December 2007 Campus Ministry UpdateThe Ivy Jungle Network Campus Ministry Update December 2007
Merry Christmas from the Ivy Jungle Network! Thank you for another year of service to the 16 million college students in the US – and many more around the world. What you do matters. God Bless.
Trends in Student Ministry, Culture and Higher Education: Not Yet Adults: Both kids and parents agree that Americans ages 18-25 are not yet adults. While 18 may have once been the entry to adulthood, currently only 16% of mothers and 19% of fathers say their children who are 18-25 have reached adulthood. In an online survey of 392 college students and 590 parents, the kids agree with just 16% saying they are now adults. The study focused on five college campuses and is published in the December edition of the Journal of Family Psychology. The survey reinforces other work that is focusing on a new phase labeled "emerging adulthood" (see the Campus Ministry Update Nov 2007 for more) during which many 18-30 year olds pursue one or more degrees, seek a career, and delay marriage until later in life. (USA Today December 12, 2007) Advent Conspiracy: A group of young, idealistic Christians has started a movement to combat the "scandal" of the commercialization of Christmas. The Advent Conspiracy calls on Christians to give fewer material gifts, opting instead for more homemade gifts, more experiences together, and more donations of time and money. First organzied by Pastor Rick MKinley last year, the movement has attracted more than 700 churches from 17 countries. He has encouraged people to donate the money they save by not buying gifts to international clean water projects. (USA Today December 17, 2007 11A) Mapping Student Justice Efforts: Faith in Public Life (faithinpbuliclife.org) has taken notice of the number of college students that are advocating "common good and connecting their faith to social justice." Using the same wiki-map technology of their "Mapping Faith" project, they have created a tool for tracking campus groups involved in social justice. They are now looking for examples of the "best" in campus faith activism as part of their research on this trend. (Faith in Public Life Impact Report November 30, 2007) Americans Reading Less: The latest report from the National Endowment of the Arts confirms that Americans are reading less. While 54% of 9 year olds read "for fun," by age 19, nearly 20% report they never read for pleasure. In college, only 54% of students say they read a book voluntarily, down from 59% in 1992. Only 31% of adults have a bachelors degree and are "proficient in reading prose," down from 40% in 1992. Not surprisingly, the amount of money spent on books has also dropped – down 14% over the last 20 years when adjusted for inflation. (foxnews.com November 19, 2007) The Growth of Facebook: In October, nearly half of all Americans who went online visited MySpace or Facebook. 83 million users checked their social networking sites, making it one of the most popular things to do on the internet. Facebook has reported that it will earn about $30 million this year. However, after Microsoft bought a 1.6% share of the company for $240M, the current value of Facebook is reported to be $15 billion – roughly the same size as Xerox or the Gap. However, given its incredibly fast rise (it was started in a Harvard dorm room just 4 years ago), and the rate at which it may be replaced by something else (who remembers friendster?), many investors now fear that the latest internet darling may be grossly overvalued. But the 33 million monthly users are still very engaged, spending more than 3 ½ hours a month looking up friends profiles. (Time November 11, 2007) Colleges Calling Student Parents: Colleges walk a fine line with what they can and will report back to parents. Health records and even grades are protected by privacy laws. However, a growing number of schools have begun to send letters home when students are caught drinking underage. Motivated by reports of excessive drinking and increased concern over legal liability, administrators are exploiting an exception in the law for drugs and alcohol to enlist parental help. For some schools, that means the first violation of school policy will mean a letter is sent home. Schools are hoping to capitalize on the noted increased ties with home among today's college student commonly described by the terms helicopter parents and cell phone umbilical cords. (Wall Street Journal December 6, 2007 D1) Virtual College Fair: This month more than 100 college recruiters and over 10,000 potential college students gathered together for a two day college fair in cyberspace. The virtual college fair continues to gain popularity – particularly for students from rural areas who do not have college recruiters dropping by their high schools or have "live" events nearby. In addition, colleges have found it a way to stretch budgets and reach more students. (USA Today December 13, 2007 6D) College Presidents Making Coin: Tuition isn't the only thing rising on campus these days. More than a dozen private college presdidents make more than $1M a year in salary and benefits. In addition, now more than eight public college presidents make more than $700K. Northeastern college shelled out the most in presidential compensation at $2.8M and the University of Deleware led state schools at $875K. (USA Today December 13, 2007 6D) Big Classes On Campus: With college enrollment expected to top 20 million students by 2010, many campuses are struggling to keep class sizes small. While obscure courses make interesting