variety, so this format was the answer to their request," Barnard said in an e-mail.
Campus Conversations offers eight different forums, each meeting at different places around campus. Facilitated by faculty members, students will meet in a smaller setting to engage in deeper conversation.
"The purpose is to have students and faculty in smaller, intentional conversations, which students choose to attend,"
Barnard said.
Students were required to register online, ranking the eight different options.
"With eight choices, everyone should be able to find topics of conversation that interest them, even if it is their second or third choice," Barnard said.
Barnard said registration went well, with a steady flow of registrations up until the deadline.
"I'm very pleased with the numbers, and I think the conversations will be great," he said.
Blaine Martin, junior accounting major from Fresno, Calif., said there are positives and negatives to the new format.
"I think that the idea behind it is good and gives more students the opportunity to be more engaged. But logistically, I feel it is poorly designed because of the student cap, not allowing students to get the ones they want."
However, Barnard said the choosing of the format and numbers will allow Campus Conversations to be successful.
"We wanted to begin with eight groups, which is much more manageable, and then assess where we are at the
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
GREAT Aunt Bobbie
posted 9/13/07 @ 3:33 PM CST
GREAT writing, Grant!
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