Since 1993, Whitworth University has participated in a program, funded by the Pew Charitable Trust, which is designed to courage, educate and inspire a future generation of Christian academics. Since 1998, the program has been also sponsored by Whitworth's Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith and Learning. The program is designed to identify academically gifted undergraduate students and to encourage them to pursue scholarly careers as Christian vocations. The program is structured around a one-to-one mentoring relationship with a faculty member, and it hopes to assist students in making the transition from undergraduate to graduate work. Students interact with first-rate Christian scholars, and are encouraged to believe that they can make a significant contribution as a Christian scholar.
Coordinator:
Dale E. Soden, Ph.D.
Department of Politics & History
Objectives
What is the benefit for the student?
Which disciplines can participate in the program?
For which students is the program intended?
Credit and non-credit options
Must projects have a faith-leaning emphasis?
What are the faculty expectations?
What is the application procedure?
What have previous scholars gone on to do?
The objectives of the Weyerhaeuser Younger Scholars Program are as follows:
- to identify students with scholarly potential
- to encourage the pursuit of academic careers
- to educate students regarding careers in academia
- to inform students of graduate school opportunities
- to explore the challenges associated with being a Christian intellectual in a secular world
The essence of the program is a mentoring relationship between a student and a faculty member. The student is required to work on a research project in consultation with the faculty member and present the results of that research at the end of the academic year at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
What is the benefit for the student?
Primarily this program benefits the student by providing an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a project that hopefully is more advanced than the typical undergraduate assignment. Faculty should be able to write stronger letters of recommendation for graduate school. The designation as a Weyerhaeuser Younger Scholar also has some advantage relative to graduate school. This year, we have a credit and a non-credit option described below.
What disciplines can participate in the program?
All disciplines are eligible.
For which students is the program intended?
The program is intended for junior or senior-level students who are seriously considering enrolling in graduate school and reflect a strong potential for a career in academia.
Credit and non-credit options:
- Credit: One credit is available each semester under the title HU 491 - if this puts a student over the maximum allowable, the overload fee is waived. The student must be able to meet on the following Monday evenings from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Oct. 10, Nov. 8, and Nov. 29) with Dr. Soden from the Department of Politics & History. We will talk about the integration of faith and learning, the nature of intellectual life in American society and in particular within the Christian community, as well as issues related to applying for graduate school. In addition, each student will work on selecting a research topic with a faculty mentor. The research project will be presented at the Undergraduate Research Conference at the end of the academic school year. During the second semester, one credit is also available and will focus on the development of the research project. Each student will be expected to present his or her research as part of the undergraduate research conference held in the spring.
- Non-credit: If a student wants to participate as a Weyerhaeuser Younger scholar, a non-credit option is available. The student simply has to commit to working with a faculty mentor on a research project and be willing to present the project at the end of the academic year at the undergraduate research conference.
Must projects have
a faith-learning emphasis?
No. Though the Weyerhaeuser Younger Scholars Program seeks to raise a generation of Christian voices in the academy, the program recognizes that not every piece of research by these voices will be directly informed by a faith perspective, however, issues related to faith perspectives and the academy will be discussed.
What are the faculty expectations?
The heart of the program is focused on building mentoring relationships between distinguished students and Christian scholars. Though your presence is always welcome, faculty mentors are not expected to attend the group seminars. Your major expectation, in addition to nurturing the mentoring relationship, is to guide your Younger Scholar's proposed plan of research. The proposed plan of research may stem from the student's emerging interests or continue a line of research in which the faculty mentor is presently involved.
Some faculty mentors may even wish to serve as respondents, or commentators to the Younger Scholar's oral presentations at the on-campus scholarly conference in the spring. At the end of each semester, faculty mentors in consultation with Dr. Soden will evaluate the work of their Younger Scholar for academic credit. This program gives you a unique opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship with the very best of our students while, at the same time, continuing a line of research in which you, or the student, are presently interested.
What is the
application procedure?
Initial contacts may occur in one of two ways: a) interested students
may approach faculty regarding the establishment of a mentoring relationship
in the same way that they may approach faculty regarding an independent
study; or b) faculty may solicit the participation of appropriate students.
There is a minimum cumulative g.p.a. requirement of 3.33 to qualify. Students must have the clear potential for, and interest in, scholarly vocations. A student must have a faculty mentor -- please have the student contact Dr. Soden if he or she wants to participate in the program. Once you have a faculty mentor who has agreed to supervise your project, simply e-mail Dr. Soden with your interest in the program and the name of your faculty mentor.
What have previous scholars gone on to do?
Many Pew Younger scholars have continued into advanced degree programs. Check the Past Scholars listing for further details.