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Calvary Introduces 5-Year BA and MDiv Degree Program

Calvary Introduces 5-Year BA and MDiv Degree Program

by | Sep 16, 2019

New 5-year BA and MDiv gets students through faster with less debt

Calvary University is announcing the latest development in their academic program: A 5-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Divinity (MDiv). While traditionally, an MDiv takes three years of study after the completion of a four-year BA, this program compacts the seven years into five.

Calvary’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Teddy Bitner, explained that most MDiv programs assume the incoming student does not have a biblical background, so there is a lot of redundancy between a Bible college degree and an MDiv, especially for Pastoral Studies majors. The new program identifies the overlapping courses and eliminates the undergraduate equivalents so students, can, according to Bitner, “cut out hours and compress the timeline.”

The program requires 163 hours and has enough space for an undergraduate minor in Biblical Counseling or Business. Bitner said this is an innovation. None of the other 5-year programs he studied offered room for a minor. Students in the 5-year track work through their General Education courses the first two years before advancing to higher level courses.

The 5-year plan enables students to get through the program faster, get into ministry faster, and in doing so save money on tuition. Due to the intense nature of the program, applying students will be vetted by Bible and Theology and Ministry Studies faculty.

Five-year masters programs are not entirely new to academia. Bitner explained that Calvary did thorough checking with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) which confirmed that a large enough number of schools have incorporated the plan. It has become a broadly accepted practice.

Bitner pointed out that the new track would strengthen Calvary’s academic program and help students get into the field sooner to pursue ministry. “We want to reinforce the importance of a biblical foundation for ministry,” he said, “which is not always the case in other institutions anymore, especially in areas of languages. So we are becoming more and more unique.”

Introducing… Doubt!

Introducing… Doubt!

by | Sep 14, 2019

Coming to Calvary University this fall—the most controversial, challenging, and thought-provoking play in the history of CU Theatre Arts. Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, is a play with only four characters, but each is integrally linked to the power of this parable, providing our cast and audience with some of the best substance contemporary dramatic literature has to offer.

The year is 1964; the action of the play: St. Nicholas Catholic school and parish in the Bronx. Here you’ll become acquainted with neophyte 8th grade teacher Sister James whose love for children and teaching is about to encounter the heat of a moral crucible. Meet Father Flynn, the charismatic, well-loved, and progressive parish priest whose calling to shepherd his flock will be called into question so fiercely he may lose both his career and his freedom. Enter Sister Aloysius, Father Flynn’s nemesis and the tenaciously fierce, rigid, and tormented principal of St. Nicholas School. And finally, we introduce Mrs. Muller, the mother of the first African American boy to integrate St. Nicholas as she is confronted with the possibility that her son is being sexually abused by its priest. Written in 2004, this production continues to speak to our culture. In the fifteen years since this production began asking the questions it probes, sexual abuse continues to be rampant not only in Catholic schools, but in the entertainment industry, news casting, Evangelical Christian universities, and in our homes and families. What do we do when faced with issues of uncertainty, betrayal, and trust? 

The beginning of change is the moment of doubt. It is that crucial moment when I renew my humanity or become a lie.

-John Patrick Shanley, playwright

In 2005, Doubt won all the coveted playwriting accolades: the Tony, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Drama Desk Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. It also won Tonys for Best Direction, Best Performance by a Leading Actress, Best Performance by a Featured Actress, along with four other Tony nominations. In 2008 when Shanley wrote the screenplay, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the entire cast was nominated for Academy Awards in acting categories. Doubt is indisputably one of the best pieces of dramatic literature of our century.

We rest our case! We invite you to experience this production with us and become a part of the solution! Preshow talks and talkbacks will be held before and after each performance. Licensed practical therapists, Biblical counselors, and theology profs will join our cast and crew for discussion. We welcome you to join us for a sensitive examination of the themes of this production.

Due to the sensitive subject matter, we recommend this production to an audience of those twelve and up.

 Matinee performances on October 24 at 11:00 a.m. and October 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Evening performances on October 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.

 Tickets go on sale as of 9/24. For ticket information, please click here to visit our Box Office.

Calvary Unveils Updated Seal

Calvary Unveils Updated Seal

by | Sep 13, 2019

Marketing and Communications Director, Shaun LePage, unveils the updated academic seal at On-Ramp 2019.

