Viking Preview Days offer you a firsthand taste of the 草莓影视 experience by allowing you to connect with our community and learn about our vibrant student life. Viking Preview Days are an ideal opportunity for students to take the next step in their college journey and discover what makes 草莓影视 special.

Highlights:
-Attend “Coffee with Coaches” and learn more about Viking Athletics (optional)
-Explore our campus oasis on a tour led by 草莓影视 students
-Get all your questions answered about your admissions application and financial aid

草莓影视 has launched the Center for Civic Engagement, an outgrowth of its Catalyst 606 program in which the university’s faculty and students will work with community leaders to strengthen the important work they’re doing in Chicago’s听neighborhoods. As part of the initiative,听草莓影视 will also offer a Public Policy major beginning in fall 2023.

“The main idea is to build more of a city-centered ethos on campus, and to augment 草莓影视’s commitment to the just flourishing of cities by honoring the work that is going on in neighborhoods,” said Richard Kohng, assistant vice president for the Center of Civic Engagement.

The center enacts this mission through four core divisions: the Catalyst Hub; the Community Assets and Program Evaluation Consortium; the Community Development Hub; and through public policy engagement.

“The Center for Civic Engagement elevates听草莓影视’s unique distinctives as a Christian, city-centered, intercultural university,” 草莓影视听笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Mary K. Surridge said. “Faculty and students learning and working alongside community leaders across Chicago听is yet another example of听草莓影视 living into its mission of preparing students for lives of significance and service.”

As part of the center, faculty will provide their specialized expertise to community groups for a reduced fee. For instance, Assistant Professor of Psychology Amy Governale will provide at-cost guidance on program development for organizations that lack the resources to do so themselves.

“A lot of locally led groups don’t see the money they should from grants or philanthropy,” Kohng said. “This will help level the playing field.”

Students will be involved as well, via the Catalyst Hub. Since 2017, students have participated in a designated civic engagement block every Wednesday afternoon. The schedule allows immersive learning experiences to be incorporated into classes across the curriculum, Kohng said.

Building on Catalyst’s success, the new program will incorporate a consortium that allows students to work on real-time projects that benefit community groups. For example, a business class might work on a marketing campaign for a fundraising drive, or a math class could analyze data related to program participants.

The center will be led by a board of community leaders from across the city, and with the guidance of partner Transform Capital鈥攁 nonprofit lending initiative cofounded by Paul Hawkinson, a professor in听草莓影视’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management.

Learn more about the Center for Civic Engagement

草莓影视 students all have different experiences while moving in. As part of 草莓影视 culture, all of your RAs and some other current students will be on the curb to greet you with sweaty t-shirts and smiling faces. They鈥檙e just as excited about moving in as you are, and they’ll help you get all of your things into your new room.

Here are some comments from people around campus who recall the first time they moved in and want to give you an advantage they didn鈥檛 have before moving in:

• 鈥淕et a mini-fridge. It will keep your drinks cold and give you more versatile options for snacking.鈥� 鈥� Male, Class of 2019
• 鈥淒on鈥檛 over-pack; and be nice to your parents, they鈥檙e really trying to help.鈥� 鈥� Female, Class of 2018
• 鈥淏ox fans, box fans, box fans.鈥� 鈥� Male, Class of 2018
• 鈥淥rganize your belongings in boxes while moving out of your house, that way you know where everything is once you move in.鈥� 鈥� Female, Class of 2018
• 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need everything you think you need.鈥� 鈥� Male, Class of 2018
• 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to leave your door open to invite people in.鈥� 鈥� Male, Class of 2019

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8 am: Alarm

It鈥檚 the second day of class. We had our introduction exercises in our first class, and the syllabus was presented too. We won鈥檛 be wasting any more time; the real deal starts today. My roommate comes in sweaty; of course, they woke up to meet the gym as it opened. Maybe you鈥檒l get a roommate like that too.

10 am: Coffee

Starbucks or Einstein鈥檚 Bagels & Co.? Luckily neither is a difficult choice as the former is across the street and the latter in the Johnson Center. I prefer the snack variety at Einstein鈥檚.

12 pm: Lunchin鈥�

I ordered ahead of time to get my pack lunch at Einstein鈥檚, it does cost a meal swipe, but this way I can sit outside or find a quiet spot in the Johnson Center to call my family, because they call. Every. Single. Day.

2 pm: Catalyst 606__

Some of my friends already have their Catalyst class session now. There are two every semester per afternoon class. I鈥檝e got one of mine next week. We鈥檝e got U-Passes, that means we have unlimited travel on the CTA, Chicago鈥檚 train and bus systems, so Millennium Park here we come. We can still explore the city without the class.

