But studying business at a Christian university does more than just prepare you for a job or a career. It provides a Christ-centered foundation that allows you to grow as a follower of Jesus, think biblically about your calling and honor the Lord with how you conduct yourself in the marketplace.

Whatever I'm doing, it won't be another undergraduate year at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, which is wild. Time has absolutely flown by. As I reflect on this, I've come up with a couple of ideas that may help you as you begin your journey at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. I've learned these things through experience and the wise people around me. What are the secrets of doing college well?

Losing weight is often the No. 1 resolution set for New Year's, but it is also the most quickly abandoned. You can defy the odds this year by choosing a healthy lifestyle that works for you.

Sadly, this story is all too common. I hear similar stories from family members and friends weekly. Fortunately for this student, his parents knew some of the telltale signs to watch for and took actions to prevent a major loss of personal data and financial resources for their family.

Thankfully, budgeting is about consistency and discipline instead of complex math, so anyone can do it if they have the willpower.

But if you've ever thought about launching your own podcast, where do you start? Ted Kluck, associate professor of communication arts at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University and a veteran podcaster himself, has some tips for aspiring podcasters.

Thanks to for their architectural design and for providing the transparency film used for the windows.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's bicentennial continued this year with events such as a birthday party, special chapel services, a documentary and more. Hyran Barefoot, Â鶹ÊÓƵ president from 1987-1996, poses with Buster the Bulldog during Â鶹ÊÓƵ's 200th birthday party held on Feb. 5, 2023.

The Department of Biology was given the opportunity to do research this year with 20 baby alligators from Louisiana. Micah Fern, assistant professor of biology, teaches his zoology students about alligator conservation. Current research involves using environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to locate populations in Tennessee.

EDGE student Kevin Riffle sits down for a meal that he prepared in cooking lab during one of the many life skills classes that the Â鶹ÊÓƵ EDGE program offers students. This specific project challenges students to plan, prepare, and host a meal for guests.

Each year Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Student Activities Council hosts Variety Show. Students in small and large group categories perform many types of talent, and they wow the audience with dance, song, creativity and more. Pictured here is the performance by Alpha Tau Omega using a Toy Story theme.

Trenton Golds, a political science major from Wilksboro, N.C., cheers for a fellow graduate at Spring Graduation.

When Bob's Burgers in Bells, Tennessee, burned down in January 2023, Bob O'Donnell wasn't sure what his future would hold. After seeing the beloved West Tennessee business in trouble, Â鶹ÊÓƵ gave O'Donnell the opportunity to continue serving his famous hamburgers as part of The Lex, the cafe located immediately outside the university's Brewer Dining Hall. Now named "The Lex Featuring Bob's Burgers," the new operation opened this year with O'Donnell preparing his hamburgers and fries for Â鶹ÊÓƵ students and the general public.

Welcome Week leaders perform the ever-popular "I'm glad that I'm a Welcome Week leader" sketch during the Welcome Week Show. Here senior Michael Garber plays the part of the carpenter with one student recieving a milk bath.

This year Â鶹ÊÓƵ named Karen Miller as the new dean for the McAfee School of Business. Each semester the school hosts several events for students to connect with local businesses. Here Dean Miller welcomes local professionals to network with McAfee School of Business students during a Brunch with Business Leaders event.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is home to the Jaxx, an ultimate frisbee team that competes at the club level and travels to different tournaments across the country. Here, Jaxx freshman Joseph Hinrichs catches a pass during their game against Samford.

This year we were able to begin construction on a new academic building. This will house the McAfee School of Business, and the departments of computer science and engineering. The university has installed a live camera feed so that construction progress can be enjoyed by all.

2022 started with a bang! On January 6, Â鶹ÊÓƵites woke up to the campus covered in snow, which became a day filled with building snowmen and snowball fights for students.

Students returned from winter break to a brand-new cafeteria! The $2 million remodel made Brewer Dining Hall a fun and exciting place for students to eat meals and build friendships for years to come.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ student, Eunice Tan, and the rest of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Voices of Proclommation perform at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's annual Night of Worship, hosted at Englewood Baptist Church. It is a great night of student-led worship and praise for the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Jackson community.

Betsy Caceres, assistant professor of chemistry, teaches her students in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's state-of-the-art chemistry labs. In fact, Â鶹ÊÓƵ's department of chemistry has a 100% medical school acceptance rate from its graduates in the past five years!

