One more funny comic in the spirit of "finals" for my students striving to do well in this world and follow God at the same time...

Let's not lose sight of the most important question during "final exam period"....

Handong and Harvard

“Handong and Harvard: Reflections of a Visiting Professor at HGU”
by Charles W. Herman, Ph.D.


Before I arrived at HGU, I wondered what kind of academic realities I would find when I met my colleagues and students in Korea. I had corresponded with the chairperson of the School of General Studies, the Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Office of International Affairs. Everyone appeared to be helpful and knowledgeable, but I still wondered if the reality would match the appearance.

I was not disappointed. My students were as bright and enthusiastic as any I had taught in the US, and my colleagues were as dedicated and diligent as any I had ever known. But I still wondered about HGU programs. What specific outcomes does the university wish to see? To what extent does the university achieve its mission—that is, does the curriculum really prepare leaders for the 21st century?

When I was searching for answers to questions such as these, I remembered reading about a plan at Harvard to revise its general education curriculum, and I decided to compare programs and objectives at the two universities. The results of this comparison were truly remarkable. In its short history, HGU has already established outcomes and programs that Harvard has decided only recently to emphasize. (A summary of Harvard’s recommendations is found at: www.fas.harvard.edu/curriculum-review/Summary_of_Recs.pdf.)

Perhaps a few examples from the Harvard report will demonstrate this finding.

·Internationalizing the curriculum

The Harvard report says: “We recommend that we enhance significantly the opportunities for our students in international studies . . . [an area] in which the world has changed most dramatically since our last general review of the undergraduate curriculum. . . . Every Harvard College student should be expected to complete an international experience, defined as study, research, or work abroad, and—no matter their level of proficiency upon entering Harvard—to
continue study in a foreign language.”

This is an area where Handong excels. From teaching foreign languages, especially English and Chinese, to recruiting international students and sending HGU students to study and live outside Korea, Handong has programs that help students to see the world from a global perspective. In this respect, Handong is already doing what Harvard is planning to do in the future.

·Choosing an academic major

The Harvard report recommends that “the timing of concentration [major] choice, which now takes place in the freshman year, should be delayed to the middle of the sophomore year. A later timing of concentration choice . . . would provide students greater opportunities for intellectual exploration before committing to
in-depth work in a concentration.”

Handong has adopted a similar policy already. In addition, Harvard recommends reducing the size of academic majors so that students will be able to explore more widely a variety of academic disciplines and approaches to knowledge. To achieve these outcomes at Handong, students are expected to acquire knowledge in adjoining fields that will supplement and support their academic majors.

·Building a sense of community

The Harvard report says: “To build a strong sense of community in Harvard College, we recommend that freshmen be assigned to their upperclass House upon arrival.”

Most HGU students reside on campus. For this reason, the university functions practically as a self-contained community. Students study together, eat and live together, pray and play together. Because students share time, space, and experiences so intimately, they also learn how to share responsibilities, participate in group activities, cooperate, help, support, and serve each other. Skills and dispositions such as these will not appear on their HGU transcripts, but they are just as important for leaders and workers in the 21st century as any other set of qualifications (both in the church and in secular society).

·Building relationships between instructors and students

The Harvard report recommended smaller classes and a small-group seminar during the first year because, the Harvard panel said, “we recognize that a liberal education is above all a shared endeavor of students and faculty.”

The Handong faculty is a wonderful asset for HGU because they love the university, their academic vocations, and their students. While it is not unusual for professors to love their research, their academic disciplines, and the ambience of university life, many have only limited contact with their students. If instructors work at research universities, for example, they must devote much time to their research projects, and they may have little time left for students. Instruction at research universities is often provided by teaching assistants, not full-time and tenured professors. At HGU, however, faculty do more than work on research projects. They also teach, counsel, and mentor students. They pray and worship with students during Wednesday chapel services. They may eat with students in the cafeteria or campus restaurant, and most full-time instructors meet weekly with a team of about 25 students. Again, it is apparent that Handong has realized already an outcome that Harvard is only hoping to achieve.

Similarities such as these show that Handong’s mission is actively progressive, and its vision for higher education is shared by one of the most prestigious universities in the world. While we may be impressed by similarities such as these, there are also some obvious and revealing differences between Handong and Harvard. For example, the Harvard report contained no references to spiritual values, computer or IT skills, a commitment to diversity, integration of faith and learning, service projects, and appreciation for the disposition of servanthood. Emphases such as these are central to Handong’s mission and design for higher education, however, especially its focus on character development and spiritual values.

By making these comparisons, I am not suggesting that Handong is in a class with Harvard. Nevertheless, I think it is important to celebrate what HGU has achieved in its brief history—or to state the case in Handong’s own unique way, to celebrate what God has done at HGU.

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)

God's Grace Often Appears in the Form of Students

Wrapping things up at the end of the semester!
Got all 5 computer lab scores out of the way and now I need to focus on Composition scores and Grammar Practice scores...There is no REAL rush as I believe I have until the 29th to get final grades in.
I was pleasantly surprised to get the following email from one of my favorite students while in the office slaving over test results:
shalom, Andy!! ^-^
Thank you soooooooo much for teaching us this whole semester with God's love and passion praying for the class.
We(me, Hyunkyu, Yoonjung) want to have a fellowship with you...
so.... we would like to visit your room or meet you in the cafeteria or anywhere you'd like.
can you share your precious time with us on Tuesday at 3rd period or Friday night...
please let us know when you have time...
Shabbat shalom!! ^-^
see you at campus~!!
Wow! How nice of them! I am always amazed by God's grace that is poured out daily on my life. I've said it before and I will said again and again:
Any good that people see in me=the grace of God/the work of God in my life
Any bad that people see in me=me! (that is, my sinful/carnal nature that needs to be put to death daily!)
I praise God that there are students who are able to "love the unlovable" and to let their lights shine so brightly for God. Now, if only we professors could follow THEIR example...

Seong-Hee, Yoon-Jung and Hiun-Gyu with an unmerited, undeserved and unwarranted gift for little old me!!! wow!

The front of the undeserved card I received...Michah 7:7 - "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Amen!

Numbers 6:24-26 on the inside of Seung Hee's card....the SAME blessing I gave all students on the last class. (spiritual lesson-those who bless others shall themselves be blessed!)

I wonder if anyone else out there can make out what's written in Hebrew on the top line?! :-)

Sunghee lived in Israel for 6 months on a "kibbutz". (There are several students in Handong who have been to Israel!)

Eom Yoon-Jung, Jun Seong-Hee, Kim Hiun-Gyu (Dennis) and Andy Brown after a nice time of food and fellowship (lunch), Tuesday, June 14th, 2005

"...and the second is like unto it, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF." (Matthew 22:39)

One of the cheapest but neatest firecrackers. These things simply explode and flash with various colors. (300 won) All these are in the basement of the Express Bus Terminal Stationary Store in Seoul. Good, cheap fun! (and without the hangover or guilty conscience, ha!ha!)

If you are interesting in fireworks-don't bother with these. They are "pop-pop snappers" (that's what's written on the other box!) that snap when you throw on the ground. BORING!

This was neat. This thing shoots up a dazzling array of lights that lasts for quite a few seconds. (300?-not feet! maybe 300 won?)

This is a pretty cool light show-"The Bat" or "BakJwee" in Korean...

Smaller than the "NaBi" but just as impressive is the "bumble-bee". (Caution: make sure these things are FLAT on the ground when lit!)

The "NaBi" fireworks ("Butterfly"). For only about 300 won, this thing was pretty cool as it zoomed up off the ground in a streak of green light and exploded higher up than expected.