Wendy Griffin, Ph.D.

Have you ever wondered how we go about deciding what classes to offer each semester? There is a three-fold answer.

Our four Core classes are now on a regular rotation through the three semesters each year.  That means if you miss taking one of these classes the semester it is offered, you will have to wait a year and a semester before you can take it again.  This is especially important for students who want to do the Praxis class, as all four Core classes are supposed to be completed during the first 30 credit hours before the Praxis. This Fall, we are offering Boundaries and Ethics, with Anne Hill. If you haven't taken it yet, now is the time.

Almost five months before a semester begins, I put out a call to all faculty members asking for course proposals. They have one month to dream up a brand new class or decide they want to teach one currently in our catalog. These proposals go to the Department Chairs and to me.  The Chairs decide which of these proposals sound best and is likely to fill, either because the course hasn't been taught in some time or because it sounds so interesting. Each department is currently allowed to schedule two classes. (When we have more students, that number will increase.) The departments' choices are forwarded to me and I approve them and make up a schedule so that the classes don't conflict with each other.

A final way we choose courses is when the Department Chair looks over the courses that students still need to take in order to graduate. Typically, if no faculty member has proposed such a course, the Chair will contact a faculty member known to have expertise in the area covered by the needed class. Sometimes we look outside our own esteemed faculty for someone with a national or international reputation in the field and recruit them for that particular class. (Think of Lynne Hume in Australia, who taught our Mysticism and Trance class.) Sometimes they like us so much, they become permanent members of our faculty, like Vivianne Crowley.

Incidentally, we are hoping to have a big surprise for you in the Spring (tba in November).

Our Insights classes are a little different, as we like to schedule nine every semester. This requires a lot of recruiting work by the Department Chair and sometimes others. If you have some fabulous ideas for Insights classes, let us know. We can be very creative and flexible in these self-enrichment courses.

In the meantime, check out the Fall offerings. There should be something there for everyone.