North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
Performances by Chicago Children鈥檚 Choir and North Park鈥檚 Gospel Choir, Touring Ensemble, and Orchestra highlight Advent themes.
CHICAGO (December 15, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 presented its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 4, 2016,听at St. Hilary Catholic Church in Chicago. The Advent service was a collaboration of more than 175 North Park musicians and the Chicago Children鈥檚 Choir鈥擜lbany Park Division.
The title of the program,听Angel Voices Ring, was taken from the finale piece Carol to the King听by Mack Wilberg. The performance featured a wide variety of music, sung in multiple languages, as well as original pieces.
Highlights included musical pieces arranged, composed, or conducted by North Park students, staff, and alumni. Stephen Kelly, worship coordinator in North Park’s University Ministries, composed 惭补驳苍颈蹿颈肠补迟,听which was performed by the 萝莉社 Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble and Band. The University Choir and the Orchestra performed Glory to God, a piece written by North Park composition student Eric Pearson.听鈥淭here were people standing on the outskirts of pews, all of them waiting to hear our voices. The faces of the crowd responded to our cries,鈥� said Hannah Geil, a member of the Touring Ensemble.
鈥淲e especially rejoice at the hospitality of the Church of St. Hilary. May the light of Advent kindle our lives this night,鈥� President David L. Parkyn said as he addressed the audience. 鈥淟et us make this church, dedicated to St. Hilary, resound most gladly with our carols and praise.”
Originally held on Christmas Eve in 1918 in Cambridge, England, the Festival of Lessons and Carols service comes from the Anglican tradition. An alternating series of Scripture readings and music tell the story of Christ, from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. Geil summed up the evening, 鈥淎ll I could do was smile, because it was clear that God had used us that night.鈥�听
The safety and support of our students are our highest priority.
CHICAGO (November 22, 2016) 鈥斕齇ne week ago I wrote to our campus community twice on the same day in related messages. On each occasion the general topic of my communication was to reiterate our campus commitment to civility in our life together. In these messages I stressed that interactions based on hate have no place at North Park.
The second message in particular was prompted by an incident of intolerance that occurred in a student鈥檚 off-campus residence. I鈥檓 writing today to notify our community that this incident has been fully investigated and resolved. Sadly, we discovered that the incident and related messages were fabricated; the individual responsible for the incident is not continuing as a student at North Park. We are confident there is no further threat of repeated intolerance to any member of our campus community stemming from this recent incident.
I want to state again two central topics of my previous messages. The first is that the safety of and support for our students is of highest priority for us as an educational community. The second is that, rooted in our understanding of and commitment to the Christian gospel, we are committed to embracing all people who enroll as students and who are employed at North Park. Interactions between individuals should always reflect our campus ethos of 鈥渙pen inquiry, integrity, and civility;鈥� these are the principles that guide our life together, the dialogue between us, and the learning context of the university at large.
When student safety is compromised, and when institutional values are not maintained, we will respond with resolve as we did in the most recent incident. Additionally, we ask members of the community to reflect our institutional ethos and commitment in our interpersonal relationships鈥攖hrough inclusion, civility, dialogue, respect, hospitality, and a mutual love for God and all people.
As is our national tradition, this week we gather with family and friends across our country to give thanks鈥攆or our community, for our nation, for each other. We do so at North Park as well, giving thanks to God for this special community that is our educational home. Blessings to each one as we travel near and far; may God protect us by his gracious and ready help.
The new mark honors the institution’s 125-year legacy, while pointing to a bold future.
CHICAGO (November 17, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 this week unveiled its new logo, which harkens to the University鈥檚 history in Chicago. The cupola is a depiction of the first campus building, Old Main, built in 1893. Once the tallest point on the north side of Chicago, the cupola was historically used as a guiding landmark for pilots landing at Orchard Field (now O鈥橦are International Airport).
