From: Phil deHaan (dehp@calvin.edu)
Date: Wed Mar 26 2003 - 09:07:39 EST
March 26, 2003 == MEDIA ADVISORY
Calvin College will co-host a conference March 27-30 that will help Christian
colleges examine how they educate students of color from both North America and
countries and continents beyond North America.
The "Presidential Symposium on Intercultural Competencies" conference will be
hosted by Calvin president Gaylen Byker and the Council for Christian Colleges
& Universities. The symposium is underwritten by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation.
All participating institutions were required to have their president attend
the conference in order to take part.
Calvin's Tom McWhertor, vice president for enrollment and external relations,
says the conference is intended to keep Christian colleges focused on the task
of educating all students, not just majority students.
"Many colleges," he says, "even schools which are members of the CCCU, began
with very homogenous student bodies. In recent years there have been greater
and greater efforts at CCCU schools to be more reflective of God's Kingdom.
But those efforts have not been without struggles. So a conference like this,
aimed at Presidents and others in positions of influence at their school, is an
important part of the ongoing work. We're excited to be hosting it."
McWhertor will take part in a Friday, March 28 plenary session on anti-racism
efforts at Calvin. He will join Calvin provost Joel Carpenter, Calvin
professor of sociology Michelle Loyd-Paige and Calvin assistant dean of
multicultural student development Jacque Rhodes in presenting Calvin's efforts
to the other CCCU schools.
The weekend conference also will include such topics as faculty hiring and
retention, the recruitment and retention of students and working with community
partners and allow for more casual conversations as well as attendance at such
things as Calvin's Jazz Vespers service.
Calvin's team will include Byker, McWhertor, Carpenter, Loyd-Paige and Rhodes
as well as Carol Bremer-Bennett, a member of the Calvin Board of Trustees,
Shirley Hoogstra, vice president for student life and Shirley Roels, acting
dean of scholarship and research.
Other participating institutions are: Bluffton College, Grace College and
Seminary, Greenville College, Judson College, LeTourneau University,
Northwestern College, Minn., North Park University, Roberts Wesleyan College,
Trinity Christian College, Trinity International University and Wheaton
College.
-end-
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