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Campus News

College Expands to Utica

Houghton College will expand to Utica, New York, beginning next year. Dean Connell  believes the new program, which he says will mirror the off campus program already established in Buffalo, will allow Houghton  to reach the heavy immigrant population in Utica. The program is expected to begin in the fall of 2017.

Students of the Utica program will have the opportunity to graduate with an Associates of the Arts degree under the leadership of Mark Caruana as Dean of Houghton College Utica.   Dean of the college, Jack Connell, is confident the program will distinguish itself “through the curriculum that is high quality and profoundly Christian, the faith commitment of the faculty and staff, the nurturing Christian community that is formed around the students, and by the spiritual formation opportunities (such as chapel) that will be provided.”  Connell said the school as a whole “benefits because we are extending our mission in a way that’s beautifully consistent with our historic desire to educate students from a variety of backgrounds, including those whose resource limitations create barriers to enrolling.”

The college has also updated its online education offerings, now promoting three full degree programs entirely online. Potential students can now obtain degrees in psychology, business, and communication studies through the online education program. Paul Young, chair of the psychology department, recognizes the needs of individuals who choose to study online. He stated,“Not everybody can take the time out of their life to go to college.  Not everybody can afford to go to a residential college.” Still, people who cannot go away for college still show interest in a Christian education according to Marlene Collins-Blair, Associate Dean of Distance Education. She remarked, “Because most of our students are working adults, I have often wondered ‘Do they really care that it’s Christian?’ And they actually do.”  She recalled a specific case in which an online student spoke on how “the way that Houghton has allowed her to see the same things that she’s been taught at work has been huge for her”.

Young explains that since students from the online program will not benefit from most on-campus opportunities and because Houghton needs to be competitive with other, similar offers of an online education, the tuition rates for the online programs will be significantly lower  However, Young pointed out “They’re not using classroom space. They’re not using recreational facilities.  They don’t get to play Frisbee on the quad. You know, all the things that increase expense to make the on campus experience the Houghton College experience.”

However, the faculty designing the online programs were intentional about bringing the spirit of Houghton into the online programs.  Young explained the psychology program makes frequent use of online forums and video chats to maintain interactions between students, even as they are in their separate homes. The class sizes will also be kept small, never going over twenty students, and will require discussion through online forums.  Young remarked “I suspect there are classes at Houghton where at the end of the class you don’t even know everybody’s name and that’s not likely to happen in these.”

Additionally, Collins-Blair spoke on how the new online programs will continue the reputation of Houghton education, stating “It’s still high touch, it’s still high quality.”  

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Campus News

Olympic Athlete to Host Clinic

Elite WNBA player and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings will be leading a basketball clinic this Saturday in the Kerr-Pegula Field House (KPFH). According to a Houghton College press release, Catchings will also speak at a luncheon following the clinic.

basketball-eventThe clinic is open to girls ages 8-18. According to Head Women’s Basketball Coach Alicia Mucher, the women’s basketball team will participate in the clinic. “They will help lead drills, work through skills with different college coaches, high school coaches and Tamika Catchings throughout the 4 hour time period.  They will serve as demonstrators as well,” she said. Mucher stated that local high school teams will also participate in the clinic.

The event came into being through Athletic Director Harold Lord’s communication with Catchings at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) convention in June, Mucher said.  “ (KPFH facilities and events coordinator) Marshall Green has put in a ton of work to be sure we found a date to get her on our campus.  I foresee Houghton being a hot spot for many stand-out professional athletes, who are faith based, (in various sports) to come and provide Elite Clinics,” she noted.

“I am actively looking for high level athletes who are both at the top of their game and are also outspoken followers of Christ,” Green said.

Lord said inviting elite athletes, such as Catchings and Jenny Finch who ran a clinic last semester, is done with the goal to use the KPFH in the best way possible “in ways that are both missional and also draw prospective students.” This means, he said, bringing in individuals and programs which are not only popular but also “fit” the goals and mission of Houghton College and the Highlander Athletic Department.

Lord called the Jenny Finch softball clinic a “home run”- and said he hopes to continue hosting similar events to fill up programming slots during the off seasons. The clinic is self funded through the entrance fees paid by attendees. “[Revenue from the clinic] is part of our net missional revenue goal” he said.