In the new rendition of this architectural feature, the steeple breaks out of a shield, emphasizing 萝莉社鈥檚 continued role as a directional point for students, alumni, and community members. A cross is visible towards the top of the symbol, a reflection of the University鈥檚 identity, which is 鈥渞ooted in Christianity, with open arms.鈥�
Founded by the Swedish听Evangelical Covenant Church, North Park has long identified with the colors blue and gold, originally drawn from the Swedish flag. This is maintained in the new logo, as well as the marker 鈥淐HICAGO,鈥� indicating North Park鈥檚 continued commitment to engaging its urban environment.
Located in Chicago, 萝莉社 is a Christian comprehensive university that serves nearly 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students from around the country and the world. Within a diverse, close-knit, urban community, North Park offers a values-based education to students through more than 40 undergraduate majors and an adult degree-completion program, as well as graduate and continuing education in business, nonprofit management, nursing, education, music, and theology. By integrating faith with learning鈥攁s it has done since its founding in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church鈥斅芾蛏� continues to focus on the important task of preparing students for lives of significance and service.
CHICAGO (November 16, 2016) 鈥斕齀n a campus-wide 听on Tuesday, I reminded us that all are welcome at 萝莉社. I noted that our Christian values call us to be present with each other, to be a neighbor, to welcome, to walk alongside, to show love, to do justice, and to听show mercy.听Our student standards of conduct exist to teach students how to live in relationship to each other and behave respectfully.
Additionally, I noted that messages and expressions of hate have no place on our campus. Words and symbols of hate are not only hurtful and cause pain, they demonstrate intolerance for others, place victims in positions of fear, and threaten their personal safety. On our campus, the safety and security of our students is our highest priority. It is because of this priority, alongside our commitment to being a welcoming and hospitable community, that we denounce hate speech in any form.
Of late, there has been evidence of intolerance that is counter to our climate of civility. We fully investigate all听incidents that involve violations to the rights and dignity of any person. We follow with听appropriate action through student conduct proceedings.
We ask God to send us His amazing grace as we work to love and care for all students on our campus.
Chicago Intensive program part of University curriculum combining classroom and experiential learning
CHICAGO (October 21, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社鈥檚 is a semester-long urban experiential program with all classes and hands-on learning focused on the city of Chicago. Designed to foster learning in the context of relationships, students in the program share the same curriculum, with opportunities for group discussion and interaction.
Intended for students in their second year at North Park鈥攁fter they鈥檙e comfortable with the university experience, but before being fully immersed in their major classes鈥攖he program鈥檚 cohort serves and learns together. Courses address the urban context, students volunteer with community-based organizations across Chicago, and faculty facilitate firsthand exploration of the city.
The Chicago Intensive first ran as a pilot program last spring, continues this fall, and will expand next semester. Here, Provost shares his thoughts on the nature, history, and future of the program.
What was the thinking behind launching the Chicago Intensive?
I believe it鈥檚 important to find meaningful ways to engage North Park students with the world around them鈥攂ut also to bridge the gap between theory and practice. There鈥檚 plenty of valuable learning happening in the classroom, but with North Park situated in Chicago, it鈥檚 a terrific opportunity for students to get to know the city and our world on a much deeper level.
What is the Chicago Intensive concept?
The concept is likened to study abroad, where students have the opportunity to learn about something entirely new in a hands-on experiential learning format. The program taps into the city right here, and engages our students in a unique way not found in the classroom.
Will it take longer to complete my undergraduate degree?
The curriculum is designed to work in conjunction with meeting general education requirements, so there is no time lost in completing your degree.
What does the Chicago Intensive curriculum entail?
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the cohort takes classes together on campus. The curriculum is designed around best practices of educational goals鈥攂oth in-the-classroom academic and hands-on experiential learning鈥攁nd each course is focused in some way on Chicago. On Mondays and Fridays, the students spend time in their assigned nonprofit organizations, organizations striving for a better Chicago. On Wednesdays, the cohort travels together with their instructors to visit specific sites, and then spends time processing the experience and talking about how it all fits together.
听What kind of outings do students go on?
Students have had hands-on learning experiences ranging from community-based organizations like urban gardening to business-oriented subject matter like visiting a downtown courtroom.
How does the Chicago Intensive tie into North Park鈥檚 Christian, urban, and intercultural mission and values?
