Author: Jordan Trautwein

As the semester winds down, the valedictory lectures will soon be coming to an end.  Professor Fisher recently addressed his audience and Professor Oakerson will give the semester’s last lecture next Thursday.

Last Thursday, Professor Carlton Fisher from the Philosophy department offered his thoughts on the implications of God’s foreknowledge—or lack thereof—in his lecture, memorably titled God’s March Madness Bracket:  Did God pick UMBC to beat Virginia?

“I will claim that God does not know much about the distant contingent future,” warned Fisher in his description. “I will argue that such knowledge is possible only if God controls all the details of the creation, which he does not. I will argue that for God’s purposes in sovereignly governing the creation such knowledge would be useless. Then I will take a step too far and suggest that there might be facts—facts about us—that God does not know.”

Following his lecture, Fisher offered a few parting words of wisdom to the Houghton community.  To faculty, he advised they “focus on mission, not on survival.”  As to students, he would tell them to “take the best courses you can.”

“Prof. Fisher is one of the outstanding teachers and thinkers we’ve had the privilege to count among the Houghton faculty,” said Morgan Smith, a junior majoring in Philosophy and Bible. “He does an excellent job of making potentially obscure philosophical ideas both accessible and valuable to students, and he demonstrates an enduringly wise and generous interest in student’s personal journeys and well-being.”

Early in his lecture, Fisher related his primary question back to an experience all people share, their first interactions with philosophical questions.  Throughout the lecture, he often made connections or comparisons to popular culture, outside the context of philosophy.  The most obvious example, of course, being in the title of the lecture.

“He’s [also] got a wonderful sense of humor,” remarked Smith.  “Prof. Fisher will be sorely missed.”

Following Fisher’s address, the only remaining valedictory lecture will be from political pcience professor Ron Oakerson.

When asked about the kind of professor attendees can expect at the faculty lecture, junior Katherine Stevick described him as“a kind, challenging professor and a great storyteller.”

Stevick went on to comment on his general approach to teaching.“I’ve been very fortunate to take a couple of classes with him before he retires—he’s put me onto all sorts of new authors and ideas that I would never have encountered otherwise,” she explained.  “He has a knack for creating these wonderful classes—the Sierra Leone Mayterm, the Buffalo-focused urban development class and in the past, the Adirondack studies program—which integrate classroom concepts and “real world” experiences or field trips.”

Those interested in attending Oakerson’s lecture should know that it will be next Thursday, April 26 at 4:25 in Library 323.

In an effort to update the education opportunities available to current students, as well as to keep up with the demands of prospective students, Houghton is looking into a number of new major programs. Because the majors would depend on first gaining state approval, they will not be available until Fall of 2019 at the earliest, explained Provost and Dean of the Faculty Jack Connell.

“There are eight potential new programs currently under consideration by the faculty,” said Connell.  “And of course, we have already submitted a proposal for a new major in electrical engineering and are waiting for New York State approval.”

Aside from electrical engineering, the science department could potentially benefit from the addition of undergraduate majors in environmental science, exercise science, and clinical lab science. Prospective students more drawn to the stage than the lab may have the chance to major in worship arts or to minor in theatre. A major in criminal justice, meanwhile, could introduce a focus entirely new to the school. Houghton may also expand further into graduate education with the potential addition of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters in Education.

When asked about the reasoning behind the chosen programs, Connell said, “No final decisions have been made yet, but these particular programs are under consideration because they are consistent with our mission and our strengths—and because we believe they would be attractive to prospective students.”

When The Princeton Review identified the ten most popular college majors, its number included business and several programs that focus on practical science.  A similar article from CNBC tracked the top six programs and reported that business majors account for 19% of college students.

“Houghton’s challenge is to translate our academic  program strengths into the language of prospective students—while also preserving all that is best in the Christian liberal arts tradition,” explained President Shirley Mullen.  “That is no easy task—but it is a critical one in today’s world.”