Calvary’s Academic Seal Gets an Update

Calvary University is excited to unveil an official visual update to their academic seal. The update was instigated by Calvary’s President, Dr. Christopher Cone, in his continued desire for Calvary to pursue excellence across all planes. 

The seal preserves many elements of prior seals, such as the global cross and Greek text, as well as incorporating newer elements of Hebrew text.

The academic seal represents Calvary’s academic standing and excellence, as well as the mission Calvary embraces. The global cross has long been emblematic of Calvary’s commitment to the work of discipleship for ministry across borders. The global cross is grounded on the Word, representing Calvary’s distinctive of undergirding every class and every degree program with the Bible.

Calvary’s commitment to Scripture is accentuated in the Hebrew text taken from Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Greek text comes from 1 Timothy 1:5, and is translated, “but the goal of our instruction is love.” CU’s focus on academic excellence is upheld by a deeper desire for life transformation and a closer walk with the Lord and each other. 

Calvary University Press Innovates Textbook Production

Calvary University Press Innovates Textbook Production

by | Sep 11, 2019

Calvary’s publication imprint slated to boost textbook availability and cut student costs.

Calvary University is excited to announce the development of their own publishing imprint, Calvary University Press. Faculty member Dr. Mike Dodds heads up the advancement for this new arm of the school. The goal of CU Press, he explained, is “to disseminate out biblical understanding.”

By streamlining the process of getting books into print, Calvary hopes to encourage faculty, alumni, and other likeminded people to pursue publishing. Dodds pointed out that some publishers shy away from books of a strictly theological and dispensational nature, anticipating low sales. CU Press’s print-on-demand system eliminates low sales as a hindrance by removing the substantial “money-down” factor that most publishing houses face. Without dependency on outside publishers, Calvary faculty can pursue publication in a more welcoming environment.

CU Press is focused on academic publishing across the many disciplines Calvary offers. An editorial board headed by Dodds will examine submitted manuscripts for precision, as well as alignment with Calvary’s standards. Once the board approves the manuscript, it will be passed on to editorial staff for copy editing, proofreading, and formatting before being submitted to a print-on-demand service.

This new direction holds great potential, not only for faculty, but for students as well. Lower markup on textbooks, as well as readier access to e-book formats, can reduce student fees and expenses.

Dodds anticipates using CU Press as an instrument to promote Calvary’s academic standards. “It shows that we’re academic, and the level of academic rigor that we desire.” He is also eager to put out works that present our dispensational hermeneutic with excellence. Calvary is preparing to hit the ground running with this new branch of enterprise, thankful for the new opportunities God is bringing our way. 

Dr. Mike Dodds, Director of the CU Press.

CU Press streamlines the process for printing theological and academic works.

Faculty and Staff Ramping Up for the School Year

Faculty and Staff Ramping Up for the School Year

by | Aug 29, 2019

Calvary holds “On Ramp” event to prepare for coming school year.

Each year before the beginning of the new semester, Calvary hosts “On Ramp,” a kick-off event for faculty and staff. The day gives Calvary faculty and staff an opportunity to get on the same page before diving into the school year. On Ramp hosts staff presentations, state of the union information, and free time for relaxing and fellowship. This year, On Ramp met at B&B Theaters in Lees Summit. Attendees relaxed in cushioned seats and watched presentations on the happenings and events of Calvary’s various departments.

Dr. Cone presents on the urgency of Calvary’s mission.

Tania Edwards, Vice President of Enrollment Management, presents on Calvary’s growing enrollment.

Marketing and Communications Director Shaun LePage shows improvements to Calvary’s website.

Gwen Allen, HR Director, walks faculty and staff through new information.

A few coffee breaks later, Dr. Cone closed the business side of things with a Q&A session. For the fun side of their meeting, faculty and staff loaded up on some buttery popcorn and watched the premiere of Alex Kendrick’s latest film, Overcomer, a day before it came out in theaters.

As the credits rolled, attendees trickled out of the theater. On Ramp is behind us, leaving us encouraged by the work God is doing here. Calvary University is now full steam ahead toward the fall semester!

 

On Ramp attendees enjoyed a meal at Texas Roadhouse.