College & Seminary News

Civic Arts Center planning at Maryville College is entering Phase II with a unanimous vote by the College Board of Directors. It has also been approved by the Blount County Commission, the Maryville City Council and the Alcoa City Council. Maryville College President Gerald W. Gibson said, “We’re excited that members of our board view the civic arts center as an important project for the college and the community.”

Matthew Fox will be the featured presenter on April 16 at a one-day workshop on Creativity and Spirituality hosted by Louisville Seminary. The event is part of a three-day tour of presentations and experiences led by Fox.

Karen-Marie Yust, an expert on nurturing faith in children and author of the book Real Kids, Real Faith, will discuss challenges and offer practical guidance at a one-day conference on April 29 at Louisville Seminary.

Rhodes College in Memphis has recently been awarded an additional $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue the Rhodes Learning Corridor. The Corridor, which was funded by a similar grant last year, partners the college with neighborhood schools to enhance science education and academic performance. Rhodes President William E. Troutt said, “We are delighted the Rhodes Learning Corridor continues to make such a favorable difference in the lives of midtown public school students.” Senator Bill Frist, one of the Tennessee congressional delegation members who helped to ensure the continuation of the funding, said, “Math and science education is crucial to the careers of the future and to Tennessee’s economic future. I’m pleased that we were able to help secure this funding .”

From CNN to Stars and Stripes, media are buzzing about sociology professor Beau Weston’s Centre College course on coffee, cafes and the social synergy they create. The class, “Cafes and Public Life,” was profiled in an Associated Press story and a follow-up article on MTV.com, “Coffeehouses 101: Nobody’s Falling Asleep In This Class.”