UU student, Meg McGaha, is greeted by Â鶹ÊÓƵ staff during one of the university's favorite traditions. Food For Finals is hosted every finals week, when faculty and staff give students a much needed study break and serve them a late night breakfast in the Brewer Dining Hall.

Nathan Furlough receives his degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ president, Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver on May 21, 2022. Nathan was just one of over 600 Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduates celebrated during our Spring Commencement Ceremony, and we are proud to see all these wonderful UU alumni serving church and society around the world.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ students help break ground Sept. 9, 2022 on a 40,000-square-foot academic building on the Great Lawn that will house the McAfee School of Business and the departments of computer science and engineering. We love this picture because it represents current students helping lay the foundation for an academic building where future students will be able to thrive.

Students worship as David Crowder performs a special concert at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, as part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's bicentennial kick-off celebration. Over 5,000 celebrated Â鶹ÊÓƵ's bicentennial kick-off with us during a weekend of fun for the whole family!

Â鶹ÊÓƵ student athlete, De Vries, in mid-kick during Â鶹ÊÓƵ men's soccer match against Spring Hill College.

Award-winning musicians, Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey, kicked off the holiday season with a Christmas concert at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Nov. 29. Over 1,300 donors, students and community members attended the 24th annual Scholarship Banquet to raise support for student scholarships at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University.

February 2021 brought a beautiful blanket of snow! Snow covered the campus, and temperatures stayed low for us to enjoy a winter wonderland for over a week. Our former student photographer, Naomi Mengel, captured this magical image during that week.

Callie Cooper watches the big screen as her classmates file into graduation. We love this photo because it represents our graduates looking forward to their bright futures!

Groups of student leaders always gather at the entrances on move-in day to welcome new students and their families. This is one of our favorite traditions, and this year, Buster even joined the fun!

The Residence Life 1/2K event has quickly become a favorite. Students who live on campus participate in this obstacle course to earn points toward the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Cup. We love this fun shot of the color run portion of the race.

Each year, we aim to capture these moments between faculty and students. Our people-focused professors are essential to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's education model, and we love this photo of Chris Nadaskay leading a drawing exercise outside.

The Frost family stops for a photo during Â鶹ÊÓƵ Night (one of our favorite Â鶹ÊÓƵ traditions!). This event occurs during Family Weekend, and we love photos of families enjoying the activities on the Great Lawn. That's what this weekend is all about!

Another part of Family Weekend is the fireworks show at the end of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Night. It is always fun capturing new angles of the show.

Our photographer just happened to be on campus one evening as the full moon was shining behind Miller Tower. The soft colors and bright light of the moon helped make this photo special.

The first part of our Scholarship Banquet in 2021 included a "not so late night" talk show with our president, Dub Oliver. One of our guests was this ball python from the biology department as Oliver warily let it rest on his shoulders for a moment!

Bulldog Madness is one of our favorite events during Homecoming, and this year, our photographer captured this action shot of Ty Parks during the dunking contest.

"Â鶹ÊÓƵ put shoes to the Gospel for me and gave me the ability to not only love the Gospel but to live the Gospel," Chamness said. "It's all about teaching kids that same thing, and I truly do believe Â鶹ÊÓƵ is where you go to learn how to live the Gospel."

52 years later, he is just as passionately sharing the Â鶹ÊÓƵ story to every student, parent and alumni he encounters because he believes learning how to be a minister for Jesus Christ in every discipline and occupation is what truly sets a Â鶹ÊÓƵ University education apart, and there are numerous examples of alumni who continue to give back to their university by sharing the transformational impact of Â鶹ÊÓƵ with others.

, pastor of , saw how Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Christ-centered values gave him a firm understanding of Truth, but he said the campus's people-focused mission also enabled him to grow and to be challenged in a safe, loving and encouraging community.

"When we say 'at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, we are Christ-centered,' that is not just something we put on the publications or on the brochures; it's real," Hallmark said. "We know that when we send our students to Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, they are going to be taught the truth of God's word — the inerrant truth of God's word."

The excellence-driven education that integrates faith and learning is what led Jennifer Land Graham, math teacher for 24 years and current director of curriculum and special projects at , to return years later to complete her graduate degrees.

"I have received four degrees from Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and I couldn't have had a better experience getting each one," Graham, a 1996 Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduate, said. "I would 100 percent choose Â鶹ÊÓƵ all over again every time."

