The FPU community ended the semester's College Hour series with a time of Christmas caroling and music on December 7. Crosswind Choir, Pacific Bronze Bell Choir and Pacific Brass shared seasonal musical selections and Dina Gonzales-Piña, assistant dean of multicultural ministries, shared about Fresno Pacific's giving project with Mennonite Central Committee.

The Fresno Pacific University Community Wind Ensemble had the opportunity to play with a special guest conductor at its November 30 concert at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall. Craig Kirchhoff, professor at the University of Minnesota, is a widely-known conductor and is a former president of the College Band Directors National Association. The concert celebrated the 10thanniversary of the CWE, conducted by Patricia DeBenedetto. Kirchhoff also presented a workshop for music educators. To find out more information about the music department and future performances, check out their website at fresno.edu/music.

To celebrate the end of the semester, the Fresno Pacific Crosswinds Choir and Jazz Band performed a concert on December 7 at Butler Church. The two music groups played swing pieces as well as some seasonal selections. To find out more about the FPU music department, visit their website at fresno.edu/music.

MaryJo Burchard, M.A., assistant director for School of Education graduate admissions in the Visalia Center, presented at the Third Annual Virtual Conference on Moral Leadership December 9-12, sponsored by the Regent University School of Business & Leadership. The conference theme was the 10 Commandments. Burchard’s presentation, "Fidelity and Intentional Wholeness: An Exploration of the Impact of the Sixth Commandment on Contemporary Organizational Leadership,” was on the sixth commandment. More at regent.edu/acad/global/conferences/virtual/home.cfm

The grand opening for new Commuter Lounge took place December 7.

More than 400 students will graduate during fall commencement.

Fay Nielsen, Ph.D., associate dean of retention; Shirley Warkentin, M.A., policy analyst and director of operations for degree completion; and Melissa Kent, M.A., student success coordinator; attended the National Symposium on Student Retention October 29-31 in New Orleans. Warkentin won the Director’s Award for her paper "Approaches to Serving Under-Resourced, Undergraduate Adult Student Populations." Nielsen participated as a poster session judge. The symposium was sponsored bythe Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE).

Nielsen and Melinda Gunning, M.A., director of academic support services, led a round table discussion on small college/university issues at the National College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) meeting November 7-10 in Houston.

FPU's College Hour chapel service, which is held twice a week on the main campus, offers an online streaming option for students, faculty and staff that cannot normally attend. Viewers can catch the live streaming, or watch a recorded event at a later time. It was created especially with our regional centers in mind. Information about College Hour and the live stream can be found at experiencefpu.com/spiritual-life, or in the Office of Spiritual Formation. 

Coffee Stop, hosted by Women's Residence Director Becca Rhodes, is a time of worship and fellowship for Fresno Pacific women. Every week, several women lead worship and a different FPU staff or faculty member shares an inspirational story or message.

The 15th annual Thanksgiving Luncheon again brought together students, faculty, administration and staff.

New York Times bestselling author Father Greg Boyle spoke to the FPU community and guests on November 17 in the BC Lounge on our seminary campus. Father Boyle shared about his gang intervention program, Homeboy Industries, and his work in inner-city Los Angeles. To learn more about Father Boyle and Homeboy Industries, visit their website at homeboyindustries.org.

The Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary Community Chapel is held every Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in North Hall. The chapel is for students, faculty, staff and friends to spend time in worship and Scripture reading, as well as taking a break from their busy schedules and getting refreshed for the rest of the week. 

The Night of Champions concluded the fall intramural sports season with several championship games. Monday evening, November 19, FPU community and guests gathered on the campus green for an evening of fun and festivities, including an upperclassmen barbecue. Sign-ups for winter intramurals will begin next semester. To keep up-to-date with Fresno Pacific Intramurals, check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/FresnoPacificUniversityIntramurals.

In a continuing effort to keep a quality education within the reach of students and families, the Fresno Pacific University Board of Trustees approved tuition and fees with little or no increases across all programs for 2013-2014.

The Fresno Pacific University Center for Community Transformation (CCT) will build on hope in Fresno and beyond. The CCT is a new effort to connect the strengths of the university with the resources of the region to transform cities.

Ted and Joyce Smith, friends of FPU, have been honored for their generosity.

The 10th annual Lessons and Carols service was among a host of great FPU music events in November and December.

FPU added faculty throughout the university during the fall semester. Here is a list of new and promoted faculty as of November 1, 2012.

Ron Claassen, D. Min. (BA ‘67), professor of peacemaking and conflict studies/leadership studies, received the Ester Soriano Award for Excellence in Community Mediation from the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC). The award was presented by Doug Noll (MA ‘02), president of CDRC board, at the group’s 18th Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy Conference November 3 at Golden Gate University Law School.

FPU students got the chance to learn more about missions organizations, both local and global, during the annual Missions Fair. The November 7 event was hosted by the Office of Spiritual Formation. To learn more about service opportunities here in Fresno and around the world, visit studentlife.fresno.edu/spiritual-life.