EMU Gearing Up for New School Year

The calendar indicates it's still summer, and EMU is warming up for the start of the 2008 fall semester.

The annual faculty-staff conference, to be held Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 13-14, on the theme, "You're invited: Experiencing Hospitality," exploring ways that EMU seeks to be "an inviting community" as it prepares students to serve and lead in a global context.

Main sessions will be held in Martin Chapel of the seminary building.

Jennifer Davis Sensenig will open the conference 9:30 a.m. Wednesday with an address on the program theme. She came to the Mennonite faith as an adult, graduated from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, Elkhart, Ind., and has served as interim lead pastor at Pasadena (Calif.) Mennonite Church. She and her husband currently run an organic farm in Minnesota. A faculty panel will respond to her presentation.

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber will give a "state of the campus" address 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Other activities will include storytelling by EMU faculty and staff, a voluntary cholesterol screening and worship led by Kenneth J. Nafziger, professor of music.

The annual all-campus picnic will be held on the front lawn Wednesday evening, Aug. 13.

Students who will serve as community advisors or ministry assistants will begin arriving for training sessions Friday, Aug. 15.

First-year students will check into the residence halls Aug. 23. Orientation programs for new students run through Monday, Aug. 25.

Returning students will arrive on campus Sunday, Aug. 24. Fall semester registration will be held Monday, Aug. 25. Fall semester classes will begin 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26. President Loren Swartzendruber will speak at an opening convocation 10 a.m. Wednesday in Lehman Auditorium on the theme, "Called to Change the World."

EMU's fall semester runs through Dec. 12.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted August 12, 2008