Faith and Learning at Sterling College
Mission
The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning at Sterling College exists to create supportive resources, structures, and strategies to integrate faith and learning, focusing on the critical examination of academic content through the lens of a Christian student.
Objectives
To fulfill its mission, the Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning pursues the following objectives:
- To promote the integration of faith and learning as a significant aspect of Sterling College’s mission, “To develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith.”
- To equip faculty to integrate faith and learning in ways appropriate to their disciplines
- To provide opportunities for the Sterling College community to explore connections between academic study and Christian faith
Resources for the SC Community
Office for the Integration of Faith & Learning Book Collection
The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning maintains a collection of texts related to the mission of the program, which have been donated or purchased with grant funds. These texts are housed in Mabee Library and are available upon request.
To provide the SC community with continued growth and development opportunities, the Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning periodically reviews and provides a list of books and journals beyond those available in the Office for the Integration of Faith & Learning Book Collection.
Web Resources
- Azusa Pacific University Office of Faith Integration
- Baylor University Institute for Faith and Learning
- Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies
- Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning
- Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts
- Union University Center for Faculty Development
Faculty Development Opportunities
Departmental Chapels
Departmental Chapels are a great way for students and faculty to worship together and to share how God has worked in their lives through their disciplines. The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning encourages faculty to organize a worship service for their department, which integrates aspects of the area of discipline.
Faculty Fellows
Each year the Lilly Fellows Program (LFP) sponsors programming, workshops, institution-based Faculty Fellows groups, and other events. As a member of the, Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities, the faculty of Sterling College are able to participate in the LFP sponsored programming. The details vary from one year to the next, but the primary focus of the programming revolves around the betterment of faith-based institutions through collaboration across the nation.
New Faculty Orientation
As part of orientation, new faculty meet and discuss principles of integrating faith and learning in the classroom. This time of collaboration introduces new faculty to the resources available to them at SC for successfully integrating faith and learning as educators and mentors to our students.
Professional Development Events
The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning hosts developmental events for the faculty. These events include activities such as speakers, faculty dialogue and reflection, and time of praise and worship. These events center around a yearly theme for faculty growth and development.
Small Group Events
Faculty have the opportunity to participate in prayer, small groups and/or roundtable book discussions with their colleagues for both personal and professional growth. The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning will provide a copy of the text to participating faculty.
Upcoming Event:
Contact Information
Dr. Sheb Varghese grew up in AZ where he became enchanted with philosophy and theology at a classical, Christian school. He majored in philosophy in college and went on to pursue two graduate degrees in theology. Sheb and his wife have four beautiful children. As the Director of Faith and Learning at Sterling College, Dr. Varghese seeks to form wise disciples of Jesus and works to empower his colleagues in the holy task of faith seeking understanding.
Office
Kelsey 104
Contact Information
Email: shebuel.varghese@sterling.edu