Lord feels that Catchings fits well with the Athletic Department philosophy. “Tamika spoke at the NCAA inclusion forum as a deaf athlete,” he said, “and she is a very strong believer.” He also acknowledged Catchings’ work with less-privileged youth in Indianapolis.

Lord said the Athletic Department desires to run two to three such clinics each year, featuring high-level athletes across various sports. He said Finch will return in 2017, and also noted possible clinics run by athletes from the US Women’s National Soccer Team. A baseball clinic is also in the early planning stages.

“We are also bringing in two time Olympian and USA record holder of the ½ marathon, Ryan Hall for a running clinic, 5K and dinner/keynote speaking event on June 17,” Green said.

Catchings is slated to speak at a luncheon at 1:30pm following the clinic. She will speak on her journey as a professional Christian athlete, as well as her experience as a hearing-impaired person, according to Lord. A Houghton College press release stated the cost of the luncheon is $40 for those who also attended the clinic, and $50 for those who did not. Mucher said the luncheon is open to the public, who may register online. Space is limited to 100 people.  

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Campus National News

FAFSA Changes Now In Effect

Recent changes to the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) system have made the application available since October 1, 2016, instead of on the traditional January 1 release date.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

Because the FAFSA is available earlier, students and parents will complete it using tax information from two years ago. This means that this year, students and parents will fill out the FAFSA using their 2015 tax information, according to Financial Aid employee, Susanna Roorbach. The Federal Student Aid website said the new system offers several benefits. One of the benefits will be that the FAFSA will not involve as much estimation of finances since the taxes from two years prior will already be completed. Additionally, it will enable students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import tax information to the FAFSA. According to a tutorial on the Federal Student Aid website, this tool makes the process of transferring tax information to the FAFSA faster and more accurate.

Some of the greatest benefits are for incoming first year students, Roorbach said. Before, prospective students had a narrow window between receiving their financial aid package from a school and the school’s deadline to enroll. The new system takes the pressure off for new students exploring their options. “It will allow students to have their financial aid award letters sooner and give them more time to make a decision,” said Roorbach.

For returning students, Roorbach said, “When we award financial aid at Houghton, we give students the best package we can up front and we typically don’t change that, but this could really affect federal and state aid.” Using tax information from two years prior means that it takes longer for a change in finances to affect a student’s federal and state aid. Roorbach said if a student has a circumstance where their income dropped significantly or they recently had high medical expenses, they can fill out a Special Circumstance form along with their FAFSA which will allow their aid to reflect these changes. On the other hand, if a student’s income rises significantly, this change will not catch up to their aid as quickly as in previous years, Roorbach said.

The Financial Aid Office is changing their calendar to accommodate these new deadlines, Roorbach said. She explained the new system will mean sending out financial aid packages from October until August. “It’s something we thought would be helpful for a while,” she said. “Now that it’s here it could be a little challenging to implement, but I think things will run a lot smoother once we have a year of using this system under our belts.”

These changes will likely be helpful to Houghton students across the board. According to the Houghton College website, students receive roughly $13 million in aid, grants, and scholarships.. Roorbach said returning students generally shouldn’t worry about completing the FAFSA until after Thanksgiving.

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Campus News

Seminary President to Speak at New Vision Week

Next week, Houghton students will be hosting New Vision Week. Overseen by director of off campus studies, Marcus Dean, New Vision Week emphasizes the college’s deep connection to global missions. Events will run from October 24 through October 28. Dean stated that the event asks the question, “how do we reach out to people who aren’t like us?” He continued, “This could be a time to find out more about that.”

NVW week posterNew Vision Week has been a yearly tradition since the 1930s. According to former faculty member Paul Shea, Christian students throughout the U.S. were engaging with the idea of globals missions. Because of the focus on missions, what is now Global Christian Fellowship (GCF) began at that time, and have headed New Vision Week since. Shea emphasized the importance of student participation in the event, and stated, “If students don’t get involved, New Vision Week doesn’t happen.”

Planning for the event is headed by Bethany Rudolf ‘17 She has been involved with GCF since her sophomore year and is passionate about missions. Rudolf said, “I really love the opportunities to explore different topics and questions through the workshops and chapel messages, but my biggest interest within NVW is just trying to open the missions circle and break down some of the perceptions that are built up about missions.”

