InDepthA collection of our most-followed stories. From immigration to administration, we cover it all.
A collection of our most-followed stories. From immigration to administration, we cover it all.
September 12, 2018
Study-Service Term turns 50
In 1968, Goshen College launched the groundbreaking Study-Service Term (SST). 50 years, nearly 8,000 students and 24 countries later, the college is celebrating the program’s landmark anniversary with another pioneering step in international education — reevaluation. In an academic year guided by the core value of “global citizenship,” the 50th reunion of SST will bring both celebration and assessment. Consistently ranked as one of the top study-abroad programs in the country, SST seeks to provide a transformative experience for Goshen students, placing them in developing nations rather than typical study-abroad locations. Unique attributes of the program, such as placement with...
September 5, 2018
Summer SSTers find their home away from home
While many students headed home for the summer, 31 Goshen College students jumped on planes to Dakar, Senegal, and Lima, Peru, last May for a summer abroad. For Tom Meyers, Director of International Education and leader of the Senegal Study-Service Term unit, the eight-student group tied for the smallest group he’d ever led. “It was great,” Meyers said. “A small group can be problematic, but it can also be very helpful. In this case, the group got along great.” Conversely, the Peru unit was composed of 23 students. Anne Buckwalter, Naomi Peters and Spencer Aeschliman, all seniors at Goshen College,...
April 27, 2018
The state of the SST program
In 2015, 61 percent of Goshen College’s graduating class went on SST. For the class of 2017, that number is down to 46 percent. Tom Meyers, Director of International Education at Goshen College, says those figures represent how SST is struggling to adapt to Goshen College’s changing student demographics. “We have fewer legacy students now. We have a lot more local students now for whom SST is a strange idea,” Meyers said. There are 215 first-year students at Goshen. Of these 215, 56 are commuter students and 74 are student-athletes. Effectively 60 percent of Goshen’s first-year class consists of students...
March 22, 2018
New academic dean appointed
Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus has named Dr. Ann Vendrely as the college’s new vice president for academic affairs and academic dean. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in higher education as a professor, researcher and administrator, Vendrely will direct the college’s academic program, provide leadership to the teaching faculty and lead the academic strategic planning. “I am so pleased to have Ann join our leadership team,” said Stoltzfus. “Her extensive teaching, administrative and research experience, expertise and success will be invaluable as she helps us shape our curriculum and academic program offerings for the needs of our students,...
March 15, 2018
Changing leadership positions
Jim Caskey, vice president for institutional development, will be leaving the college to pursue a career in the Goshen Health leadership team. Caskey was hired in 1997 as regional director of development. He was in charge of working to build relationships with people in eastern states like Ohio, Virginia and New York. He became vice president for institutional development in 2010 and has worked at the college for almost 21 years. Caskey’s current role as vice president for institutional advancement allowed him to oversee the development office, alumni, church and parent relations along with other groups. He also served on...
November 9, 2017
SST groups to return to Indonesia
Following a hiatus of nearly 20 years, the Indonesia Study Service Term is beginning again, with the first unit taking off in the spring of 2019. The group will be led by Brenda and Jodi Srof. This SST location will occur every third year, like Tanzania and China. The last time Goshen College sent a group of students to Indonesia was in the spring of 2001. The college left the country following a travel warning placed by the U.S. government in the wake of terrorist activity, which has long since been lifted. In its place the college established the Cambodia...
October 26, 2017
Pat Lehman to lead SST units
Pat Lehman, professor of communication, is adding another set of responsibilities to her job as she anticipates leading the 2018 Spring and Summer Peru SST units. Lehman will leave in mid-December for Peru to prepare for the SST, with students following in January for the spring semester SST. She is looking forward to the upcoming trip. Lehman said, “I’m excited about strengthening my Spanish…seeing some of the world-renowned sites like Machu Picchu…and working closely with Goshen College students in an SST experience.” While she only recently visited Peru for the first time earlier this summer, this isn’t her first time...