For each alumnus, they know the true value of a Â鶹ÊÓƵ University education, and they believe wholeheartedly in the mission of this Christ-centered university. For Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni who would like some tips on how to promote Â鶹ÊÓƵ to their acquaintances, here are some suggestions:

1. Keep an open heart and mind — Chamness said it is important to be aware of who the Lord is putting in your path, always looking for prospective Â鶹ÊÓƵ students. "At times, I see a kid and go 'that's a Â鶹ÊÓƵ student right there,'" Chamness said. "I say, 'they need Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and Â鶹ÊÓƵ needs them.'"
2. Encourage students to talk about financial aid — Graham has found that one of the biggest hesitancies for many prospective students and their families is the cost of a private Christian education, which is why she is always helping her students look for scholarships and financial opportunities. Being ready and equipped to help prospective students find financial aid can help them be more prepared to continue their education at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
3. Understand the value of Christian higher education — As a passionate advocate for Christian education, Hallmark constantly encourages the students and parents in his community to understand the unique privilege of integrating faith and learning in the classroom. He challenges alumni to reiterate the importance of Christian education to every student and parent they encounter — understanding the real value of life-long spiritual transformation.
4. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions — Graves encourages Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni to share contacts of prospective students with admissions@uu.edu, and he says the office of undergraduate admissions will be diligent to follow up with students and to do what they can to help get them to Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
5. Share your Â鶹ÊÓƵ story — Every alumnus has their own story of how Â鶹ÊÓƵ has transformed their lives. According to Graves, the office of undergraduate admissions depends on faithful alumni to spread the word of Â鶹ÊÓƵ far and wide, so celebrate all the ways Â鶹ÊÓƵ University has impacted you, your faith and your professional growth by sharing your Â鶹ÊÓƵ story with others.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

It is as clear to me today as it was last March 16, actually, even more clear.

I remember waking up Monday, March 16, and being frustrated. Not the best way to start your day. Not even a good way to start your day. I was in the middle of grief -- grief over the fact that we had to make the difficult decision to suspend our face-to-face instruction in the midst of a confusing and chaotic beginning to what we now know well as the COVID-19 pandemic. The week before the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic, cases were beginning to be identified in the United States, and governing authorities and leaders were scrambling to take decisive actions to protect people when very little was known about the disease.

Our Executive Team had made the decision to go remote (temporarily, we thought at the time) on March 12. We communicated that to our campus community. Friday, March 13, was our last day of in-person classes for the spring 2020 semester. The campus began to empty of people. We had also started cancelling events that we had looked forward to with much anticipation, including one where we hoped to make a major announcement about a lead gift for the first new academic building in our campus master plan.

So, my frustration and fussing in the midst of all that was not unusual or even unwarranted. It's not the way I want to lead, but, I confess, I was in a tough spot, and I was fussing asking the Lord, "Why?" "Why now?" "Why this?" "What are we going to do?" "Why?"

Part of leadership is having responsibility for things.

I want to steward well what the Lord has entrusted me to steward ("Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2). I care deeply about Â鶹ÊÓƵ as an institution and I care deeply about all of the individuals and families that make up this institution.

In the midst of all this swirling in my spirit, I punched the garage door opener to get into my car and drive to work. All I can say is that when the door lifted, it seemed as though the birds' singing that morning had been amplified in some way. Very loudly and clearly I could hear the birds singing their song. Immediately, my mind went to Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Are you not of more value than they?

Immediately, my countenance changed. The Lord was reminding me that He is taking care of the birds of the air and He is taking care of Â鶹ÊÓƵ and all of us associated with Â鶹ÊÓƵ. It was such a moment of grace.

Monday, March 16, 2020, was a tough and full day, but, in my mind, I heard those birds chirping and pressed on, thankful for God's mercies. To the glory of God, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and almost every single day since then I have heard the birds singing and chirping. Sometimes at home, sometimes on campus, sometimes on videos or the radio, sometimes songbirds with sweet melodies, sometimes geese honking as they flew north (last spring) and then south (last fall) and then north again (just the last few days), all evidence of His care, provision, and love.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been face-to-face again since last August.

Mitigating and distancing protocols have helped us continue to pursue our mission and pedagogical approach until vaccines became available that signal it is becoming safe to eliminate such protocols.

Reading all this, you can understand more fully why the Faith in the Marketplace luncheon on March 18, 2021, was such an important event for us. Three hundred sixty-seven days later, we were gathering as we had intended a year before. Trudy Cathy White shared an incredible testimony about her mom and the commitment of her family to share their faith in the marketplace. We were all inspired. Tom McAfee shared a reflection about his dad, the namesake of the McAfee School of Business, and then announced the lead gift for a new building at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. We all celebrated.

