APU Articles
Social Work Faculty and Students Partner with Local Churches on Behalf of the Homeless
April 04, 2016
As the national homelessness rate increases, particularly in Los Angeles, APU’s Department of Social Work continually seeks ways to help alleviate suffering and provide innovative solutions. On February 20, 2016, the department—along with the San Gabriel Valley Consortium on Homelessness—cosponsored “Faith-based Solutions: Christians Partnering to Address Poverty and Homelessness,” which drew local leaders seeking to aid this population in need.
Cougar Interview—Darryl Qualls ’96
March 17, 2016
With more than 35 years in law enforcement, Darryl Qualls ’96, chief deputy for the Pasadena Police Department, understands the importance of trust between the public and its local police officers. While books and training prepared him for a wide range of roles—from drug prevention and disaster preparedness to hostage negotiations and terrorism research—his upbringing in the town he serves today prepared his heart and soul to promote racial reconciliation between the police and his community.
Through a New Lens
March 17, 2016
Walking around campus on a rainy day, you see things through a new lens: the vibrant colors of the university logo now slightly muted, the peaceful atmosphere between leaves and concrete, and angles from buildings never seen before through puddles. It's quite beautiful actually.
Why You Should Visit College Campuses
February 29, 2016
Living on Campus vs. Commuting During College
February 24, 2016
Many universities, Azusa Pacific included, require students to live on campus during their freshman year and sophomore years or commute from a family residence. Living on campus provides a great opportunity for first-time freshmen and transfer students to engage in their new community and form lasting friendships. Yet the choice to live on or off campus is not always easy. Family, finances, and even athletic team, choir, or other extracurricular involvement can all be factors. To help inform the decision-making process, check out the following benefits of both options:
New Academic Advising Tools Prepare Students for Success
February 24, 2016
Mentoring and discipleship, core to the APU experience, give depth and purpose to every aspect of education—classroom dialogues, athletic contests, student life, spiritual encounters, and even academic advising. Tracie Burt, Ed.D., director of undergraduate student success, and her team in the Office of Academic Advising and Retention believe that these critical advising sessions can encompass more than mere course selection and present an ideal opportunity for connecting with students on a much deeper level. To facilitate that, the office recently created a set of checklists to guide conversations beyond course requirements, equipping every student and advisor with a comprehensive view of the resources, goals, and opportunities available to help students thrive in college.
Professor Leads Scholarly Discussion at the Huntington
February 15, 2016
Mark Eaton, Ph.D., professor in the Department of English and director of the Center for Research on Ethics and Values, taught a course at the Huntington from October 7-November 11, 2015. Titled Frontiers of American Fiction: Rediscovering 19,sup>th-century American Novels, Eaton led participants in discussions of selected readings that represent a global perspective on the American frontier, touching on important historical events such as the revolution in Santo Domingo (now Haiti), the California Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the slave trade.
APU Named among 10 Best Colleges for Nursing
February 10, 2016
The School of Nursing’s reputation for equipping the most skilled and proficient nurses earned national recognition on January 29, 2016, when USA Today named Azusa Pacific University among the 10 best U.S. colleges to earn a nursing degree for 2015-16. APU ranks No. 8, joining other prominent schools such as University of Pennsylvania and New York University and placing above Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University.
APU’s “American Idol” Contestant Melanie Tierce Inspires
January 28, 2016
As APU student Melanie Tierce ’17 began to sing, Harry Connick Jr., got up from the judges’ table and pronounced, “I’m done. It’s a ‘Yes!’ from me!” Then Jennifer Lopez said, “I have goosies,” and Keith Urban began to cry. Through it all, like the consummate performer she is, Tierce continued singing. Her heartfelt “American Idol” audition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” earned Tierce a golden ticket and these impressive words from Connick Jr.,“Best audition I’ve heard in three years as a judge.”
Great Books and Preserving Civilization
January 25, 2016
The great books curriculum forms the foundation of APU’s . It might be more accurate to call it a great texts curriculum, because not all the texts we read are books—some are plays, some are poems, some are letters, and some are state papers, like the Constitution of the United States. Even more precisely, we might call this a great works curriculum, since we study great works of music and visual art, too, with field trips every semester to some of the great concert halls and museums in and around Los Angeles. We also explore nature, in a sense the greatest work of all, a product of the divine art of Creation. Books, however, lie at the heart of our scholarly inquiry—the histories, dialogues, memoirs, treatises, novels, and meditations of some of the world’s greatest minds.
APU's “American Idol” Contestant Jessica Cabral Shines
January 22, 2016
Azusa Pacific University senior Jessica Cabral describes the moment that Jennifer Lopez reached across the “American Idol” judges’ table and handed her a golden ticket as an out-of-body experience. “It was truly unbelievable. I was in shock,” Cabral said. “It felt like everything in my life led me to that moment.”
APU: A Cost Effective Education That Pays Off
January 15, 2016
As students and their parents begin to explore college options, they may be surprised to discover that private colleges can be an affordable choice. According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), private colleges award billions in institutional aid annually, substantially more than that awarded by public schools. In addition, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) found that private California universities graduate more students in four years than comparable schools in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems.
Why College Is Worth the Cost
January 04, 2016
Vice President/Chief Diversity Officer Named
December 29, 2015
Taking the helm of a robust and growing area at APU, Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu, Ph.D., accepted the role of vice president/chief diversity officer in summer 2015. This historic position aims to centralize campus-wide diversity initiatives, provide strategic leadership, and support the university’s ongoing commitment to diversity.
Coaching for Impact
December 28, 2015
In 2007, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rolled out a series of popular public service announcements. The commercials simply stated, “There are over 380,000 student-athletes, and most of us go pro in something other than sports.”