The keynote speaker for New Vision Week is Matthew Ayers, who spoke at GCF last year. Ayers serves as a missionary in Haiti, as the president of Emmaus Biblical Seminary, and is the author of a number of books and scholarly articles. Rudolf stated the seminary works alongside Haitians, and  its goal is “to reproduce Christ-like leaders equipped for effective ministry and committed to the transformation of Haiti and the world.” Ayers will be speaking in chapel for the entirety of the week, with a Flag Ceremony taking place on Monday to usher in the event. Students representing countries from all over the world will bear their flags in a striking visual of the global church, which Dean said is a great opportunity to find out where students are from.

In addition to chapel, those planning NVM have scheduled a number of workshops, a prayer and worship night, and a culture fair. The workshops will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, covering a broad range of topics including discussions on cross cultural missions, Islam, Bible translation, and human trafficking. The culture fair will take place on Monday at 8 p.m.,with the prayer and worship night on Wednesday also at 8 p.m.  

 

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Campus News

Wildlife Club To Host Master Falconer

Birds of prey will occupy the Quad on Saturday at 12:30, when master falconer, Pete Lotz, will present a flight demonstration featuring hawks, falcons, owls, and several other species of birds.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

The “Skyhunters Falconry Show” is Lotz’s third event at Houghton, and a local favorite, having drawn fanfare throughout Western New York.

The event, sponsored by the Houghton Wildlife Club, is free to all, and will include bake sale afterward in an attempt to offset the cost of the show.

According to former club president, Kaitlynn Nikirk ‘17, Lotz uses his craft both for entertainment and public service. Nikirk first became acquainted with Lotz through her work at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Erie County Wildlife Department. Additionally, Nikirk will also participate in the demonstration.

“Lotz has actually partnered with local airports to clear runways of ‘nuisance’ birds as flying hawks or falcons periodically between flights scares off birds that could potentially damage a plane that’s taking off,” Nikirk said.

In addition to the thrill of watching the flight demonstration, the show will also promote education and conservation. According to Nikirk, Lotz plans to bring “Education Animals” to the event, which have a greater purpose. “Wild falcons that have sustained injuries that would not allow them to thrive in the wild, with the proper permits, can be used in educational programs to teach the public about the species. ‘Non-releasable,’ or Education Animals play an important role in raising awareness for conservation, giving us a small glimpse of our wild neighbors,” said Nikirk.

According to the Houghton College website, over 250 people have attended the past two falconry shows. Wildlife Club member, Gabrielle Brewster ‘18, expects an equally successful turnout this year. “All animal lovers should come,” she said. “It’s another way to get closer to and appreciate God’s creatures. Opportunities like this do not come around often. For students that are interested in ornithology, this is a no brainer, and environmental biology students would benefit from hearing his presentation.”

“If you’ve never seen a bird of prey up close and personal, they’re really quite majestic,” Nikirk added. “Plus, how many opportunities are you going to get to see a bird of prey flight show?”

The Wildlife Club encourages all students, faculty, and community members to take advantage of the free event.

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Campus News Sports

Cross Country Teams Finish Strong

The Houghton cross country team had great success on their home course at the Field of Dreams on Saturday, October 8. The Highlanders competed against six teams, with both the men and women taking second place.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

According to head coach, Patrick Hager, almost everyone on the women’s side ran a lifetime personal record, and both teams beat Allegany County rival Alfred State. “Alfred’s beat us the past couple of years, so it’s nice to see us get a win over them,” said Hager.

The Highlanders of Houghton competed against Roberts Wesleyan, Penn State Behrend, Alfred State, Keuka, Finger Lakes Community College, and Elmira. Penn State Behrend took first place in both the men’s and women’s races.

The men and women had several athletes finish in the top 10, and both teams ran faster than they have in the past three years.

Reflecting on the team’s success, Rachel Hummel ‘16 said, “It was really rewarding for all of us to have months of training visibly pay off, especially at the last home meet of the season.”

Hummel finished sixth in her race, right behind teammate Ella Hotchkiss ‘18 who placed fifth. Gwen Stokes ‘20, finished close behind finishing eighth. All three competitors finished within 15 seconds of each other.

“Running alongside some of my closest friends is a huge motivator. We’ve been through alot together in training and I think we would all say that we couldn’t and wouldn’t do it alone,” said Hummel.

