On Saturday, April 20th over 100 students gathered together to celebrate their graduation from Providence with family, friends, faculty and staff. This included graduates from the University College – i.e. Otterburne campus and Prov Downtown – and the Theological Seminary.
The students at Providence meet and connect with a lot of staff, but they interact with one staff member more than most, especially if they live in residence. The name Teah Goossen is familiar to everyone on campus, as well as several commuting students, and rightfully so. Teah is Providence’s Residence Life Director and, after six years of excelling in her role, she is leaving Providence at the end of April.
Since the official launch of Providence’s Centre for On-Demand Education in 2022, one common question has been how it looks “on the ground.” After all, considering a new approach to learning theoretically is quite different from knowing how it functions in practice.
While university life can be hectic and wild, Angelle Arinobu, our current Faculty in Residence, has braved the task of living in the same building as many of our residence students. Through her desire to connect with young people, she has helped to foster an environment where students can come together and chat.
What exactly is Competency-Based Education and what advantages might it have compared to traditional methodologies? To help answer this question more comprehensively, President Kenton Anderson recently co-authored and released a book with Greg Henson called “Theological Education: Principles and Practices of a Competency-Based Approach.”
From drawing and painting, to creative movement and drama, to writing and music, art is a universal language that not only connects people and is central to culture, but is extremely effective for learning. Especially when dealing with pain and distress, artistic expression can be an invaluable tool when it comes to communication.
Friday, March 8th is International Women’s Day. The 2024 theme is “Inspire Inclusion,” which speaks to the importance of involving all voices in the ongoing process that’s required to ensure the experience full equality for all people. As described on the official International Women’s Day site, this annual event exists, “to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected,” and that, “one of the key pillars of Inspire Inclusion is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions.” To this end, let us celebrate the vital work of the following women who occupy key leadership roles at Providence.
Providence is creating new pathways for students to choose from – including its Centre for On-Demand Education (a.k.a. “CODE”). To help meet the need for skilled workers and to serve adults who want to earn credits towards a post-secondary diploma or degree, CODE offers Competency-Based programming that focuses on proficiency rather than time spent in a classroom setting.
The theme of Black History Month across Canada in 2024 is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build,” and Dr. Olukoju is definitely an example of one whose contributions ought to be marked and celebrated.
Because of its forested, riverside and agriculturally-adjacent location in Otterburne, the Environmental Science program is uniquely positioned to offer a mix of hand-on field methods and laboratory components.