And yes, as I opened my car door and got out to walk to my office that morning, the birds were singing in the morning light. God is faithful! The Lord is gracious, slow to anger, rich in love, He is good to all.

Although I often tell the story of Feb. 5, 2008, I rarely tell of Feb. 6.

Yet, when I was recently asked to describe "one snapshot from my life that shaped who I am today," I could have chosen from a dozen formative moments in my life. But this is the story that came to mind.

It was the morning after the tornado. I will never forget my mom arriving to Jackson early that morning and us heading over to campus in the small hope I might be able to retrieve anything I owned. Only a few hours earlier we had received the news that every student made it out alive. As we ascended the hill from Pleasant Plains Road, I will never forget seeing the view.

Less than 24 hours earlier, I was running across campus through this same rubble in my $2 Old Navy flip flops. But now, seeing it illuminated by the light, my heart sank. For the first time in 24 hours, my mind stopped rushing and the true weight of what had happened finally sank in.

This is what I see when I think of a moment that shaped who I am. This moment — seeing the immensity of the destruction, yet officially knowing that the 200 body bags brought to campus that night had left campus that morning — EMPTY! In this moment, I thought, "This, THIS, is the Lord our God!"

Even if the outcome had been different, I know he would have shown his faithfulness in other ways. But I am forever changed because God chose to work the way he did that night — in the rescue from the rubble. I am who I am today because, that morning, the Lord tangibly reminded me that I am not promised tomorrow. It is today that we have been called to — God owns tomorrow. I chose in that moment to give all I have to the Lord. My life is not my own anyway, so I would use it however the Lord led. Because if this is our God, then to what else could I possibly desire to give my life?

Social distancing, safer-at-home orders and shortages of toilet paper. This isn't what you thought 2020 would look like, is it? You may be feeling overwhelmed, uncomfortable, sad, angry, stressed... you name it. It's OK to feel these things. A pandemic was not in any of our plans for this year.

Though we may not be physically present with you, the faculty and staff of Â鶹ÊÓƵ University are allied with you as we move through these uncharted waters together. We've compiled some tips, strategies and resources to help you successfully navigate this period of social distancing and remote learning.

Keep track of changes

How do I access that class online again? What link do I need? When is that paper due? Put all of your key dates, big changes and important links in one place to help you stay on top of things. This might feel like a no-brainer, but if you haven't yet compiled the course changes in one place for easy reference, go ahead and try it. Things might start feeling a whole lot more manageable.

Make a schedule and stick to it

You might find that you are suddenly operating with very little structure. While at first this might feel freeing, it might also leave you feeling more scattered and less productive. Create some structure in your day, scheduling time for your designated online class meetings and video lectures, for research papers and projects to complete by specific due dates and for exercise and rest.

Avoid multitasking

Multitasking often tricks us into thinking that we're being more efficient, when we really might be taking longer to accomplish those tasks because our attention is divided. Try to limit your distractions and focus on one thing at a time. Realizing that you need some help with your time management skills? Consider a method like the , or check out the other resources compiled by the Center for Academic Success for time management tips, study skills and more.

Limit screen time

It's so important to put a limit on your screen time, especially now that everything is online. By charting out your week's schedule and giving yourself plenty of time to virtually attend classes and to study, you'll also find that you're left with time to eat, rest, exercise and maybe even read a book. Find some great book recommendations on the .

Adapt routines

Are there ways to adapt your usual routines to your new environment? Do you need to strategize and create new routines? One of the best things you can do right now is to stick with that school schedule you were used to; get up and dressed as if you are physically going to class. Start the day ready to go.

Do you study best in a comfy chair with light music or do you need a desk, good light and no noise? Do you study best with a partner? Host a virtual study group with your classmates. Check in with your friends and share ideas.

Practice healthy rhythms

There's a lot to think about as we adjust to these new routines and rhythms. Remember to be kind to yourself, and be kind to others. We're all adjusting and adapting to this new period together.

• Take a walk and exercise daily. If you're living in a community under safer-at-home directives, you might find that tensions start to run a little high after being cooped up at home. Follow on Instagram for some at-home workouts and nutrition tips to help you work out your stress and stay healthy.

• Engage with your spiritual community. Is your church offering online services? Is there an online community group or Bible study you can join? Follow and on Instagram as they help us engage spiritually through this time of social distancing, and be sure to tune in to chapel each week as it .

