Paper Trail

Well it's already that time of year to turn in research papers. Hard to believe the Spring semester is drawing to a close. As a proff I get lots of last minute e-mails needing help on finding more sources, explaining a confusing apparent contradiction in information found, etc. That's part of the whole Rockhurst learning experience--helping students one-on-one. A good indicator of how a university really treats its students is how they treat them when the going gets tough, or when students are facing stress and perhaps personal and/or family issues during the year.

One of Rockhurst University's Jesuit values is cura personalis, care for the whole person. Rockhurst is not an "education factory" where we merely mass produce graduates. Rockhurst is a learning community where attention is given to the whole person.

In fact, Rockhurst even has a slick wellness e-bulletin that offers students advise and equips them with skills. Check it out: http://readsh101.com/rockhurst.html

The Dust Never Settles

Can’t believe how much time has blown by, yes BLOWN! We had mid-terms so I was busy grading those tests and then immediately after that we were in Spring Break and I was in at the office everyday working from 6:30 AM until 4:30PM, including Saturday. Why? No I’m not a glutton for punishment, it’s just that a manuscript I had written for a book has been accepted for publication and I’ve been swamped trying to edit it and make it conform to Pickwick Publications House Style and be ready for the typesetter. So it’s a good “problem.”

The dust never settles. Of course, I’ve been busy with my regular Rockhurst responsibilities and family duties as well. But that’s what life’s all about: constant change and opportunities for growth. Sometimes it feels like a nice strong cooling wind, sometimes like a dust storm, or even whirlwind.

Here in the Midwest we get tornados, though KC hasn’t been hit by one in over 50 years. But one always needs to be prepared. That’s what a Liberal Arts education at a Jesuit university is all about, preparing you for whatever life throws at you. In the whirlwind of life you need to rooted enough so as not to be blown away, and at the same time know how to go with the flow and bend with the wind, rather than snap. Rockhurst University prepares students for what happens in life by addressing the full spectrum of being human: body, soul, and spirit. Secular universities can’t talk about the spiritual dimension of the human experience, but Rockhurst University can and does, fed by the rich Catholic and Jesuit tradition.

Check us out: http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/values.asp

Olympians

Don't know about you, but I've been trying to watch the Winter Games as much as possible. These athletes are amazing. What sets the Olympians apart from other contenders? They push the envelope; they compete on the edge.

One of the hallmarks of Jesuit education is the sense of magis. Magis means "more," but is much more than that. It embodies the notion of striving for excellence, maxing out--in the positive sense. Magis means the drive to reach your ultimate potential. The Rockhurst University experience provides the conditions in which students are challenged to reach their fullest, to stand on the podium of life, as it were. Granted, not everyone can get the gold, but not everyone has the chance to do the mogul run, or skate on the speed track, etc. Just to qualify for the Olympic Games is an awesome achievement in itself!

In one sense, Rockhurst trains students for the "extreme sport" called LIFE. Running the "rat race," etc, whatever one wants to call it; life is a constant set of challenges that invite us to excel and reach our fullest potential. A focus on the Liberal Arts in the Jesuit tradition caring for the whole person, is what sets Rockhurst a part.

Game on!

http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/values.asp

BTW, one of our outstanding student athletes is Aaron Hill. He is one of the top five in the whole nation to receive the award for the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine College Division First Team Academic All-American®. Way to go Aaron!!! Read about him:

http://www.rockhurst.edu/ru_athletics/news/AaronHillAAA2010.asp

A Wing and A Prayer

Sometimes in life we're flying by the seat of our pants. Sometimes it's with a wing and a prayer. Check out this true video of a pilot who lost one wing while in flight and how he landed the plane safely! In that one moment the pilot needed to maintain his calm and pull together all the learning and experience he had ever had. While I'm not envisioning your life-experiences to be so catastrophic, a sound and thorough well-balanced education at Rockhurst University can prepare you to face whatever life throws at you and to maneuver your way through life's hurdles with calm, grace, and a solid footing. Our academic Liberal Arts Program is coupled with a grounding in Catholic Jesuit wisdom and spirituality. Our focus is on the whole person and thus quite distinct from a State school education that doesn't address the spiritual side of the human equation. At Rockhurst, things add up and become an integrated whole. Going elsewhere, you only get less. When life hits you hard and you're just left with a wing and a prayer, knowing how to pull on your comprehensive learning and to spiritually "wing it," helps.

Blizzard

It's hard to believe but research papers, and finals week came and went in a flurry of activity. Today faculty turned in semester grades. The campus is silent and cold (the windchills here have been in the teens).

So Winter Break is here! Hannukah and Christmas and Kwanzaa and all the other festivities that one might wish to celebrate. It is a time to celebrate life, and cherish the life we have, and those whom we love.

Before you know it, boisterous voices and smiling faces will be filling the halls again and things will come back to life here at Rockhurst. Earth goes through her cycles of rest and recreation.

May your holiday season be filled with holy days and spiritual moments.

Dan the Doc

Sounds Like a Plan to Me!

One of the signs of vitality is growth. Rockhurst University has a vision for growth in multiple areas, but the physical dimension gives concrete expression to the inner driving spirit. Rockhurst has a new proposed plan for growth that meets the needs of students, faculty and the local community.

Matt Heinrich, the Associate VP for Facilities and Technology just sent us this communiqué.

“After compiling the initial feedback, our architectural and engineering consulting team began to develop plans for the future of our campus. Along the way we had conversations with our surrounding neighborhood groups where we were all challenged to listen and understand, and to work together toward creating plans that will best serve the needs of our learning community and the greater community surrounding us. The result is a dynamic plan that is creating energy and enthusiasm among students, neighbors and the planning team. We believe that Rockhurst can play a vital role in revitalizing the Troost Avenue corridor.

You can view a preliminary plan drawing at http://www.rockhurst.edu/audience/commun/relations/masterplan.asp that shows what the central part of campus will look like. While this general concept has been approved, the architects continue to work on details and flesh out the concept. In addition to what you see in the drawing, two mixed-use parking garages with retail on the ground floor facing Troost Avenue will be constructed just north of Rockhurst Road and just south of 54th Street. We hope to soon post a map that shows the complete plan.

The timetable for beginning these projects is contingent on raising the appropriate funds to start construction. Plans for this are under way. We have created a phased plan that will allow us to work on buildings in order of critical need. At this time we anticipate the first phase to consist of: 1.) Parking garage and retail space on the northeast corner of Rockhurst Road and Troost 2.) New academic building 3.) Renovation of Sedgwick Hall 4.) New residence hall.”

So Rockhurst has plans for the future; come and be part of them.

Pizza with Pizzazz

Last night our Department of Theology & Religious Studies had its social pizza party for prospective majors and minors. It’s that time of year when lots of departments promote themselves. As of last we possibly gained five new majors who now have to do the paper work and officially declare. Presently, we have 14 officially declared majors and 50 minors.

Many of our majors have a double major. One new one candidate, is even trying to do a quadruple major! At Rockhurst University because we run a Liberal Arts College it’s easy to graduate with a double major.

This time of year is also when we promote our Honor Societies. There are lots of groups to join.

Check out our catalog! http://www.rockhurst.edu/registrar/catalog/index.asp