course catalog reading, the reality is that the 25 most common college courses (in subjects like economics, English, psychology and the sciences) account for approximately 35% of all 4 year college enrollment. It comes as no surprise that many who take such courses, especially in their freshman and sophomore years, find themselves surrounded by 400 or more of their closest friends. (Chicago Tribune November 27, 2007 sec. 1 p. 4) No Swimmer Left Behind: After taking more than 120 hours of courses including core requirements, major coursework, and a few obscure electives, a number of students at some Ivy League schools find the swim test their final hurdle to graduation. As many colleges have eliminated physical education, a number of prestigious east coast schools have held fast to a tradition that requires students to pass a swim test in order to graduate. Cornell, which requires the test, says that about 10% of incoming freshmen cannot swim. (Chicago Tribune December 4, 2007 sec. 1 p. 4) Student Ethics: Among students who claim they are "confident in their ability to make ethical decisions" 40% indicate that cheating, lying or even violence is sometimes necessary for success. About one quarter said that cheating on a test is acceptable at some level, with more than half stating the personal desire to succeed as the reason for such action. Nearly the same number (23%) state that violence toward another person is acceptable at some level. (PRNewswire December 5, 2007) Drugged Driving: A study by Office of National Drug Control Policy shows that teenagers are perhaps more likely to drive high as they are to drive drunk. 14% of high school students indicate they have driven while drunk, nearly identical to the 13% who indicate they have driven while high on marijuana – despite the fact that far more teens report having used alcohol in the last 30 days (17%) than marijuana (7%). (PRNEwswire December 5, 2007) Teen Births on the Rise: Even before Brittney's sister made headline news, the CDC had reported that in 2006 the birthrate for American teenagers increased for the first time in 15 years. The US has the highest teen pregnancy rate among the most developed nations. Childbearing among unwed mothers has continued to increase to new record levels as well. 38.5% of all births were to unmarried women, up from 36.5% in 2005. Among black women, unwed mothers account for 70.7% of all births, compared with 49.9% of Hispanics and 26.6% of whites. (Reuters December 5, 2007) Millennials Drinking Preferences: While beer still leads the way among the legal age Millennial generation (ages 21-30), they have shown a greater interest in both wine and spirits in their alcohol consumption. Beer makes up 47% of spending and 83% of volume. However, ten years ago, it was nearly 60% of the market share among young drinkers. Currently wine accounts for 27% of alcohol dollars among Millennials and spirits 26%. (Nielsen Report November 26, 2007) Alcoholic Energy Drinks: Packed with the potency of 3 beers and 8 cups of coffee, a 23 ounce can of Joose is one of a half dozen new drinks that have drawn fire from advocacy groups lately. Energy drinks such as Rockstar and Monster have become quite popular among teenagers. Many of these same brands now offer a version with 6-9% alcohol as well. While illegal for purchase by those under 21, the similar packaging has made them easy for underage drinkers to buy – and consume even at school. Young people are attracted to the drinks hoping the caffeine will counter act the drowsiness of the alcohol, better fueling the party feel. (The Agoura Hills Acorn November 15, 2007) Do You Think I'm Fat? In her new book, Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, Courtney Martin states that in 1995 34% of high school girls considered themselves overweight. Now 90% think they are too heavy. She states that "colleges are breeding grounds for eating disorders and unhealthy obsession with food." Women take multiple trips to the gym, claim veganism as a mode to lose weight, and often take on unhealthy eating and alcohol habits to stay thin. The average college woman spends 100 minutes a day worrying about her body shape and caloric intake (Reviewed by Lauren Winner in Christianity Today November/December 2007) All Nighters Not the Answer: The semester has just ended and quite a few students will head home to recover from one or more "all nighters." Yet one more college psychology class has confirmed that students who pull all nighters do not get better grades than their classmates who get their work and studying done in time to grab a couple of hours of sleep. Studies on college students confirm that lack of sleep affects recall and performance on tests. (AP December 14, 2007) Top Tier Colleges Ease Tuition: Responding to constant pressure over rising tuition costs, schools such as Duke, Harvard, and Princeton have all announced plans to reduce loan burdens on students from middle income families. The schools have extended financial aid and reduced the percentage of aid from loans for students whose families earn as much as $180K a year. (USA Today December 10, 2007) Tuition Increase Prompts Bank Robbery: Two Ohio college students arrested for robbing a bank blamed their crime on rising college tuition. The two men, students at University of Toledo and University of Cincinnati stole $130,000 from a Reading, Ohio bank. They said worries over paying for college made them desperate and drove them to crime. (USA Today December 4, 2007) Life without a Laptop: A pair of film majors at Carleton College in Minnesota has