New Provost Releases 3rd Book
Aug 7, 2009
Dr. Rick Ostrander, Cornerstone University provost, recently released Why College Matters to God: A Student’s Introduction to the Christian College Experience, published by Abilene Christian University Press.
“My book is intended to help Christian college freshmen get started right by helping them to understand the unique purpose and value of a Christian college education,” said Ostrander. “The healthy Christian college seeks to help its students grow in all areas of their lives -; spiritually, emotionally, professionally. It's about educating the whole person as a disciple of Christ.”
In his book, Ostrander explains what Christian higher education is today by tracing the Christian college from its beginnings in colonial America to its current form. Ostrander also draws on the insights of a wide range of Christian philosophers, historians, scientists and theologians to affirm Christian higher education.
Dr. Michael Hamilton, chair of the history department at Seattle Pacific University, said Why College Matters is “perhaps the best available introduction for students to the aims and purposes of a Christian college education. … The Creation-Fall-Redemption core gives Why College Matters an excellent conceptual anchor that is likely to make the book’s ideas memorable to students.”
A general audience could also profit from his book, according to Ostrander.
“The book uses crossword puzzles, Far Side comics and other devices to communicate the key elements of Christian higher education in a way that avoids academic jargon and appeals to a general audience,” he said.
It is currently being considered by some universities to be used as a textbook for core classes.
To learn more about Cornerstone academics, visit www.cornerstone.edu/academics/.