Stokes attributed their success to their committed mindset of racing as a team and not just as individuals. “Running together as a pack is really nice and motivational because it really makes you remember that you aren’t doing this for yourself, you are running for your teammates,” she said.

On the men’s side, Tyler Deuschle ‘20 was the first finisher for the Highlanders, placing sixth. Not far behind was Matthew Gostomski ‘19 placing tenth, Daniel Burdo ‘20 placing eleventh, and Cory McCarty ‘17 placing thirteenth.

“We have some very strong underclassmen guys who have really brought a lot of success to our team. I’m excited to see them led the team and keep improving over the next several years,” said captain Aaron Eisenhardt ‘17.

Hager commented, “This is the closest team I’ve had the pleasure of coaching. The freshmen really adjusted quickly and mix well with the upperclassmen personality. I think everyone will look back on this season with a big smile because of how close the team got.”

According to Hager, the meet resulted in the best overall races for the cross country teams in his three years as a coach. The meet was also the biggest home invitational they’ve hosted.

“We got confidence at this meet, and our athletes know that they’re fit and capable of running even faster in a few weeks. We pride ourselves on having a pretty consistent team, and peaking well at the end of our season. After competing so well, it’s fun that we still have a couple of championship races ahead,” said Hager.

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Campus News

Correction: Tanzania Program Changes

The October 7 edition of the Houghton Star incorrectly reported the semester in Tanzania program would be changed to run biannual.

According to Marcus Dean, Director of Off Campus Studies, the semester abroad will only be halted for the spring semester of 2017. Dean stated his intentions to continue the program in the Spring of 2018, “It will resume in 2018 with full intentions to continue to offer the Tanzania semester every year.”

There were many factors that went into the decision to halt the program for a semester, Dean said. One of those factors was low enrollment “at the time of the decision.” Dean continued, “We felt it in the best interest of students to make the decision during the summer not to run the Spring 2017 semester to give students plenty of time to choose another option if they desired to do that.”

Dean also hopes to improve upon the popular semester during the semester’s break. He said,  “We do hope that by waiting a year we will be able to make the program better in the future.”

Additionally, Dean said, there was no discussion of eliminating entirely, and stated, “It is our full intention to continue to offer the Tanzania semester.“

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Campus News

VOCA Office to Travel to D.C.

Houghton College’s Vocational Opportunities and Career Advising (VOCA) center will be traveling with a group of students to Washington D.C. over October break.

voca-d-c
Photo Courtesy of: Bjorn Webb

There, the students will meet with Houghton alumni who have established careers in the area. They will also have the opportunity to sight-see and tour the monuments in the Capitol. Director of VOCA, Kim Pool, and VOCA Intern, Jennifer Zacchigna ‘17, will be accompanying the students. “The purpose of the trip is for students to gain a better understanding about careers of interest. By visiting professionals at their place of work, they will see first-hand what a day-in-the life of that alum is like,” Pool said.  

The idea originated from director of alumni engagement Phyllis Gaerte’s trip to Washington D.C. during fall break last year, where she met with Houghton alumni in the area. “This year, we thought it would be beneficial to include students so they could meet with the alumni,” Pool said. She noted, “The purpose of the trip is for students to gain a better understanding about careers of interest.”

Students will have the opportunity to meet with alumni as a whole group, and in smaller groups with various alumni. Pool noted they will all meet with Houghton alumni David Long ’90, who previously worked for the Department of Defense and now works in management consulting for CGH Technologies. In the small groups, students will have the opportunity to meet with alumni who align with their specific interests. Zacchigna noted the importance of seeing alumni in their career place, in that students can “learn more about their specific career interests by experiencing first-hand what a certain job might look like.” She explained “This might look like shadowing them at work or just meeting for lunch to see and hear about their work experiences.” The students will also have the opportunity to meet with alumni in a casual group setting.

The trip has generated interested in students such as Chandler Jones ’17, who is interested in working in D.C. in the future. “I’m interested in International Development and Law, and the trip will allow me to meet with people from organizations I can see myself working at in the future,” she said. Pool echoed this, noting the specific ways in which the trip can help students think about their future careers, such as being able to “discern if living and working in a large metro city is right for them.” Regardless of whether or not students see themselves settling in Washington D.C. or a metro city, Pool said, “I’m most excited for our students to network with alumni and establish professional connections.”