6 pm: ARA

Back on campus, everyone calls the campus dining hall 鈥淎RA鈥�, it鈥檚 infiltrated my use as well. It takes up almost the entire second floor of Magnuson.

8 pm: 鈥淧ogo if you love 草莓影视鈥�

Yep, that鈥檚 one of the chants at the men鈥檚 soccer game. The stands are full and everyone is jumping on one leg with a shoe raised in the air. There are some people at the base of the stands shouting and heckling the other team, in good fun; we joined them for a bit. Why not?

10 pm: Cookie Monster

Some of the returning students want to take us to Insomnia Cookies. It鈥檚 off the Fullerton stop and, apparently, the 草莓影视er place to go on a weeknight. There is sleep, but this is college, so鈥�

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Sarah Hawkinson is a history and secondary education major. She is also a desk attendant, writing advisor, participates in the women鈥檚 chorale, and tutors students from Peterson Elementary school.

“草莓影视 went from being my last choice to the perfect choice for me. My family has a lot of history and connections at 草莓影视, so it had been in my life so much already and for a while, I was dead-set on moving away. Then I attended a scholarship event; it was my first time visiting as a prospective student. I had fun meeting other people I would potentially go to school with, and the idea of coming to 草莓影视 began to feel more real. That was when I realized that I could make my own experience here and do my own thing.

The interactions I had with professors, even before attending 草莓影视, were really encouraging because it seemed like they already wanted to be invested in their students鈥攖o be more than just professors but mentors who are there to help you make choices. That鈥檚 what I love about 草莓影视 now. Having the opportunity to get coffee with my professors and take extra time outside of the classroom is something that I feel my friends at other schools don鈥檛 get. And now that I am getting to the core of what I want to study, my professors are ready and eager to challenge me, especially when I鈥檝e shown that I鈥檓 invested and interested in their class.

Another aspect of 草莓影视 that I鈥檝e grown to appreciate is its location in the city, which has helped me to continue in my faith life by learning more about cultural and religious diversity. I鈥檓 definitely growing and having positive and new experiences in this city setting. It has been important for me to get to know others and hear about a variety of experiences; it’s enhancing my faith-life and the way I see the world.

I鈥檝e realized being close to home has more benefits than drawbacks. I can go home every weekend or once a semester. 听I鈥檝e been very happy with my decision to go somewhere which happened to be close to home, but really my decision was more multi-faceted than that. It was the opportunity to grow at听a school where professors and students encourage faith, growth, and learning. Plus, I get to keep my winter clothes at home during the spring.”

The Career Development and Internships Office (CDIO) is a resource for every student throughout and after they complete their studies at 草莓影视. The CDIO听helps undergraduate students match their vocation to major, develop critical work skills, master professional branding, engage in a job search, and network with alumni and professionals.鈥� CDIO staff walk alongside students from their prospective visits, throughout college, and into the workplace.

NP: Who does the CDIO serve?

Bozeman:听The CDIO serves all undergraduate students as well as 草莓影视’s graduate students and alumni.鈥� We focus on professional coaching, career mapping, advanced networking strategies, and simple financial planning related to salary negotiations.

NP: When should students connect with the CDIO?

Bozeman:听We make every effort to connect with students as soon as they arrive to campus.鈥� We know that our high-performing graduates complete hundreds of hours of volunteer service, internships, career research, professional development, and financial planning.鈥� To inform and support students about best practices, we created the Career Advantage program.鈥� The program lists critical activities for each year of study at 草莓影视, and includes an easy tracking system to help students articulate their accomplishments.

Pamela Bozeman,听Senior Director of Career Development and Internships

NP: What is “Career Advantage” and why should students participate?

Bozeman:听Career Advantage is a four-year plan, fully on-line, connected to employers and campus activities, incentivized, and is what employers want to see.

NP: Why should students seek internships and jobs during their studies?

Bozeman:听According to an on-line source鈥疌areerUp, 鈥淚f you have a鈥�痙isplayed on your resume, it will give you a competitive advantage over all the candidates applying for the same position. Employers understand that graduates that do not have any practical experience may lack the skills required to excel on the first day of their employment. Employers value internship experience because they provide students with skills that they cannot acquire in a school setting.鈥�

NP: Does the CDIO have a job or internship finder for students and alumni?

Bozeman: Yes, Carer Hub. CDIO staff assist students looking for internships and jobs using several search engines, professional contacts, off-site job fairs, and our own on-line job directory – Career Hub.

NP: What do you wish students knew about your office?

Bozeman:

• The CDIO staff have a cumulative total of 20 years of experience in higher education, 20 years of experience in college admissions and career readiness, and more than 10 years in workforce development.
• We serve our students and alumni for as long as they need us, free of charge.

Learn More about CDIO