Covenant News

Faculty, Staff Endorse Educational Restructuring Plan

CHICAGO, IL (May 21, 2001) - North Park University faculty and academic staff recently endorsed a six-part educational restructuring of the university as a way to integrate the academic, religious and extracurricular experiences of students.

Twelve committees will be reconfigured into four, according to Provost Margaret Haefner, and will include the following: Student Development, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Assessment and Personnel Development. The restructuring was approved for academic years 2001-2003.

The university also will consider reconfiguration of the academic departmental, division and school structure. Plans call for creation of institutes that will focus on Christian dialogue, international/cultural issues and urban issues, all areas that the university believes are inherent strengths of the institution.

A 25-member Structural Change Implementation Team worked more than three months on the project. Haefner said that revision of general educational curriculum and a review of majors are among other areas to be explored. She believes the changes will further distinguish North Park and help the university become more competitive in newly identified markets.

"We had the opportunity to make the North Park educational experience golden," said Haefner. "We believe it will distinguish us from other liberal arts schools. But even if it didn't, we'd have a blueprint for a new level of academic excellence and Christian intellectual community."

The Institute of Christian Dialogue will help students reflect on their experiences at North Park. The university has drafted a list of 10 "great questions" for students to consider as part of a program called the North Park Dialogue. The objective is to challenge students to explore in greater depth how their education can help them in all areas of life.

The "great questions" are:

• Who am I?
• Is my life my own?
• Who is my neighbor and how do I relate to them?
• What is truth?
• Who is Jesus?
• What is a life of significance?
• What does it mean to be a community?
• Why should I be ethical?
• What is a life of faith?
• What is justice?

"The premise is that everyone in the community can help students explore and address these questions," said Haefner, who worked on the proposal along with David Gill, Leona Mirza, Frank Steinhart and Warren Wade. "We're confident enough in our Christianity that we're not afraid to engage in any dialogue."

For more information about the educational structure changes at North Park, visit the Office of the Provost link at www.campus.northpark.edu/provost.

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