convinced a handful of classmates to undertake a nearly impossible task – go completely without a computer. The students have agreed to have their lives filmed as part of a documentary as they spend 2 – 6 weeks without touching a computer. No email, no Facebook, no online coursework, papers produced on typewriters: the student guinea pigs all agree that the novelty wears off fast. From missing parties, to missing assignments and not being able to download syllabi or course assignments, the students have struggled through their computer fast – all with a cameras rolling for the project. The young directors even got the campus to declare a 24 hour computer fast for all with follow up interviews. Once they get their grades back the student directors say they will submit the project to film festivals in hopes of a broader audience. While no subjects were hurt or injured in the making of the film, all of the subjects have eagerly returned to their computer connected world. (USA Today December 17, 2007)
*** Events, Resources and Jobs ***
*** Resources: ***
2007 Ivy Jungle Conference: Special thanks to the 2007 College Ministry Conference Sponsors: Coalition for Christian Outreach – Jubilee, Compassion International, Expelled the Movie, Food for the Hungry, and Growing Leaders! Visit www.ivyjungle.org to order recordings of plenary sessions, early bird sessions, and breakouts. Bring Compassion to your Campus: Compassion partners with colleges and universities nationwide to bring nationally known speakers to their chapels and convocation services at minimal cost to the school. If you are interested in partnering with Compassion, please email Kelley Erickson, College Chapel Representative, at kelleyerickson@msn.com or call (866) 380-6689 to get more information or request an online copy of the 2007-2008 Chapel Speaker Directory. Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, physical, economic and social poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Founded in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training. Today, Compassion helps more than 800,000 children in 24 countries. For more information on Compassion, please go to www.compassion.com. Campusministry.com is a community committed to creating an interactive space for ideas, connection and collaboration in campus ministry. Our desire is to usher in a new architecture of participation in campus ministry. One in which campus staff, pastors, chaplains, college students and others, regardless of ministry affiliation, can add content, resources and connect with each other. From Bible Studies to Articles, Templates to Podcasts, campusministry.com hopes to provide high-quality resources to those in campus ministry and invites others to do the same. Facebook is the platform we use for social connection and collaboration in campus ministry. Visit the Page, Join the Group. Join the Cause. Thanks for participating and sharing the site with others. If you are interested in learning more, visit www.campusministry.com or contact Chris Cooke at info@campusministry.com
Resources from ProActive Faith for your campus ministry:
Visit our website www.proactivefaith.org to discover how these resources will impact the lives of your students and their campus. You can also call our office at (405) 607-0722. Discounts: Free Shipping when you enter ivy jungle in the discount code box plus 10% off your order when you enter 07 in the discount code box. (Enter ivy jungle then hit discount code, and then 07 then hit discount code) After you place your order you will receive a personal call from our office to confirm your order before any charges are made to your credit card.
*** Jobs: ***
Campus Minister : Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames, IA. We seek a full-time minister with a heart for Jesus Christ and a passion for ministry with university students and young adults. Collegiate Presbyterian, P.C.(U.S.A.) is a progressive congregation committed to shared ministry between university students and faculty of Iowa State University and the Ames community. Our campus minister will reach out to and build relationships with students, plan programs, lead an annual spring break mission trip, participate in worship and lead Bible study, provide oversight and mentoring to our student leadership team, and initiate new young adult programs. Candidates should be a college graduate (ordained Ministers of Word and Sacrament welcomed) with a minimum of three years experience working with youth or young adults and program planning. A successful candidate will be flexible, work well with others, be comfortable with theological diversity, and have a solid grounding in the Reformed Christian tradition. To learn more about CPC please visit www.cpcames.org. Send cover letter and resume or PIF to University Minister Search Committee, Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave., Ames, IA., 50014. You may also e-mail your application to CPCStaffPosition@gmail.com. Alabama Rural Ministry has the following paid positions open for mature, college-age Christians who want to serve the Lord in real, hands-on ways. Construction Coordinator: works with youth teams, organizes building materials, works with families needing home repair. Day Camp Counselor: Works with volunteers who lead VBS activities with day camp children. Site Coordinator: Overall organizer of each site and manager. All work together in the evenings leading youth volunteers in discussion groups, drama, praise and worship and more! See our website at www.arm-al.org or email info@arm-al.org for more information.