The origin of the program is very much connected to our Christian tradition and commitment to intercultural community. Students engage the city not just through academics, but by serving its people through our ministries, and learning from the diverse people of Chicago.听The Chicago Intensive is designed to provide ample opportunities for students to focus on the meaning of living a life of significance and service.
What is behind North Park鈥檚 focus on students having a complete and fulfilling college experience?
Our faculty is here to teach and prepare the next generation. The student body is diverse, and as a society, we need to educate a broader base of students鈥攖he educators at North Park are in tune with what鈥檚 needed for a thriving society, and recognize that the status quo of only educating the elite is something we need to be active in demystifying.
What type of student will get the most out of the Chicago Intensive?
Students who are motivated by justice and making the world a better place. We鈥檙e here to teach and support students in being part of a team to make a real difference.
Why is North Park investing in this program, without a tuition increase?
We care deeply about our students and their success and are always looking for ways to provide our students the highest quality comprehensive college experience, expanding academics, faith, and exposure to hands-on learning off-campus. Our Christian values are rooted in making a high-quality education accessible to a student body made up of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Because Chicago is a world-class city, our students will benefit greatly from understanding it and learning from it. They will be prepared for today鈥檚 global world.
Given your background as an urban sociologist, what are your thoughts on how living and working in a major metropolitan city influences a career?
Studies have shown that students who have their first job in large cities like Chicago鈥攔egardless of their actual job or title鈥攔ise up the ranks faster, are promoted more often, and earn a higher wage. This is because the best and brightest are attracted to global cities, and they are the sites of the world鈥檚 innovation, creativity, and inventions.听 Rubbing shoulders with such people and organizations benefits students for a lifetime.
How far back do North Park鈥檚 roots go to being in a major metropolitan city?
North Park just celebrated its . Over the years, the University was offered land outside the city, but the decision was made in 1980 to stay in our original urban location. This decision was thoughtful and deliberate, as North Park鈥檚 identity as an Christian, urban, and intercultural institution has remained consistent鈥攕tudents and graduates develop real connections with the city, the people around them, opportunities for career growth, and opportunities for truly rich, meaningful lives in service to others.
How is being in a cohort part of the Chicago Intensive experience?
In a cohort, you learn from one another鈥檚 strengths, and in the same way, students get to role model their strengths鈥攊t鈥檚 a win-win where students serve as leader and learner. And together, the cohort works to problem-solve, a valuable skill, transferable as students and graduates pursue their career paths.
How does the Chicago Intensive contribute toward growing Illinois鈥檚 workforce and building an engaged citizenry?
Participating in the Chicago Intensive is engaging in nature, where students are exposed to the complexities of community-related and real business issues, requiring creative thinking, problem solving, and polished communication skills to work together in a team environment. The hope and goal is for students to form relationships within the community, build a connection to Chicago, and find good and meaningful careers and vocations.
What faculty members are leading the program?
, professor of mathematics, and , Urban Outreach coordinator with University Ministries, launched and lead the Chicago Intensive and continue to monitor learning best practices.
University a Founding Partner in Administration鈥檚 Effort to Expand College Opportunity
CHICAGO (June 10, 2016) 鈥� Today, announced that it has joined with the Obama Administration and 24 other colleges and universities around the country as a founding partner for the launch of the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge. The pledge provides higher education institutions with the opportunity to voice support for improving their communities through expanding college opportunity and eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record.
This morning at the White House, U.S. Secretary of Education John King and Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Mu帽oz hosted North Park, along with 14 other higher education institutions, to announce the . Together, the 25 founding partner institutions represent and serve more than one million students.
鈥淭oo often, a criminal record disqualifies Americans from being full participants in our society鈥攅ven after they鈥檝e already paid their debt to society,鈥� the White House Office of the Press Secretary said in a statement. 鈥淭his includes admissions processes for educational institutions that can make it difficult if not impossible for those with criminal records to get an education that can lead to a job.鈥�
萝莉社 President听 agrees. 鈥淣orth Park prepares students for lives of significance and service,鈥� he said.听鈥淲e believe that all people desiring a high-quality education deserve the opportunity. This has meant expanding the range of students we are educating, and expanding the support services we provide. We applaud the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge, and we will work diligently to create pathways for a second chance for people with a criminal record. We are delighted to join fellow universities in working to remove unnecessary barriers for a higher education and becoming places of hope and opportunity.鈥�
President David Parkyn was hosted at the White House to announce North Park’s founding partnership in the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge.
