APU Articles
Why Chapel?
October 28, 2016
Several times a week a communal pause takes place for the students of Azusa Pacific University. All gather for a campus-wide tradition known as chapel. Crafted from the four cornerstones of Christ, Community, Scholarship, and Service, APU’s chapel services demonstrate the university’s commitment to cultivating disciples and scholars. Chapel provides a built in break allowing for spiritual rest amidst the rigor and demands of college life and the incorporation of faith into a student’s daily routine.
TRiO: Supporting First-Generation College Students
October 26, 2016
In fall 2015, APU received $1.1 million from the Department of Education to fund and start the university’s first TRiO Target Success program. With this new program geared toward supporting and motivating first-generation college students to succeed, APU set a new standard for current and future students seeking to become the first in their families to receive college degrees, and ultimately, to become difference makers in the world.
Christians in the General Election: Faithfulness and Politics
October 24, 2016
The government has failed. People no longer trust Congress or other politicians. The news media, the Church, and other institutions of public life have alienated much of the nation. Cities are filled with violence. Poverty and war kill thousands daily. As another election approaches, the future looks bleak.
APU Introduces Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
October 24, 2016
Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Communication Studies recently launched a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. Skills required for this major include strong communication, good writing, and the ability to multitask, be detail-oriented and flexible. Public relations (PR) is the maintenance of a public image by a company or organization with relationship to communication, journalism, and marketing. Located in the heart of one of the world’s top media markets, APU offers students the opportunity to become outstanding public relations professionals and difference makers in the industry.
Christians and the General Elections: Goodness and Politics
October 17, 2016
Goodness may be the most readily recalled characteristic by those who commit the fruits of the Spirit to memory—especially by those who study the King James or New International versions. However, the New Revised Standard Version uses the word generosity. Because of the rhyme, goodness works better for memorizing—kindness precedes it, and faithfulness and gentleness follow it. The word generosity, though, provides more specificity of the purpose of one’s goodness. It gives a human-to-human dimension to this trait that the English word goodness doesn’t. When we hear the word generosity, we do not think of something that is between ourselves and God alone, but rather, an act we do for others.
Remember These Deadlines When Applying to APU
September 29, 2016
When choosing and applying to colleges, there are many things to keep in mind such as location, academic reputation, community, education opportunities, and of course, knowing when is the best time to apply for college. At Azusa Pacific, we understand that the application process can seem overwhelming, but that is why our undergraduate admissions team is ready and willing to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re interested in starting college in the fall or spring, here is a list of undergraduate APU application deadlines every prospective student and parent should know!
Ryan Montague Talks About New Book, Divine Opportunity
September 28, 2016
Ryan Montague, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies and author of two books. Montague recently released his newest book, Divine Opportunity: Finding God in the Conversations of Everyday Life.
Maged Gerges: Serving God by Serving Meals
September 15, 2016
From leaving his home country of Egypt and beginning a new life in the United States, to starting his own cooking TV show and transforming APU’s Dining Hall with his leadership, Maged Gerges embraces change and sees possibilities in the challenges.
Tips for Navigating Freshman Year from Students Who Have Been There
August 26, 2016
The first year of college is exciting, but students often feel anxiety or homesick while adapting to this new environment. The transition to college looks different for each student—no two experiences are exactly the same. It’s an important time as you shape what this journey will look like for you, and APU faculty, staff, and students are eager to come alongside and support you in this transition. Hear from some of our upperclassmen as they give insight about their freshman experience at APU.
For Coffee and Company
August 25, 2016
The delicious smell drifting in the air as you walk in; the sounds of brewing, blending, and grinding. Then, the best part—the taste of a creamy latte beautifully dressed with a foamy leaf on top. Coffee shops are among college students’ top places to study or gather, both for the caffeine fix and relaxed environment. They provide a sacred space for meeting with classmates, professors, or roommates to cultivate relationships that often extend past the college years. Whether you are an avid coffee drinker, or you enjoy a refreshing tea or pastry, you can find within a six-mile radius of Azusa Pacific University four extraordinary coffee shops frequented by APU students.
Orientation Weekend Checklist
August 15, 2016
Faculty Member Explores Japanese American Mission History
August 11, 2016
Delving into the rich history of her ethnic and spiritual heritage, Evelyn Shimazu Yee, MLIS, associate professor of University Libraries and head of community relations, conducted her sabbatical research on the stories of early California Christian missionaries. Titled California Missions: Historical Japanese-American Preservation and Research Project, her work records, catalogs, and archives photographs, artifacts, and other documents representing more than 120 years of history. The research focuses on Japanese-American Christian mission groups and may represent the first comprehensive academic faith-based ethnic archive of its kind.
Understanding FERPA
August 04, 2016
Mentoring: A Journey of Compassion and Kind Curiosity
August 01, 2016
After class one day, Charity Wabuke, MFT ’12, stopped by to ask for my advice. It surprised me to hear that she, one of my most gifted students, felt insecure about her future and her ability to become a successful therapist. Although her fears were not so different from those of other aspiring students in the clinical field—“Will I be able to effectively help clients heal from their emotional pain?”—Charity shared her worries about successfully entering a new profession after working in the business world for more than a decade. “I’ve always had high expectations of myself and in sales and marketing, where I could achieve my goals through formulating strategies and meeting deadlines,” she said. “Yet, it was harder to define success in the world of counseling, where outcomes were less tangible.” That conversation marked the first of many deep and meaningful discussions about her qualifications, essential preparation to enter the field, and what goals she should set in order to rise to the top of her profession. Over the years, it turned into a mentoring relationship that continues to this day.
Full Circle
July 11, 2016
Diana Faatai, Ed.D. ’16, remembers sitting in her eighth-grade classroom in Wilmington, California, as her fellow students recounted their weekends. Some went bowling, some saw movies, but Faatai helped her father prepare and cook a pig in the backyard for her church family’s traditional Samoan feast.
