Against the Current: A Non-Reformed Student’s Perspective at Covenant College

This summer, I read about the ecumenical movement in World War II. The ecumenical movement was an attempt to unify the churches in Europe to rise against the Nazi Church. It was also a greater theological movement to bring more unity to Christ’s church. This led me to visit different churches with family and friends. I visited Orthodox, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal and some Presbyterian churches. By no means was this summer comprehensive; there is still so much more to see and learn.

Read more

Voter Registration

The 2024 United States presidential election is in just over a year, and talk of polls, debates, candidates and political issues are beginning to dominate the national news. For a majority of Covenant students, next November will be their first time voting in an election, as well as selecting their choice for President and Vice President.

Read more

SACC Fee

On Monday, April 3, Covenant’s Student Senate led campus in a successful vote to increase the Student Association (SACC) Fee by $50 for the year. This means that beginning in the 2023-24 academic school year, each student will be paying an additional $25 per semester to go towards the Student Association budget. 

Read more

Happy S.A.D.

On Thursday, March 30, Covenant College hosted its once a semester Student Appreciation Day, affectionately called S.A.D. by students and staff. S.A.D. is a day full of special events to show the college’s appreciation for the student body and encourage the campus. 

Read more

Q&A Panel: Core Curriculum

On February 21, Student Senate hosted a Q&A Panel on Covenant’s Core Curriculum. The event was an opportunity for faculty members to answer student questions and give an update on the Core Oversight Committee’s review of the curriculum. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Colin Messer, and faculty members Dr. Heather Hess, Dr. Bill Davis, Dr. Robert Erle Barham and Dr. Kelly Kapic attended. 

Read more

The G.R.A.C.E. Report Series: The Legacy and Future of Women at Covenant Part 2

Despite the growing number of female faculty and support for their work at Covenant College, by 2017, the gender gap still posed a problem. That same year, Covenant College ran The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For” survey to mark employee satisfaction. However, when Dr. Karen Nelson, vice president of Institutional Effectiveness and member of the president’s cabinet, analyzed the data, there was a marked disparity between the satisfaction of male and female faculty and staff. The results of the survey were shared with the administration, including President J. Derek Halvorson and the Board of Trustees. 

Read more

G.R.A.C.E Report Series Part 1

The article is the first in a three-part series about women’s roles at Covenant College throughout its history. This first article is an overview of the history of women at Covenant, specifically the faculty, starting in 1957. The next two articles will look at the years 2018-present, explaining the findings and impacts of the 2018 G.R.A.C.E. report, and the College’s failed attempts to secure a place for women on the Board of Trustees.

Read more

President Halvorson Stepping Down

Tuesday morning, students and faculty alike received an email that contained, for many, unexpected news. College president Dr. J. Derek Halvorson announced that he would be stepping down on June 30, 2023. To the relief of many, he will remain on campus with a new title and role to play in our community. Effective immediately after his resignation, President Halvorson will be named director of the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership. When asked to describe the nature of this new center, the president said that “The goal of the center is to inspire and equip Covenant students to take up and excel in the sort of selfless, Christ-like leadership exemplified by the men for whom the Center is named.”

Read more