The Fair Chance Pledge
鈥溌芾蛏� applauds the growing number of public and private colleges and universities nationwide who are taking action to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed, including individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system,鈥� reads the pledge. 鈥淲hen an estimated 70 million or more Americans鈥攏early one in three adults鈥攈ave a criminal record, it is important to remove unnecessary barriers that may prevent these individuals from gaining access to education and training that can be so critical to career success and lead to a fulfilled and productive life.鈥�
鈥淲e are committed,鈥� the pledge continues, 鈥渢o providing individuals with criminal records, including formerly incarcerated individuals, a fair chance to seek a higher education to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to our nation鈥檚 growing economy.鈥�
believes that as a university that deeply values its Christian identity, urban location, and intercultural campus community, North Park is uniquely positioned to broaden college opportunity. 鈥淧eople with criminal records have often made a series of serious mistakes,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s our educational system is currently set up, they will pay consequences for their mistakes for the rest of their lives, unable to get a university education.鈥�
鈥淲e believe people can and do change, and like anyone else, need an opportunity to learn, grow, earn a living, and serve their community,鈥� Emerson continued. 鈥淎s a Christian university, we are compelled by our understanding of faith to offer the possibility of a university education to all who are willing to commit to higher learning.鈥�
A Transformative Model
One of the ways 萝莉社 has already worked to increase access to higher education is through courses held in Stateville Correctional Center. The semester-long classes, launched last year, have included a field education course called Intercultural Dialogue, in which Seminary students learned alongside Stateville students. 鈥淪everal of those students have asked if, upon their release, they can continue their education at North Park,鈥� said Emerson. 鈥淚t is important to us that they can do so.鈥�
, professor of theology and ethics, co-taught the class. 鈥淣orth Park鈥檚 education in prison envisions a transformative justice model of education that cultivates leaders in new contexts, forms Christian character through intercultural learning, and rethinks teaching and pedagogy,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e are committed to providing both theological and liberal arts education to individuals while they are currently incarcerated and after their release.鈥�
Founding Partners
The higher education institutions serving as founding partners in launching the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge are: Ancilla College, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Boston University, City University of New York, College of Saint Benedict, Columbia University, Eastern University, Howard University, New York University, 萝莉社, Nyack College, Raritan Valley Community College, Rutgers University (Biomedical and Health Sciences, Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick), Saint John鈥檚 University, San Francisco State University, State University of New York, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, University of California System, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, University of Puget Sound, and University of Washington.
Liza Ann Acosta as University dean; Gregor Thuswaldner as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
CHICAGO (June 2, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 has announced the听appointment of two new deans, effective August 15. will serve in the newly created position of听University dean, and Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner has been named as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
As University dean, Acosta is charged with the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty across the University; faculty development; and hearing academic grievances and student appeal cases. The position reports to , and will be housed within the Office of the Provost.
Acosta, who earned her PhD in comparative literature from Penn State University, has been on North Park鈥檚 faculty since 2000, and will continue in her role as professor of听. For the past four years, she has served as division director and associate dean of humanities, arts, and social sciences. Prior to that, she served as director of humanities, and two terms as chair of the English department. She has held numerous additional leadership roles on campus and in the larger Chicago community.
In addition to her success as an educator, Acosta is an accomplished writer and performer. Colleagues, students, and alumni find that she has embodied and championed North Park鈥檚 values for the entirety of her professional career. She has been a strong, consistent advocate for the ethnic and racial diversification of the student body and faculty, and has served as a role model and mentor for many.
As part of her new role, Acosta will be working with the deans of the colleges, schools, departments, and other units on campus to create strategies for faculty development and ethnic diversification. She will also oversee the Teaching and Learning Cooperative, work with the Professional Development Committee, and develop faculty-mentoring programs to help faculty progress through each stage of their careers.