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Campus News

Academic Records Undergoes Changes

The Academic Records Office has undergone several structural and cosmetic changes, including a name change.   Along with the name change to “Registrar’s Office,” their location has moved from the Luckey building to the lower level of Fancher Hall. There have also been staff changes in the office.  On June 6, Houghton welcomed a new registrar, Kevin Kettinger, after Margery Avery’s retirement. “It is quite obvious that Houghton College has been very blessed for many years with an excellent Registrar in Margery Avery,” said Kettinger.  As the new Registrar, Kettinger said he is thankful to work with a great staff in order to serve the students the best they can through their academic journey here.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

Susan Martin ‘84, former graduation counselor and certification officer for Academic Records, is no longer with Houghton College. The Registrar’s Office is still in the process of hiring a replacement to fill Susan Martin’s position. . The current staff, Kevin Kettinger, Registrar, James Hutter, Associate Registrar  of Records & Registration; and Rebecca McGarity-Palmer, Office Coordinator, extend their thanks to all faculty, staff, and students for their patience at this time. hey also said they are doing their best to replace the position in the near future.

In addition to the location and staff changes, McGarity-Palmer emphasizes the office’s efforts at becoming more technologically savvy. The Registrar’s office now has a computer at the front counter so students can receive help more efficiently, as well as find and locate forms or information while they are in the office. “We’re also attempting to make more of our forms electronic to help us use less paper and make things easier for students and faculty.  The new interactive forms are one of our first steps as we continue to work out the kinks and figure out how to best adapt our office to a more paperless world,” McGarity-Palmer stated.

According to the Houghton College website, the goal of the Registrar’s Office is to “…help ensure that all students have a productive and successful academic experience before, during, and after attendance.” Students in need of  assistance with course selection and offerings, academic transcript processing, or transcript evaluation should utilize the Registrar’s Office in its new location at Fancher Hall.

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Campus News

College Donates Land for Town Park

Thirty-two acres of land were donated to the town of Candeadea by Houghton College for a public park to be constructed.

campusnewsThe deed for the land, which is located near the Field of Dreams, was signed over to the township on July 5. According to a Houghton College press release, a Memo of Understanding was also signed. This will allow Houghton College’s continued, perpetual use of the cross country course, which cuts through the donated land.

Construction for the town park is tentatively slated to begin in the summer of 2017, a year after the land was donated by the college. As of now, plans include a pavilion, a picnic area, and playground equipment.

“Houghton College is privileged to partner with others in our community to create a park that will not only enable us to enjoy the Genesee River valley more fully but also attract others to the beauty of this region,” Houghton College President, Shirley Mullen, said in the press release.

The college’s chief business officer, Dale Wright, cited the recreational potential of the space for all age groups. He also stated in the press release, “It’s also an important example of the Town and the College working together on a mutually beneficial project.”

Matt Young ‘18, father of a toddler and preschooler, and Joshua Mason ‘18, whose son was born last semester, each expressed enthusiasm over the land donation and park plans.

“I would absolutely take my son to the park if it were completed next fall,” Mason said. Young concurred, saying, “It will be a fun, safe, place to bring them that is close by.”

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I think it is a great location for a park,” Young continued. “There will still be access to the cross-country course (which provides a view of the river), and the field of dreams provides a wide-open space that is secluded enough that parents shouldn’t have to worry about vehicle traffic.”

Noting the lack of park spaces in Houghton, Mason said, “There are many young families in the community that would benefit greatly from a park so close. I know of two good parks, – one in Fillmore and one in Belfast. From what I’ve seen, neither of these parks have a picnic/pavilion area.” Travel to both parks requires a 5 to-10 minute drive.

The future park space does not only interest students and community members with young children. Naomi Prentice ‘18 said she saw the value in both a park development as well as the current, undeveloped land in the Field of Dreams.

“If the town park is near the field of dreams and not smack dab in the middle of the field of dreams I would like it,!” she said. While Prentice anticipates using the park once completed, she said she hopes the area where the Tree of Life once stood will remain undeveloped. “Cross country, soccer camps, and a few other groups use the field and it would be sad to see that space taken away for them. Also, just to have an undeveloped area to hang out, take walks, stargaze and enjoy some quiet is valuable,” she noted.

Construction plans are not available at this time for public viewing, as the Caneadea Town Park is still in its tentative planning stage.