In line with the difficulty of the situation, she commented, “I am grateful to Dean Connell and the Area Deans for their leadership in ensuring that Houghton’s mix of academic programs matches the needs—and the perceived needs—of today’s marketplace.”

Mullen reflected on the value of the proposed additions, for both potential students and Houghton as a whole. “While a liberal arts education, with its emphasis on critical thinking, communication, and learning skills, is arguably still the very best preparation for lifelong personal and career effectiveness in a changing world, this is not the way most 18-year-olds and their parents think when they are choosing a college,”  she commented. “They are looking for a particular major that they perceive will lead to a job in the short term.”

The majority of the proposed majors could be taught by Houghton’s existing faculty, although “a couple of them would require additional faculty hires,” according to Connell.

It’s too early to count on the new majors quite yet, however. Connell explained that, while the process differs from program to program, gaining state approval to offer new majors is “an extensive process of submitting the program proposal and supporting documentation so the New York State Department of Education can ensure that the program will be of high quality.”

Students looking for summer employment can look as close as Houghton, at least for a week in June, as the Scoop recently alerted students to the opportunity to be a summer camp counselor or to participate in a community garden internship.

Due to weather and current staff levels, however, the garden will not employ students this summer.  “Unfortunately, several factors outside our control have made it unrealistic to get the garden started in time for this year’s growing season, and we’ve decided to delay the garden until summer 2019,” explained Sustainability Coordinator Brian Webb. 

He did have good news for students interested in the opportunity, saying, “We definitely still plan to have a college garden—it’s just going to take us one more year than expected to make it happen.”  The extra time will also allow the garden to be ready as soon as the growing season starts next year.

The counselor position, according to Math Camp Coordinator Lily Morris ’19, is “open to whoever wants to make a difference in the life of a Buffalo student.”  The camp runs June 4-8.

“Since it is an educational camp, a lot of education majors participate,” commented Morris.  “However, it is really open to whoever, so each year we have a wide variety of people. Science Camp is separate, but runs the same week and sometimes that targets more biology and science majors rather than education.”  The campers are third graders for Math Camp and sixth grade for Science Camp.

When asked what she looked forward to getting out of the experience, Morris referenced the opportunity to gain leadership experience.  Her major motivation, however, was the chance to create “a positive difference in the lives of Buffalo students for a few days.

“They remember Math Camp forever and some of their home lives are very difficult, so having a safe and fun place to come is so worth it for everyone involved,” explained Morris. “It also highlights some of the aspects of college living. For them, this is only a dream that they have heard of other people doing. Through this, we are able to show them they can go anywhere they want to in life.”

Meals and training are both provided during the week.  Preparation for the week will begin on Monday, which is the day the counselors arrive, and continues into Tuesday.  Responsibilities of counselors include decorating Gillette lounge on Tuesday night in preparation for the campers’ arrival.  The theme for the year is pirates, so participants will help transfigure the space into a pirate ship.  Campers will arrive on Wednesday morning, and Wednesday and Thursday are packed with exciting activities for the kids.

Because it is a math-focused camp, activities will include math centers in addition to water balloon fights, baseball games, and generally spending time with the kids.  “For the daytime, there are normally four to five groups that I make up with the counselors,” said Morris.  “They are our ‘color teams.’ Each of these teams are assigned five or six kids that travel with them throughout the day.” 

Counselors will be assigned “bedtime buddies” for the evening.  “They live in the room next to you and you basically make sure they fall asleep, read them books if needed, wake them up in the morning, eat breakfast with them, etc.,” explained Morris.  “Each counselor is assigned two to four students- it’s normally two- for ‘bedtime buddies.’”

The camp will run until Friday.  Campers will head home Friday morning, but there will still be a bit more time for fun before they leave.  Morris explained, “We get t-shirts and the kids get to sign them at the end of the week—they go absolutely nuts!”  Around 4 p.m., after lunch and clean-up, counselors will be free to leave.

Those interested in becoming a counselor are encouraged to submit an application and make sure they have a valid red employment card.  Participants will fill out a time sheet together before the campers arrive Wednesday morning, and will earn $250 for the week.