In accepting the position, Acosta said, 鈥淎fter 16 years at 萝莉社, I am honored to serve my colleagues and my students in this capacity, leading the way to a campus that lives its values of equity and justice, built upon a rich immigrant heritage and a foundational Christian tradition.鈥�
鈥淚 can think of no one better situated to serve as the inaugural University dean than Liza Ann,鈥� said Emerson. 鈥淪he embodies everything this important position requires. We need imaginative strategies to continue diversifying our faculty, and we need careful, focused attention on faculty development and mentoring. To become the university we strive to be, elevating the centrality and care of our faculty is essential.鈥�
Gregor Thuswaldner named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Thuswaldner will serve as both dean and professor of humanities. A native of Austria, he has served as professor of German and linguistics at Gordon College since 2003. In his six years as department chair, he greatly diversified the department faculty, created highly successful major and minor programs, and substantially grew the number of linguistics majors.
So successful is Thuswaldner鈥檚 department that College Factual, in conjunction with the听Wall Street Journal and USA Today, now rank Gordon as one of the nation鈥檚 colleges 鈥淢ost Focused on Languages and Linguistics.鈥� He is also the cofounder and academic director of the Salzburg Institute of Religion, Culture, and the Arts, a flourishing Christian liberal arts summer study abroad program. He has served most recently as interim director of the Center for Faith and Inquiry at Gordon.
The new dean has a strong background in faith-based and intercultural higher education administration, and a track record of fundraising and obtaining research grants. He is a prolific scholar鈥攈e has published six books, numerous journal articles and book chapters, and translated two books from German to English鈥攁nd an award-winning teacher. After just three years at Gordon, he received the college鈥檚 Distinguished Faculty Award.
鈥淚 am absolutely thrilled to connect with the Chicago community and join 萝莉社,鈥� Thuswaldner said. 鈥淣orth Park鈥檚 three core values鈥擟hristian, urban, intercultural鈥攄eeply resonate with me, and as a fellow , I am very impressed with the University鈥檚 heritage and trajectory. I look forward to collaborating with the faculty on a number of projects in order to heighten the visibility of the College of Arts and Sciences.鈥�
Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez and Blake Thomas honored for embodying University mission of significance and service
听CHICAGO (April 28, 2016) 鈥� On Monday, the 萝莉社 community gathered in Anderson Chapel for the annual Honors Convocation, a celebration recognizing students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and community.
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Mary Surridge presented the 2016 Distinguished Senior Awards to Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez, Kerman, Calif., and Blake Thomas, Olathe, Kan. This honor is bestowed each year to one woman and one man from the graduating class, recognizing extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, superior academic performance, and embodiment of the University鈥檚 mission of preparing students for lives of significance and service.
Velazquez-Alvarez, a major and certificate recipient, fled the violence of her native Veracruz, Mexico, at age 11. She and her family were homeless for several months, managing with little food and without access to medical care. She worked in the fields of California鈥檚 Central Valley with her mother from a very young age, and dreamed of one day attending North Park, which she had heard about through her church.
鈥淐armen鈥檚 story is the story of the impossible becoming possible,鈥� says , professor of . 鈥淪he is leading the way for other undocumented students to dream big and work towards fulfilling their goals. Carmen has made her North Park experience one to remember.鈥�
Velazquez-Alvarez served as the president of North Park鈥檚 Latin American Student Organization and cofounder of the Latinas Unidas Mentorship Program, established to prepare her fellow Latina students for success. She was also active as a Faith and Justice Team student leader, and completed an internship this semester with the YMCA鈥檚 diversity and inclusion department.
鈥淐armen is a dynamo, an organizer, and at the forefront of Latino and immigrant justice issues,鈥� says , professor of . In addition to her service work, Velazquez-Alvarez was honored this year as one of the top academic students in the state, receiving the and an educational grant from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. She earned a 3.98 grade point average at North Park.