September 7, 2017
Newbold and Perez fill administrative roles
Since the last academic year, two administration positions have been updated: Goshen College President and Dean of Students. These roles have been filled by Ken Newbold and Gilberto Perez, Jr. Newbold’s term as Goshen College president began on June 1 and will continue until the end of October, when Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus will come into office on Nov. 1, 2017. So far during Newbold’s time as president, he’s traveled to Orlando, Florida for the Mennonite Church USA Convention where he met with prospective, incoming and previous students. He also got the opportunity to engage with the other presidents of Mennonite...
September 7, 2017
China SST departs
On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the fall 2017 China SST unit flew to Chengdu, China to study and teach for a semester. The group consists of 15 people, with music professor Bev Lapp and her husband Dale Klassen leading the trip, along with their two daughters. The China SST happens every three years, in rotation with the Tanzania and Cambodia SST programs. Over 30 SST units have gone to China, says Tom Meyers, director of international education at Goshen College. This is one of the most diverse SST groups, with students representing Asian, African-American and Latinx nationalities. Meyers says that the...
September 7, 2017
GC begins SSTT program for high-schoolers
On June 11, 20 students, all still in high school or recently graduated, boarded a plane at O’Hare Airport in Chicago bound for Guatemala. For the next two weeks these students would engage in an intensive program created by Goshen College and the Lilly Endowment called Study-Service Theology Term (SSTT). This program was designed with the intent of exposing young people interested in theology to different ways of theological thinking, and to start nurturing the tools for theological leadership. The Lilly Endowment is a philanthropic organization based out of Indianapolis that recognizes the need for a new generation of driven...
April 13, 2017
Goshen College publishes ‘Guide to Studying and Serving Abroad’
Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Goshen College’s pioneering program in international education, the Study-Service Term, Pinchpenny Press is publishing an intercultural guidebook, drawing on the experiences of faculty, staff and students who have participated in SST. A release party for the book, “The Goshen College Guide to Studying and Serving Abroad: Essays on Intercultural Learning,” will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the Koinonia Room of the Church-Chapel. The 18 essays address subjects like learning languages, serving as a form of accompaniment, tracking time, framing stories, giving and receiving resources and money, dealing...
April 13, 2017
A pause on sabbaticals at GC
In January, the President’s Council at Goshen College announced that all sabbaticals are to be frozen for the next two school years, starting this fall. The decision was made during the process of developing the budget for the fiscal and academic year of 2017-2018, as the college identified cost savings. Sabbaticals are given to full-time teaching faculty after 10 years of employment, subject to approval from the academic dean’s office. There is a limit on the number of sabbaticals granted each year. A professor may choose one of the following two plans: (a) one semester with full pay, or (b)...
April 6, 2017
Brant named new interim vp for academic affairs
Next year, Jo-Ann Brant, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy will be taking on a new role at Goshen College: interim vice president for academic affairs. Brant will be replacing Ross Peterson-Veatch, who is the current interim vice president. Brant will work with Peterson-Veatch to ensure a smooth transition. “My role as an interim vp,” Brant said, “will be to make sure that all the regular work of the Academic Dean’s office is completed so that the academic programs run smoothly.” The interim vice president for academic affairs serves on the President’s Council and leads all aspects of the academic...
March 9, 2017
SSTT unit set for June 2017
Out of the 46 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors that applied for the Study-Service Theology Term, 20 of them will be traveling to Guatemala in June 2017 for the programs’ first term. Before leaving for Guatemala, the students will stay on campus for two days of orientation led by Jo-Ann Brant, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy. After orientation on campus, the students will travel to Guatemala under the direction of Keith Graber Miller, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy, Ann Graber Miller, Peter Paetkau, senior, and Gloria Showalter, recent GC alum. The SSTT group will spend just over...
March 9, 2017
Weaver reflects on beginnings of SST
Over 89 years, Hank Weaver has visited more than 100 countries. He’s been to each continent, including Antarctica. He’s traveled for business and pleasure, for long-term and short. In 1957, Weaver began working at Goshen College, which opened a whole new world of opportunities. He worked at the college for over 22 years, as a chemistry professor, provost and interim president. After six years of working as a chemistry professor at Goshen College, Weaver decided to spend a year abroad in Peru through the Ford Foundation. With his family, Weaver moved to Lima where he taught at the oldest university...