Graduate Education Registration and Orientation sets students up for success
September 16, 2008
Graduate Admissions recently sponsored Registration and Orientation for the M.Ed. program. Administrators and education faculty welcomed 12 teacher-students to Corban Graduate School who are pursuing either their Post-Baccalaureate teaching licensure or their Masters in Education this fall. Three-quarters will take on-campus classes weekly this fall while the other quarter will complete coursework mainly online. All students were introduced to Converge, Corban’s online course management system, and to the College’s commitment to support its Christian learners.
The event kicked off with registration at 4 p.m. on August 28th. Campus departments provided after-hour services to meet new-student needs. Business aspects of starting school, such as meeting with representatives from Financial Aid or the Business Office, buying books, touring the library, and picking up parking passes, were fulfilled.
A salad buffet dinner followed, giving students the opportunity to get to know each other, administrators, and the Education Department’s faculty. The dinner was practical and personal—allowing students to meet those who will play a key part in their educational experiences face to face, assuaging fears of those who may have been away from the academic environment for awhile, and heartening all to find support in their new community.
Provost Matt Lucas first addressed them. He emphasized Corban’s unique and valuable learning environment: Students’ degree in Education is taught from a biblical worldview. He also encouraged graduate learners to diligently pursue a healthy spiritual life. Time-pressures because of school (in addition to career and family responsibilities) must not override the importance of rest. Furthermore, even though Corban’s coursework will include biblical studies, it must not invade times of personal Bible study and prayer.
Students then met Dean of Education Janine Allen and Director of Graduate and Post-Bacc Education Studies Roy Bunch. Education faculty members Angela Mooney and Dr. Saung-Eun Dyer also welcomed them. Again, Corban’s unique training came to the forefront: Corban aims to produce graduate scholars who are exhibiting Christian character in the professional realm.
Following this presentation, faculty and IT staff trained students how to access the College’s online library, as well as Converge and other technological tools necessary for their successful academic experience.
Graduate Registration and Orientation served this fall’s newcomers to the Education Department the information and hands-on familiarity needed for a great start. Tim Mooney, Director of Graduate and Adult Degree Admissions, was impressed with the event: “It’s a good blend of ‘how to,’ who is involved, and what to expect—and the food was good, too.”
