Jan 26, 2017

Campus

Episode 136: The Retention Benefit

4 Ways College Ministry Adds Value To Universities


Today, Caleb Craft joins us to talk about how we can partner with student affairs and the retention benefit it can bring. Craft currently is a pastor at Newlife OSU and works in student affairs at the Ohio State University.

Caleb Craft // Learning and Development Specialist at The Ohio State University & Pastor at NewLife OSU // @caleb_a_craft

Notable Points:

  • How student affairs sees students.
    • They see their department as a part of the education of students outside of the classroom.
    • In a sense student affairs plays a quasi pastoral role in students lives.
  • How can we work with student affairs?
    • We need to respect the rules and expectations that they have in place if you want to have a good relationship.
    • Student affairs may see interfaith events as a positive and achieving their goals for students.
    • Meeting with the people at the office is a great opportunity to learn about expectations and how the whole system works.
      • You may have more opportunity here than you think.
  • How to build the relationship?
    • Show them you are interested in student development and giving them responsibilities.
    • Ask them what they would like to see out of the relationship.
    • Love them.
  • What do they look for in a partnership?
    • They want the students to actually be in leadership positions and be involved.
      • Don’t use students to get in the door.  Student Affairs will see this as being dishonest.
      • This will be difficult.
  • Why is this important?
    • This forces you to build student leaders who can help lead the next generation.
    • This relationship can help give you access to facilities and funding.
    • This can help build the reputation that you have on campus.
    • You may be able to be involved in welcome and other campus events.
    • Retention benefit.
  • What to do if there is hostility?
    • Ask if it is due to being Christ followers or due to you breaking the rules.
    • Ask them if you are doing anything wrong or if you can be doing anything better.
  • Social Change Model of Leadership
    • Sociocultural conversations
    • Mentorship
    • Community Service
    • Membership in an off-campus organization
  • It’s all about communicating what we are doing in a way that is understandable.

Recommended Books

Confident Pluralism

Religious Pluralism in the Academy

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about the author

Caleb Craft


Caleb is a pastor with Newlife Church in Columbus, OH and also works in student development at Ohio State University.

about the author

Amy Dutton


Designer. Dreamer. Programmer. Designer.