Welcome in the New!
Hi there! I’m Thomas Crank, the Director of the Clark Academic Center (CAC) at Calvary University.
We’ve got a lot of new here at Calvary University, and the CAC is no exception.
Here’s a snapshot of all the changes—just in the last year:
- New Academic Center Director
- New building for the CAC and Library
- 6 new tutors
- New Training Program
- New Webpage (in development)
- New Logo
Rest assured, however, that despite all the changes, the CAC stays firm to its commitment to serving you in any way we can. In fact, that’s our mission: “The Clark Academic Center is a ministry-minded student service whose main focus is helping students succeed academically.” For a full list of our goals and services, check out our new homepage here.
Let me show you around a little, introduce you to the new, exciting things God is doing in the CAC.
New Director
After adjuncting for the English department for a couple of years, I was hired in August 2017 as the new CAC Director, so Dr. Terri Stricker could move into the role of English Department Chair and begin building a new English Major.
Directing the CAC is a dream job for me. I worked in a writing center for three years (2006–2009) to pay for my undergraduate education. That experience was so life changing that I pursued a MA in Composition and Rhetoric: Writing so I could continue teaching and mentoring writers.
Upon graduating with my MA (2011), I earned a certificate in teaching English as a foreign language from Wheaton and moved to China to teach English for a year at a university. I settled back in the States in 2012 and opened my own tutoring company while teaching at Blue Ridge Christian School part time. I taught Bible, English, creative writing, and cartooning at Blue Ridge before moving to Calvary full time in August 2017.
I write and publish books on writing, and I am currently pursuing an MA in Bible and Theology at Calvary before pursuing a PhD in English. My research interests include teaching writing, creative writing, metaphor, and Biblical creation studies.
New Building
The CAC is nestled in the back corner of the new Library & CAC building. We have gorgeous glass windows that provide natural lighting perfect for a relaxing study environment. The CAC is equipped with two computers for our clients. One of these computers is outfitted with dictation software.
We have a small library of writing, grammar, and reading books, along with various study resources. We are about three yards from the nearest library bookshelf.
The CAC also features a Disability Support Services (DSS) office, which houses the DSS assistant along with a quite study room for students who need testing accommodations or a private study room.
One enormous benefit to being located inside the library is the close proximity to the library’s study room and computer lab. Students are a few steps away from access to a tutor from anywhere in the library.
New Tutors
We have six new tutors at the CAC and one returning head tutor. A DSS Assistant will be added to the team in Fall 2018. I’ll introduce you to our new staff in the coming months. For now, know that these guys and gals are dedicated to serving the Calvary community, dedicated to professional development and training, and dedicated to serving their Lord. We have an outstanding team.
New Training Program
This year the CAC implemented a new training program, which launched in the summer with an all-day training event, followed by a semester of reading and writing assignments—the equivalent of a 3-credit hour training course.
The training is supplemented by weekly staff meetings and individual mentoring by the head tutor and CAC director. When the program ends, the CAC staff does not stop their professional development. Instead, they will set personal professional development goals, staying up to date on academic center theory and practice.
A comprehensive digital professional development library is being created to provide tutors with cutting-edge journal articles, training and tutoring resources, training videos, and more.
The staff manual was expanded and updated with 20+ pages of policies, procedures, training, resources, and troubleshooting information.
New Webpage
We are in the process of building a new webpage off the main library page. This new page will provide easier access to CAC-specific resources for the Calvary community. Check out the new page here.
Same Commitment to Serving You
The CAC is standing by to serve you, the students, faculty, and staff of Calvary University. Please let us know how we can help. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email us or call extension 1402.
