August 18, 2005

Nearly everyone on campus who wasn’t working on one of the Corban construction projects took part in the Aug. 16 in-service events. Inservice at Corban brings together all employees for an informational/bonding time before the fall semester.

The day started in the newly remodeled Travis Memorial Dining Hall, moved into the Psalm Center , back to the dining hall for lunch, and ended with a tour of some of the construction areas: Pavilion, fourth and fifth floors of Academic Center , and the Psalm Annex music classroom.

“Our story is very complex, very exciting,” said President Reno Hoff in opening remarks. “In a sense, now the die has been cast as to who we are as Corban College .”

Dr. Hoff’s remarks, which throughout the morning spanned the past, present and future of the college, were interspersed with reports from each of the college’s vice presidents.

The college has transitioned several times, from a Bible college for pastors to its present comprehensive college with 45 majors and programs of study that educates all students to be ministers no matter what career field they enter, the president said.

“We are going to continue to change, continue to grow,” Dr. Hoff said. “We’re young; we have a lot of challenges before us. We are entrepreneurial. We’re going to continue to be in transition, but we have a great future.”

The 4,000 evangelical churches (which include 900 Baptist churches) in the Northwest “want a strong Christian college with solid biblical values, and with our name change, they can now identify more closely with Corban College, send their students here and also support us financially,” Dr. Hoff said.

“We essentially started over when we moved to Salem ,” the president said, explaining that the college had been owned by Regular Baptists, but there were none in Oregon when the college moved from California to Salem in 1969. Today the self-perpetuating board of trustees owns the college and the college’s support base has been broadened.

“We all have to be excellence-driven,” Dr. Hoff said. “We want everyone who leaves here to consider their lives a ministry. That’s very unique even among Christian colleges.

“Discipling is the business we’re in,” the president continued. “Colleges drift when they lose their center. We have core values based on biblical values.”

Following Hoff's opening presentation, Dr. Bryce Bernard, vice president for academics, introduced new faculty and staff in his department.

Jason Bittel, who for several years has worked part time in the Information Services department while a Corban student and while completing his master’s degree, now is full time as a systems analyst. Garrett Trott is new as a reference/instruction librarian.

New faculty adjuncts include Gary Taylor for Old Testament Survey; Chuck Lucas, Business Law; and Cory Keating, Math and Computer Science.

Matt Strauser, director of choral activities, and Claudia Green, associate professor in teacher education, this summer are both in doctoral programs and passed their comprehensive oral exams and are currently writing their dissertations.

“Last week we doubled our internet speed,” Dr. Bernard said in continuing his report. “We’re installing wireless first in all the dorms, then in the library and in Common Grounds, the campus Student Center .”

Student enrollment was his last topic. Dr. Bernard projected 273 new students this fall, up from 238 last fall, and a total of 640 students in the traditional program this fall, up from 585 last year.

“For the first time in the school’s history, we will more than likely break 800 students this fall,” Dr. Bernard said, including adult studies and graduate students in the total.

Dr. Hoff reclaimed the podium and talked about Corban’s future. He projected 1,000 students within three years, and expansion at the master’s level.

“We’re a parachurch organization,” Dr. Hoff said. “The most important thing about our college is our mission. We’re mission-driven, and we market our mission, which is to educate Christians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.”

Steve Hunt, vice president for marketing and communications, talked about parking issues.

“This year we’re going to have 90 more cars on campus than last year,” Hunt said to audible groans from the audience. “Attitudes can change and habits can change depending on your environment and your heart.”

All parking will be assigned at all hours of the day, with fines levied and enforced for infractions. That income will go into the college’s general fund.

“The right thing to do is to park where you’re supposed to,” Hunt said.

Dr. Linda Samek, director of Teacher Education, the largest major at Corban College , discussed the growth in the graduate program in education.

A new staff member, Dr. Roy Bunch, was hired to bring his expertise and experience in working with students who want a teaching certificate added to their non-education undergraduate degree. He joins Dr. Matt Lucas, director of teacher education graduate studies.

The graduate program in teacher education started last year with 14 students; about 70 are expected to complete the enrollment process for this fall’s classes, Dr. Samek said.

Nancy Martyn, Dean of the Adult Degree Program, spoke next. She reviewed the history of Adult Studies at Corban, which started in 1991; in 1997, the online version was started. It’s 16- to 17-month program in either Management and Communications, or Family Studies. About 140 students presently are enrolled, the largest number to date, Martyn said.

Nancy Hedberg, vice president for student life, and Marty Ziesemer, dean of enrollment management, discussed the college’s record enrollment and explained how Corban’s residence halls were reconfigured to accommodate additional students. Ziesemer credited the admissions staff for stellar recruitment efforts, and announced that Heidi Stowman, an admissions staffer for four years, recently was promoted to director of admissions.

Chris Erickson, vice president for business, discussed the construction improvements completed this summer.

Pavilion essentially was rebuilt by Master’s Hands construction company owned by a master craftsman, Keith Wardrip, Erickson said. New flooring, walls, insulation and heating/air conditioning was installed, and the building was leveled.

Also in the Pavilion, Common Grounds was enlarged by 400 square feet when a rear deck was enclosed. Master craftsman Warren Yoder is constructing new cabinets for that area.

The fourth floor of Academic Center is being renovated into three large classrooms, including a computer lab with electronic entry. The fifth floor has become faculty offices, faculty secretaries’ office, and a faculty lounge.

The Psalm Annex on the south side of the Psalm Center will house a large acoustical classroom for choir and band.

Farrar Hall has new wiring and a new fire alarm system, and new paint, carpeting and furnishings grace the lounge in Prewitt Van Gilder Residence Hall.

Aramark spent $200,000 to renovate and enlarge the dining hall. The improvements include new flooring, new bold paint on the walls, smaller tables, tall stools/tables and campy booth seating.

Plans are being made for a new residence hall north of Davidson Hall, to be completed by fall 2006, with excavation to begin in October 2005, Erickson said.

“You’re the ones who make Corban happen,” Dr. Hoff said in his concluding remarks. “We are a people organization dedicated to God. What greater mission is there? I could write a song about it!”