College Pastor: Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI, is searching for a Pastor for Collegiate Ministries. We are looking for someone who is ready to serve Jesus Christ and college age people in the Milwaukee area by shepherding and providing visionary direction to the Collegiate Ministries of Elmbrook Church (a church-based campus ministry). This role entails developing and maintaining an atmosphere of authenticity and compassion – through this, moving those in the ministry forward as a community and as individuals towards maturity in Christ. This person needs to be a visible reflection of Christ through relationships and teaching so that college age people are engaged and challenged. They are to model servant leadership by providing training, support, and encouragement to the Collegiate Ministries' interns, student leaders, and adult leaders. Throughout all of this, they are to join together in prayer and discussion with the Collegiate Ministries' team to discern God's vision for the ministry and to determine specific plans and goals for each year.
All inquiries should be directed to Scott Arbeiter, Senior Associate Pastor, at sarbeiter@elmbrook.org.
Westminster House is the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at the University of California, Berkeley. We are seeking our next leader who will follow the Rev. Randy Bare. Randy is moving on to take a new position after 12 years of distinguished leadership. Westminster House has an annual budget of over $2.3 million dollars. We provide housing for 175 students and a variety of other programs described on our website: westminsterhouse.org Our mission: Westminster House seeks to grow tomorrow's leaders by encouraging personal spiritual growth and social commitment through residential community and an educational center of excellence; A competitive Salary, Housing and benefits package that takes into account the cost of housing in the Bay Area will be negotiated with the successful candidate. A full position description is available by request. Please email randy@westminsterhouse.org Interested Applicants please send resume, C.V. and/or Personal Information Form by electronic mail only to: search@westminsterhouse.org Trinity Fellows: "Do you want to make a meaningful difference in the world and your career but are unclear as to how to apply your faith to your work and life calling? If so, the Trinity Fellows Program attempts to answer the question: "what will I do with my life?". The Trinity Fellows Program is a nine-month (September through May) leadership development and training program for young adults recently out of college or graduate school. Young men and women from all walks of life come together to engage in a program designed to foster a God-centered view of knowledge, culture, work and life. Fellows receive theological training, participate in seminars with Christian scholars and community leaders, and enjoy one-on-one mentoring relationships with mature Christian men and women. Fellows apply their training as they minister in the community, work in a secular marketplace internship and interact with their host family. Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Charlottesville, Virginia is home to the Fellows Program. Home to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville offers a myriad of restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, art galleries, and live music venues, as well as outdoor activities such as mountain biking, hiking, and skiing. Its location in Central Virginia allows easy access to the natural beauty of the Appalachian Trail and Virginia Beach as well as the urban centers of Washington, D.C. and Richmond. For more information go to www.trinitycville.org (click on "Trinity Fellows" icon) or contact the Trinity Fellows Coordinator, Dennis Doran at 434-977-3700 x124 or via e-mail at dennis.doran@trinitycville.org." Dean of Campus Ministries/Campus Pastor
Bethel University is seeking an individual to provide vision and leadership for the Campus Ministries programs as an essential part of Bethel's educational mission. Individual leads, builds, empowers, and supervises a gifted and diverse ministry team, preaches regularly with application to issues facing 21st century Christians, and provides leadership in achieving Bethel's commitment to being an anti-racist campus which celebrates the biblical diversity of the body of Christ. Requires five to seven years of successful senior leadership in a campus ministries, church, or parachurch setting. Doctorate and seminary education preferred. Classroom teaching experience preferred. Please visit our website for more information at http://www.bethel.edu/human-resources/employment-staff.html
Campus Minister: The Cross- Greek Christian Ministries, Inc., a ministry targeting students in fraternities and sororities at the University of Tennessee, is seeking a full-time male Campus Minister. We are looking to have the minister in place for the 08' school year. The applicant must be seminary trained and is preferred to have experience in southern Greek life culture. The position will compensated through support raised through the individual. Gifting and passion in evangelism and discipleship is primary to success in the position. The ministry has roots in a reformed theological background yet is widely evangelical in its mission. Please contact Gus Diamondidis at gus@thecross-gcm.org. PROPERTY MANAGER-Brand NEW Student Housing Project-Presby Hall-McKinley Project-Champaign, Illinois-GMH Communities Trust (NYSE: GCT), a real estate investment trust(REIT) headquartered in Newtown Square, PA, currently has a career opportunity for a Property Manager for The Presby Hall, McKinley Project-Faith based ministry providing certified student housing for the students of University of Illinois Tana Lee Higginbotham Email: tanalee@collegepark.org www.collegeparkweb.com Qualifications A minimum of four years property management experience is preferred. Candidate must be detail oriented, multi-task skills, computer literate, possess strong lease-up marketing and budget experience, interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written abilities, proficient in budgetary and marketing analysis, strengths in motivating personnel and resident relations. Education Bachelor Degree Preferred
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A campus ministry resource for men and women who work with college students