Important Dates
- Aug 24: First Day of the Semester. Classes Begin!
- Aug 27: First Chapel of the year- Join us online!
- Virtual Orientation for New Distance Students
- Aug 28: First Friday-Ride-Day
- Sept 1: Virtual Orientation for Equip Students
- Sept 2: Library/Academic Support Information Session
- Sept 10: NPTS Convocation
Congratulations Dean Michelle!
NPTS is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom as the Dean of Faculty for North Park Theological Seminary. Michelle has served on the faculty of NPTS since 2002, as Interim Dean of Faculty since January of 2020, and assumes this role after a mutual discernment process.
We are grateful for the innovative and entrepreneurial leadership she has brought to the Seminary, especially now as she fills this role alongside her additional responsibilities as the Director of the School of Restorative Arts and as Professor of Theology & Ethics.
The discernment process involved forming an interview committee that included seminary faculty and administration, ECC leadership, and Board of Trustee representation. After interviewing her, the committee voted unanimously in support of offering Michelle the position. This appointment comes with the support of President Surridge as well.
Join us in welcoming Michelle to this position permanently and offering her our congratulations!
NPTS Convocation 2020
Holding the safety of our seminary community as our priority, we will conduct this year’s Convocation Service virtually. The service will stream on September 10th at 11 am. Please tune in and join us for the celebration of a new academic year, recognition of returning students, and warm welcome to those beginning a degree program at NPTS. The event will air on the NPU Live page.
Friday Ride-days!
The Scriptures (the Shema) tell us to love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. In other words, with all of who we are! As a community we value a sound body, mind and spirit and hope to help our community be a healthy community in every way this year. To that end we will be leading bike rides every Friday at 9 for about an hour. We will meet in front of Nyvall and ride from there. Please join us with helmet and mask to “ride like the wind!”
Planning on Internship Credits this semester?
Students intending to do internship this semester must have turned in a completed internship agreement. Your agreement must be received at the very latest by Sept 10, in order to be registered for credits this semester. If you have questions, please contact Tim Johnson.
Student Leadership
This fall, we are forming a student leadership team to help facilitate community life, campus and virtual gatherings, and whatever creative ideas you come up, as well as research how best to move forward with student government in the coming years. We will research other schools and models to facilitate a strong campus community as well as explore its connection to our various degree programs across the country. If you would like to be involved, contact Dean Deb.
Library/Academic Support Virtual Information Session
Join theological librarian, Steve Spencer, and academic support guru, Kris Bruckner, for a virtual information session Sept 2 at 2 pm (CST). Do research papers get you anxious? Where do you even begin? Turabian what!? Join us to take a good look at the Brandel Library website (there is a new search interface) and where to find resources, as well as go over helpful writing and study tips. While this session will be especially important for new students, it is a great opportunity for all students, especially as the way we access materials, conduct research, and study continues to change during this season. Join Here
Campus Reopening Update
We are looking forward to being back on campus and want you to know that the University’s Campus Reopening Taskforce has been hard at work for months planning and preparing for a safe reopening. For more information specific to the University’s reopening plan you can visit the Fall 2020 information site, please note that while some information on this page is specific to undergrads, much of the it is relevant to the Seminary as well.
Everyone needs to complete the Returning to Campus Safely modules
before they return to campus. These modules contain information specific to North Park’s reopening plans and safety procedures. This fall everyone is expected to wear a face covering and follow social distancing guidelines while on campus. You will notice that in Nyvall Hall and around the campus there are several new hand sanitizing stations as well as disinfecting sprays available, please use them regularly while you are on campus. The community coffee and ice machines have been disconnected and will be unavailable until further notice; the student lounge in the basement with a fridge and microwave will remain available.
While we are resuming some face-to-face classes and gatherings, most activities will remain virtual for the foreseeable future. If a meeting or gathering can be held virtually we are asking that it be held virtually. If you need to set up a meeting with a faculty or staff member please email them to set up a virtual appointment. Check the Faculty and Staff directory if you need contact information.
Seminary Community Garden
Do you enjoy working outside? Are you hungry for locally produced fresh fruits, greens, and vegetables? Did you know that there is North Park Seminary Community Garden that offers all of that and more? Located at 5301 N. Christiana Avenue, it is an easy walk from campus. Anyone can join, no green thumbs required. Schedules are flexible and we will arrange for safe, physically distanced, times to water, weed, harvest, plant, and get in touch with the earth. If you would like to be involved and enjoy the harvest of healthy organic produce please contact Paul de Neui at 773-244-6230 or pdeneui@northpark.edu.