• Practice good mental health and coping techniques. There's so much that we can't control right now, and it can be really helpful to name those things and then limit the time we spend thinking about them. Rather than dwelling on all that we can't control, shift your focus to what you can control, and then start doing those things. Check out Counseling Services for more helpful mental health tips and resources, and to learn more about their services during this time.

• Listen to music, like the Gospel Coalition's playlist, . This playlist is available on Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music, and includes some of our most beloved hymns and worship songs.

Ask for Help

One of the most important things you can do right now is ask for help. There are so many resources available to you, even from home. Check out the list of departments and services below, and let us know how we can help you!

Academic Resources: Writing Center; Library; Center for Academic Success

Student Life support services: Counseling Services; Health Services; Disability Services ]]> Blog_OnlineLearning_Sp20-01 /blog/2020/5-tips-for-k-12-teachers-who-are-teaching-online-due-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/ Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:04:01 +0000 /blog/2020/5-tips-for-k-12-teachers-who-are-teaching-online-due-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/ Post by Dr. Eric D. Marvin, professor of education

A few short weeks ago, you probably never envisioned that you'd now be teaching without your classroom. Sure, you may have taken an online class, but you may have never taught one! In the wake of COVID-19, many K-12 teachers, like you, have been tasked with converting face-to-face lessons into online instruction.

At the surface, it's OK if it seems a little daunting, or novel, to say the least. After all, feelings of uncertainty during times of change are natural, but deep down, you know you've got this! As an educator, "adaptable" is your middle name, but even so, a few tips never hurt. In the midst of the pandemic in which you find yourself, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University is here to offer some support. Here are five tips that can guide you during this non-traditional time of instruction as you teach your students from a distance:

1. Good instruction is good instruction, regardless of the format. The good news is that you already understand the components of effective instruction. You know how to write objectives, create and facilitate strategies, and check for understanding with various means of assessment. Similarly, you already understand that your objectives, strategies and assessments must align. This doesn't change as you move to an online format. So, don't let the idea of online instruction misdirect you from what you already know and do. Rather, for each objective, ask yourself: what online tools will enable me to help students achieve this objective? Don't consume your time with a blind search for online tools and technological solutions without first considering your objectives. Doing so puts the cart before the horse. Keep your attention on the components of effective instruction. Then, find specific tools to enable you to help your students achieve your specified objectives.
2. Use free resources. As a teacher, you are already likely a king or queen of finding free resources. Most of your freebies, however, have likely focused on content and not instructional tools. One tool that may be especially helpful as you aim to provide online instruction to your students is . This tool allows you to record, edit and share video content with students and parents, and best of all, it's easy to use. Keep in mind that this tool can be used to record a mini-lecture, provide assignment instructions and communicate with parents. For older students, you could even ask them to record their own screencast with this powerful tool. Finally, if you are looking for some additional content-related freebies, check out: , and the .
3. Online learning doesn't require students to complete assignments online. In the absence of meeting in your traditional classroom, it may be easy to assume that online learning requires student work to occur online. Nothing could be further than the truth! What needs to be online is your communication with students and their submission of assignments to you. With social distancing, students can, however, be tasked with completing assignments with tangible objects in their home, around their yard or in their neighborhood. Similarly, they can call or Facetime grandparents to learn more about their lives. What a great time for such an interview project. After all, everyone is home and perhaps in need of some conversation. Your goal is to establish the guidelines and expectations. As always, be creative and see where you can take your students during this opportunity brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Relationships remain important, even when at a distance. More than anyone else, you know that relationships matter with your students. They know you care about them and want what is best for them. Now that you have been geographically separated from your students, it's important for students to know you are continuing to think about them and their educational needs. Panorama Education offers a that can help your students learn about each other and build stronger classroom relationships. Additionally, sending a brief video message (see Screencast-O-Matic above) to students can help to bridge the gap. If you want to talk with them about COVID-19, .
5. Follow the guidelines provided by your district. Due to COVID-19, it is very probable that your district has a continuity of instruction plan and specific guidance in place related to your work and the legal parameters in which you can and should function as an educator in the online world. Now is not the time to press the limits or extend beyond such boundaries. Your school administrators are concerned about the situation at hand and need your prayers, support, cooperation and collaboration.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University's School of Education is praying for and thinking about you as a K-12 educator. To learn more about the School of Education and its degree offerings, please visit uu.edu/education.