Orchestra Presents Music from the Old and New World

Canadian University College's Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Cristian Neacsu, performed music from five composers, three musical eras and four countries at its fall concert, Saturday night, November 23, in the College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church.   The evening's printed program can be viewed here.

Students Present Mid-Term Restoration Service

The term "mid-term," which students usually fearfully associate with the word "exam" is developing a new, more positive reputation on campus with the successful presentation of the 2nd Annual Mid-Term Restoration Service, Friday evening, October 25, in the Ad Building Chapel.  The service was an inspiring mix of praise singing, testimonies, beautiful music, prayer, and the spoken word.

The lead organizer of the Mid-Term Restoration Service was Akeem Ambrose.  "As a student, the mid-point of the semester is no doubt one of the hardest parts of our academic careers," said Ambrose.  "This program was formulated so we as a family can come together in praise and song and ask God for divine intervention and His strength to help us finish our academic race." 

The Mid-Term Restoration Service was organized and coordinated by
Akeem Ambrose with help from many other students.

Campus Remembers Those Who Have Served

Canadian University College presented its annual Remembrance Day program Tuesday, November 3, in the College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church.  The bulk of the program was presented by members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #79.  The complete printed program can be found here. 

CUC and the BFLP Effect

What follows is my column for the upcoming issue of Canadian Campus.  Posting it here allows me a way to easily direct readers to some of the studies referenced.

You have probably heard the expression, “A big fish in a small pond,” but did you know it was referring to Canadian University College?   First proposed in the early 1990s by educational psychologist Herbert Marsh, simply stated the Big Fish Little Pond Effect (BFLPE) is that most students will experience greater academic success and satisfactory entry into their chosen career if they attend a moderately-sized non-exclusive, open-admission school than they would at a large, elite, institution that accepts only the very best and brightest students.

 

In his latest book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, Malcolm Gladwell devotes an entire section to BFLPE.  He illustrates the effect with the story of Caroline Sacks, a bright young lady who loved science and dreamed of being a physician since she was seven years old.  Because she was academically gifted, Sacks went to Brown University, a very elite and competitive institution.  The future seemed bright for Sacks . . . until she took Organic Chemistry.

 

Gladwell writes, If you were to rank all the students in the world who were taking organic chemistry, Sacks would have been in the 99^th percentile. But, at Brown University Sacks was not comparing herself to all the students in the world.  She was comparing herself to her fellow students.  She was a little fish in one of the deepest and most competitive ponds in the world—and the experience of comparing herself to all the other brilliant fish shattered her confidence. 

This experience so demoralized Sacks that she abandoned her dream of becoming a doctor and changed her major.  There is overwhelming statistical evidence that had Sacks gone to a school like CUC, she would have completed her degree in science and her dream of being a doctor would have come true.   (Links to some interesting studies can be found at the end of this article.)

 

Canadian University College’s moderate size, culture of cooperation, and willingness to give all qualified applicants a chance to earn a university degree are its most potent strengths.  When it comes to ensuring students have the opportunity to complete the degree of their choice and fulfill lifelong dreams, CUC is not an underdog; it is a leader!

 

I recently heard a speaker say, “Education has changed more in the last 365 days than it has in the last 365 years.”  She’s right!  Over the next few years we will see at CUC dramatic changes in how university education takes place.  While we make several exciting changes to our recipe for student success, the ingredients that matter most, personal attention and a culture of cooperation, will not change.  I am proud to be part of an institution that offers students a double portion of those powerful, life-changing ingredients.

The Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect:Persistent Negative Effects of Selective High Schools on Self-Concept After Graduation

Big Fish Little Pond Effect: effects of academically selective schools and classes

Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect: Generalizability and Moderation—Two Sides of the Same Coin

Donor Reception Raises Funds for CUC Symphony Orchestra

CUC President Mark Haynal interviewed Maestro Neacsu, giving
donors background information about his training and plans
for the orchestra.

The Office of Advancement held a special reception for supporters of Canadian University College's Symphony Orchestra, Sunday evening, October 27 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  As they enjoyed refreshments catered by Leto's Steak and Seafood House, donors enjoyed performances by students and the orchestra's new director, Professor Cristian Neacsu.

If you would like to support CUC's Symphony Orchestra you may do so by giving online.  The website here will allow you to support orchestra scholarships or the orchestra itself.

CUC Hosts Annual Benefit Program for Hobbema

Students from Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS) joined students from CUC Friday evening for our annual vespers to benefit the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hobbema.  The program was organized by Daniel Dobroskay, CUC's Hobbema Ministries Coordinator, and Jordane Smith, Campus Ministries Worship Coordinator.  Nearly $1000 was raised through a freewill offering.

The congregation especially enjoyed performances by students from MANS.
 In addition to musical numbers using sign language, the students also shared some of their experiences.  "I felt the evening was well-received by our students and the community," said CUC Chaplain Adam Deibert.  "It was also a special blessing to have the students from MANS with us."

Students Appreciate New Lockers

Thanks to the generosity of the CUC's Committee of 100 students who live off campus now have lockers they can use to store their things in while they are on campus.  Plant Services personnel are now in the process of installing 142 lockers in five campus locations: The Administration Building, Chan Shun Science Centre, John McKibbin Education Centre, Outward Pursuits, and the cafeteria.

"Students have been asking for places on campus where they can leave their belongings while they go to class," said Stacy Hunter, vice president for student services.  "We are very pleased that the Committee of 100 has recognized this need and graciously provided these much-needed lockers."

CUC Hosts Graduate Courses for Pastors

Canadian pastors who had been traveling to Andrews University to work on certain graduate divinity degrees can now take many of their courses here in Canada at CUC.  "Being able to take courses here in Canada dramatically reduces many of the cross-border issues pastors were experiencing when they attempted to take two-week courses in the United States," explained Mark Haynal.

 

Two courses were offered this semester.  Christian Leadership in a Changing World was taught by Dr. John Grys, November 3-7.  Ministry in Cultural and Religious Context was taught by Dr. Gorden Doss, November 10-14.  These courses are part of a divinity program in Pastoral Ministry available to pastors who are unable to devote two years to full-time study at the Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

No, Norm Hansen, part of CUC's IT staff, is not training to become a pastor.  He represents a portion of the
logistical support CUC offered visiting pastors and professors.  Canadian University College also assisted pastors
with housing, transportation and meals.

Several of the pastors in the program were undergraduate classmates at CUC and thoroughly enjoyed the
opportunity to take yet another course with their old friends!

CUC Well Represented at NAD Year End Meetings

It is fitting that at the North American Division (NAD) Year End Meetings at which the first female conference president was welcomed as a delegate, Canadian University College and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) are represented by two young ladies, Faith Calaminos, a recent CUC graduate, and Kryzia Abacan this year's Student Association president.  "I am very proud of the SDACC and the NAD for the progress these organizations have made in increasing the number of young people who represent the membership at important meetings," said Mark Haynal, also a delegate at NAD Year End Meetings.

With the theme Building Together, this year's meetings are focusing on six key initiatives:  Serving Emerging Immigrant Populations, Retention of Young Adults, Transformational Evangelism, Effective Use of Social Media, the Adventist Learning Community and Women in Ministry.  (Presently only 107 of the North American Division's 4000 pastors are female.  The goal voted on Sunday was to double the current number of female pastors in the next five years.)