鈥淭here are kids who came from Central America or Mexico, and they don鈥檛 get to go to school,鈥� Velazquez-Alvarez says. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 not going to school just for me. This isn鈥檛 even for me. It鈥檚, one, for God, and two, for my family and the people that I work with and are around me. I know there are serious circumstances that keep them from going to school, but how can my education help them in the future? How can I go back to the Valley and help my people?鈥�
鈥楢n outstanding student and a stellar human being鈥�
During his time at North Park, Thomas majored in both and , completed an internship that led to a job offer, and participated in multiple , all while maintaining a 3.69 grade point average.
鈥淏eing a part of the Chamber Singers and the University Choir has been the most rewarding experience for me at North Park,鈥� says Thomas. 鈥淔rom singing Handel鈥檚 Messiah with 400 people to going on choir tours around the country, I鈥檝e loved my time being under the direction of and singing with my peers.”
Thomas came to North Park out of a desire to merge his gifts in ministry and music, and a commitment to serving the city of Chicago. Music Recruiter has seen Thomas鈥檚 success firsthand. 鈥淚 know Blake well鈥攈e served as my admissions assistant for three years and has been active in the School of Music,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e is an outstanding student and a stellar human being.鈥�
, director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies, agrees. 鈥淚鈥檓 not surprised that he won the award,鈥� he says. 鈥淏lake has been an outstanding student with exemplary leadership skills. I鈥檓 very proud of him and his accomplishments, including serving as youth intern at North Park Covenant Church, where he was able to do some really good work.鈥�
Following his internship, Thomas has been hired as a youth pastor at North Park Covenant Church, and will begin his position this summer. 鈥溌芾蛏� provides a very well-rounded perspective on theology and provides the space for students to discern what is biblical and gospel-centered,鈥� he says. 鈥淣orth Park shaped the way I view God and approach theology.鈥�
In addition to the Distinguished Senior Awards, the Honors Convocation ceremony also noted the top graduating students from each department and school, and service and leadership awards were given to seniors embodying excellence in co- and extracurricular activities. View a complete list of students recognized in this year’s .
The University鈥檚 graduation ceremonies, including the presentation of the Ahnfeldt Medallion given to the senior with the highest grade point average, will officially close the year on .
April 30 event at St. James Cathedral celebrates Scandinavian life in early Chicago
CHICAGO (April 22, 2016) 鈥� Artifacts and records from Chicago鈥檚 first Swedish congregation, St. Ansgarius Episcopal Church, are now freely available and are on display at St. James Commons in Chicago.
The church, established in 1849 in what is now the River North neighborhood, is significant to both the city of Chicago and Scandinavian American history for the role it played in the fledgling immigrant community. “The church records, which survived the great Chicago fire of 1871 and had lately been restricted from use due to their fragility, are valued by researchers for both the light they shed on the early Swedish population in Chicago and for the missing links they can fill for genealogists seeking their roots,鈥� said 萝莉社 Director of Archives Anna-Kajsa Anderson. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited that not only are they no longer restricted, but that they can be by anyone with an internet connection.鈥�
Thanks to grants and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, the paper conservation company Graphic Conservation spent several months conserving and digitizing fragile records from the years 1849鈥�1896, which are held by the archives in 萝莉社鈥檚 as part of the .
In celebration, the , , Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, and are cosponsoring the exhibit St. Ansgarius Artifacts: Under One Roof Again. The gallery features remaining artifacts from the early years of St. Ansgarius, now cared for by several different organizations around the city. It can be viewed free of charge through April 30 in Kyle’s Place Gallery at St. James Commons,听65 E. Huron St., Chicago, Ill. 60611.
The gallery will culminate in the event A Celebration of Scandinavian Episcopal Life in Early Chicago, Saturday, April 30, at . The day will include an opportunity to peruse the exhibit, worship in a choral Eucharist, and attend a symposium on the St. Ansgarius Episcopal Church. . There is no charge to view the exhibit or worship at the Eucharist.
萝莉社 was founded in 1891 by the (ECC), a denomination formed by Swedish immigrants. North Park maintains a connection to its Swedish and Scandinavian roots through academic programs and other cultural exchanges.
