For my first project, I decided to undertake a search for journal articles relating to students with my voice. Unfortunately, after much searching, I must concede that this issue seems to have not yet been the subject of any accessible academic articles. I turned to the Chronicle of Higher Education to see what the popular dialogue might be on this subject. This search uncovered many articles relating to religion and college, but nothing directly related to my area of interest.
Sharon Daloz Parks (1986a) has focused her research on “the role higher education plays in the development of faith for young adults” (Evans et al, 2010, p. 202). Young adulthood, which Parks defines as beginning at age seventeen, is important because it is at this time that “individuals begin the process of taking responsibility for themselves, including their faith” (Evans, 2010, p. 203). Using Parks’ theory, then, college could be viewed as a critical period of faith development. Students are away from home, away from their parent’s daily influence, and are determining what is important to them. During Parks’ (2000) stage of “fragile inner dependence”, individuals are “particularly vulnerable and need support [and] mentors are needed guide and reinforce their new identities” (Evans, 2010, p. 204). At an institution with a faith tradition different than their own, students will benefit from authority figures familiar with their religious beliefs to guide and mentor their religious development.
When choosing a university, students of diverse faith traditions should investigate the resources available to support them as they question, affirm, dismiss, and commit to their faith. It could also be helpful to investigate the number of students of the same faith tradition on campus. Parks (2000) refers to “mentoring communities” which “support young adults as they distance themselves from the conventions and beliefs of their pasts” (as cited in Evans, 2010, p. 205). Being able to surround oneself with others undergoing the same process could be a strong source of comfort for students who are already in the minority on campus.
After my inability to find scholarly articles on my voice, I began searching the Chronicle of Higher Education and other internet sites for news articles regarding non-Christian students looking at Christian colleges and universities. I also began to try to identify a few students to speak with on Loyola's campus. Below is the list of the articles I discovered in my searching, which I will discuss in next week's post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121904199.html
http://chronicle.com.flagship.luc.edu/article/A-Christian-College-Devotes-a/7014/
http://chronicle.com.flagship.luc.edu/article/A-Christian-College-Devotes-a/7014/
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/09/local/la-me-claremont-20100609
http://chronicle.com.flagship.luc.edu/article/5-Minutes-With-Duke-Us/65435/
No comments:
Post a Comment