The fall 2018 semester will begin with two fewer business faculty members, as professors Naomi Christensen and Pil Joon Kim plan to end their time at Houghton. Despite this loss, their colleagues expressed confidence that the department will maintain a strong program.

“We will always be grateful to both professors Christensen and Kim for the three years they each invested in our students,”commented professor of business Ken Bates.  “Already we have high-performing alumni working both in accounting and in finance who are reaping dividends from exposure to these two Houghton faculty.”

While no new business professors have as yet been announced for next year, Bates offered assurance that Houghton would continue to offer a high-quality business education, saying, “Our commitment is high to fill their shoes with quality replacements that will continue the unusually strong heritage of Houghton’s business program.”

Business students expressed more concerns for the future of the program.  Tyler Stetson ‘20 commented,  “With the continual increase in regulation, companies are looking for people with excellent financial and accounting abilities. If Houghton isn’t prepared to provide top-notch instruction in those areas, it is headed for trouble.”

The knowledge and experience Kim brought to his teaching career allowed many students a more advanced business education than would typically be available to their peers.  Bates commented, “Our upper level finance students were stretched beyond what anyone would normally expect in an undergraduate business program by exposure to Dr. Kim’s expertise and his proprietary technical investing analysis methodologies.”

“I’m deeply disappointed about Professor Kim leaving,” said Stetson.  “He is an excellent professor that takes a personal interest in the academic and professional success of his students. He is also never afraid to push the bounds and encourage students to think well outside the normal undergraduate finance curriculum.”

Kim has served as a professor of business administration and was previously department chair.  His background includes numerous degrees from Soongsil University (South Korea) and the Illinois Institute of Technology.  His published research covers several crucial topics in the business field, including stocks and on market overreaction.

Christensen also brought her own interests and experience to her time teaching in the Houghton business department.  A Houghton alumna, Christensen currently serves as an instructor of accounting.  In her faculty biography, she described her teaching as a practical approach to accounting.  “Accounting is best learned by doing, so I incorporate multiple opportunities for students to try what we are learning for themselves,” she wrote.

Christensen taught several levels and varieties of accounting courses, as well as classes covering auditing and tax practicum.  “To make the subject matter come alive, I weave in examples of how students might see this applying in the world around them and their future careers,” she said. Her knowledge in those fields comes largely from her practical experience working with a variety of not-for-profit organizations.

Bates said of his colleague, “Professor Christensen strengthened our program with her practical experience at a public accounting firm and at a not-for-profit environment before coming back to Houghton.” He continued, referencing her certification as a public accountant, saying the department, “benefited from her professional credentials in managing our accounting major.”

“As for Professor Christensen leaving, I never had her in a class but hope Houghton finds another full time accounting professor soon,” commented Stetson.  “If they don’t, then they are not truly concerned about two of the school’s most popular and important majors, business and accounting.”

Along with an appreciation for the work of Kim and Christensen, their business colleagues expressed some sadness at the reality of their departure.  “As people, change is one of the hardest realities we face, but it is also one of the most constant,” added associate professor of Communication and Business Daniel Minchen.  “Our faculty is strong and we will adjust to the recent developments at the same time that we say a sad ‘So Long’ to dear colleagues.”

A Houghton alumnus will be teaching a new course focusing on social media, which will be available for students over the summer.   Shane Fraser graduated from Houghton and has since found success advising businesses in their application of social networking strategy, a skill he hopes to pass along to class participants.

Back in 2011, Fraser founded the organization SNA (Social Networking Assistance) Today to address an issue he found in struggling businesses. When trying to determine how businesses could differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace, he noticed that “the most consistent underutilized opportunity was the implementation of a social media marketing strategy.”  His class this summer will center around the practical creation and execution of effective social media campaigns.

“I am thrilled to have one of our very talented graduates teach a social media marketing class for us,” commented Prof. Douglas Gaerte, chair of the communication department.  “Shane has a broad range of experience in this area and has had great success in coaching a wide range of clients how to use social media more effectively to grow their businesses.”