President Parkyn addresses MAP Grant funding and North Park鈥檚 commitment to affordability
The Monetary Award Program (MAP) has provided grant funds for Illinois residents to attend college in the state since 1967. The State of Illinois budget, which includes authorization for this program, ran out on July 1, 2015, leaving many students and universities (including 萝莉社) vulnerable to funding shortages. Significant coverage has been given by news outlets to the impact of the budget impasse on higher education.
Last month, Professor Jon Peterson on how the state arrived at this point, as well thoughts on what must happen at the state level to restore these funds. Director of Financial Aid Carolyn Lach also in the Spectrum, North Park鈥檚 student magazine.
Here, in an open letter to future North Park students and their families, President Parkyn addresses concerns related to MAP Grant funding and other financial aid issues.
By Dr. David L. Parkyn, President of 萝莉社
Many of us here at 萝莉社 and around the state of Illinois have been carefully monitoring the budget impasse in Springfield. The standoff involving the governor and both sides of the legislative aisle represents a real threat to the way all colleges and universities across the state are able to provide students with a high quality of affordable education. This confrontation has left the Monetary Award Program (MAP) awaiting funding for the current (2015鈥�2016) budget year as well as for the next (2016鈥�2017) budget year. No one in the state knows when funds for MAP may become available. However, as the legislature reconvenes this spring for its next session, we are hopeful for some good news.
I wanted let you know that all of us at 萝莉社 are keenly aware of the sacrifices that students and families make, and the careful considerations that you will be making about where to attend college in the fall. I want to assure you that, despite threats from the state, 萝莉社 is strongly committed to making every effort to support our incoming students and their families to make attending North Park a reality.
Here at North Park, we often think about who we are. Our core values of being Christian, urban, and intercultural are clear to anyone who steps onto our campus. Along with these values, we like to reference something our founders mentioned 125 years ago. They said North Park would be an institution where 鈥渉ospitality is especially insisted upon.鈥� Hospitality offers the sense that everyone is welcomed. In higher education, it means that students feel valued in their learning environment. At North Park, it means that each student is a treasured member of our tight-knit community.
North Park decided over a decade ago to offer a private, high-quality education at a price point well below our competitors. Since that time, we have kept our tuition at a competitive level, and with substantial financial aid from the University, our students graduate with close to the lowest amount of debt for Chicagoland colleges and universities (as by Crain鈥檚 Chicago Business). We鈥檝e remained committed to offering an affordable education to align with the integrity of our Christian identity.
As such, we encourage our incoming students to contact us about the affordability of a North Park education. Please continue the conversation with our admission staff to determine the best way to finance your education with us, including a review of institutional aid opportunities, user-friendly payment plans and ways to ensure appropriate student loan indebtedness upon graduation. Take us up on the offer to learn about the welcoming family that is 萝莉社.
In doing so, I am confident that, as I have come to experience, you will feel the promise of our hospitality and love of our community.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Stories
CHICAGO (November 22, 2016) 鈥斕齇ne week ago I wrote to our campus community twice on the same day in related messages. On each occasion the general topic of my communication was to reiterate our campus commitment to civility in our life together. In these messages I stressed that interactions based on hate have no place at North Park.
CHICAGO (October 21, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社鈥檚 is a semester-long urban experiential program with all classes and hands-on learning focused on the city of Chicago. Designed to foster learning in the context of relationships, students in the program share the same curriculum, with opportunities for group discussion and interaction.
CHICAGO (June 10, 2016) 鈥� Today, announced that it has joined with the Obama Administration and 24 other colleges and universities around the country as a founding partner for the launch of the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge. The pledge provides higher education institutions with the opportunity to voice support for improving their communities through expanding college opportunity and eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record.
CHICAGO (June 2, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 has announced the听appointment of two new deans, effective August 15. will serve in the newly created position of听University dean, and Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner has been named as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Thuswaldner will serve as both dean and professor of humanities. A native of Austria, he has served as professor of German and linguistics at Gordon College since 2003. In his six years as department chair, he greatly diversified the department faculty, created highly successful major and minor programs, and substantially grew the number of linguistics majors.
听CHICAGO (April 28, 2016) 鈥� On Monday, the 萝莉社 community gathered in Anderson Chapel for the annual Honors Convocation, a celebration recognizing students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and community.