The class, Social Media Marketing/Mobile Marketing and Analytics, will focus on how companies can “best leverage” audiences that use social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, according to its course overview.  The description also outlined some of what participants can expect from the course:  “Students will learn how to identify company goals, develop social strategies and implement those strategies through the most recent, up to date platforms.”

The goals of the class will closely align with Fraser’s goals for his organization.  SNA Today explained that it has “a passion for working with businesses, organizations and individuals to bring them up to speed with the fast paced market of social media.” 

There are widespread applications possible with the knowledge students can expect to gain from the course.  Gaerte emphasized a purpose particularly in tune with Houghton’s reputation.  He mentioned that “this course will be a big help for those in business as well as those interested in working in the non-profit world.”

The course will give students better insight into how to use social media to build and maintain the reputation of an organization.  When speaking on how they apply their skills in social networking, SNA Today said, “Not only do we have the ability to strategize, SNA Today also works alongside business owners to empower and train the companies for long-term success.”

The course is available with either a business or communication prefix, so students from either major are encouraged to participate.  “I’m glad we are able to provide an opportunity to build on the strong foundation our business and communication students already receive in marketing, advertising and public relations,” said Gaerte.

Deborah Rice, Business and Economic Department Chair said on the matter, “Understanding the strategic nature and potential of social media is a vital part of growing and sustaining an organization today.  We are excited to add this course for our students, and have it taught by a professional expert in the field of social media.”

Looking forward to the next school year, the search is on for new professors.  Positions are still open for psychology, history, art, international development, music industry, and music education. 

“We have a number of faculty searches underway right now, and they are all at different stages of the process,” said Academic Dean Jack Connell.  The current plan is to have all positions filled in time for the 2018-2019 school year.  Already, the searches for the two open education and philosophy faculty positions have reached a successful conclusion.

When asked what Houghton looks for in candidates, Connell answered, “To be considered for a faculty role here, a person must of course be a committed Christian and have the appropriate academic credentials, typically the terminal degree in the field.” He went on to explain that, “Once those foundational requirements are met, we look for people who are effective teachers, active scholars, able to integrate their faith into their academic work, and eager to serve our students, the college, and the church.”

President Mullen added, “In this season, we are especially on the lookout for faculty who can sharpen the distinctives of Houghton’s academic programs and the connections between a Houghton education and post-college opportunities.”

Among the openings is one for a new psychology professor.  The new faculty member will take up the classes of Dr. Van Wicklin, who “plans to retire at the end of this academic year after teaching at Houghton for 35 years,” according to Paul Young, Psychology Department Chair. The courses affected include “Developmental Psychology,” “Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood,”
“Lifespan Development of the Family,” and “Introduction to Psychology.”  The new professor would be taking up teaching both on campus and online courses.

Both President Mullen and Dean Connell actively recognized the importance of the decisions Houghton faces when choosing its professors.  Mullen commented that “Each new faculty member brings an original set of experiences, new perspectives on a discipline, and a fresh set of insights on how we can more effectively prepare graduates for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century world.”

“I view the selection of faculty as among the most important decisions a college ever makes, and so we have high standards throughout the entire process,” said Connell.  He detailed the procedure for selecting new faculty. 

A specifically formed search committee, normally headed by the relevant department chair,  considers all applications submitted before choosing which candidates will receive an interview.  One or two final candidates successful in their interview go on to visit Houghton for a more practical evaluation.  During their visit, the potential professor interacts with a variety of people on campus, including students, faculty, and administrators.  The visit also provides an opportunity to teach a sample class.  “The committee then recommends one of the candidates to me,” Connell explained, “and I in turn make a recommendation to the president.”   

The president makes the final decision for hiring new faculty members, according to Connell.   President Mullen appreciated the importance of selecting the right candidate, saying, “Part of the richness of an academic community is the way it is renewed annually by the arrival of new faculty.”