Professor of Accounting Michelle Horning teaches a class.
Photo by Jodi H. Beyeler

The Goshen College accounting program has received some very good and well-deserved news. Based on the results of the Certified Public Accountant exam that all accounting graduates take, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recently ranked the Goshen College accounting program as the 10^th best program in the nation in the small program category and the 2^ndbest program in Indiana overall (just behind Notre Dame).

The ranking is based on exam passing rates according to program size, which is determined by the number of individuals taking the exam, not the size of the school. There are 265 schools in the small program category, including: Duke University, Columbia University, Grace College and Taylor University. Interestingly, the Goshen College program missed being categorized as medium size by one student. Had it been ranked in that category, it would have ranked 11th nationally.

The national average pass rate for 2011 was 45.5 percent, but Goshen College’s pass rate for first-time exam candidates was 68.8 percent. Professor of Accounting Michelle Horning said, “We have always believed that our pass rates were above the national average, although this was based on anecdotal evidence only when students told us they passed and how many attempts it took them.”

Nearly 100 percent of graduates in the Goshen College program get jobs in accounting, with many students having offers prior to graduation and the rest finding jobs within a few months after graduating, according to Horning. Currently, 100 percent of senior accounting majors have accounting internships for next semester. “It is unusual for a school our size to have as many accounting firms and companies come to campus to interview and recruit students,” she said. “Three of the top ten accounting firms in the nation actively recruit students from Goshen College by coming to campus. Additionally, a handful of local and regional firms of various sizes recruit on campus.”

Goshen’s program has a unique element that gives graduates some of the best preparation: a required, full-time, paid internship built into our accounting curriculum, according to Horning. “This hands-on experience prepares students for a full-time position, often with the firm they interned with,” she said. “The interdisciplinary general education curriculum, especially the international experience, coupled with a strong accounting curriculum gives students an edge when they are looking for employment. Many firms tell us that there is ‘something different’ about Goshen College students, that they are ‘mature, confident and competent.’”

Goshen College Professor of Social Work Jeanne Liechty lectures during a recent class.

With classes beginning in January 2013, Goshen College is now taking applications for two new programs of study as part of an expanded educational offerings for adult students: a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree and the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.

The two programs join current Goshen College adult programs of an R.N. to B.S. in Nursing and a B.S. in Organizational Leadership. The new Master of Arts in Intercultural Leadership program also begins classes in January. All three new programs represent a new level of investment in better meeting the demand for adult studies.

Visit the adult programs page to learn more about these programs, or call (574) 535-7527 or 800-348-7422.

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree

Responding to growing demand for social workers, Goshen College is now offering the Michiana region’s only Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work for nontraditional students. Accelerated classes consisting of five seven-week sessions will combine classroom and online learning as well as internships to enable adult students with an associate degree to achieve a bachelor’s diploma in 18 months.

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the demand for social workers is expected to grow 25 percent by the year 2020. Goshen’s social work program is nationally known and respected, with a high placement rate for its graduates and a licensing pass rate of 100 percent.

Graduates in social work are employed by a range of private, government and non-profit organizations which include schools, nursing homes, retirement communities, mental health and healthcare providers, and agencies addressing a host of social and personal issues such as child welfare, addictions and unemployment.

“Our reputation in this area is well known, and we’re 100 percent committed to providing the same quality of education that’s found in our traditional program,” said Jeanne Liechty, social work program director and professor of social work. “Students will get direct practice experience while being closely supervised by community professionals in a variety of social service areas. They will also benefit from the expertise of our faculty, who bring a range of practice experience into the classroom, and who are prepared to give each student personalized attention.”

In fact, 90-plus percent of Goshen College social work alumni have been granted advanced standing in their graduate programs, including the best programs in the country.

“We know organizations are looking for this kind of expertise, and our partnerships and contacts in this area offer excellent placement opportunities,” Liechty said. “The Michiana community has a wide array of social service resources.”

The accelerated degree includes the study of social welfare policies and programs, methods of social research, social work practice theory, field instruction, and a senior seminar that integrates field study with classroom work. In addition, there is a series of “Core” classes with numerous options to choose from. Two semesters of a foreign language are also required.

“A social work degree can be applied in many different settings and environments; it’s a very flexible professional degree which allows people to find the right niche for a rewarding career,” said Liechty. “We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to create a delivery model that allows the nontraditional student to pursue this degree while holding a job. We believe this is a significant addition to the curriculum in our region, and will ultimately serve students, agencies and clients well.”

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program’s basic structure consists of four-hour, one-night-a-week classes on campus, supplemented by online learning, in accelerated seven-week sessions that are offered in a year-round sequence. This schedule supplies a great deal of flexibility for busy adults. Student resources include an iPad for class use, and all other resources available to traditional students.

“Many people don’t know we have a full business degree offering in a non-traditional student format,” said Michelle Horning, business department chair. “But, in fact, Goshen College has a lot of advantages for adult students.”

The college is very accessible, less than a 60-minute drive for a half a million people. It is the only Elkhart County college with a complete campus and all the student resources, from the library to the gym, such a campus provides.

“We employ some online class work, but the benefits of learning in a physical class setting are also significant, especially in establishing helpful relationships with other students and faculty,” said Jim Hess, director of the BSBA program. “There’s also something to be said for simply going to a physical campus. It helps people focus on why they’re here.”

Employers in the region are well aware of Goshen College and the quality of its graduates, allowing it to have a high job placement rate, said Hess.

“A non-traditional degree from a highly respected traditional college means something in the marketplace,” he added. “So Goshen College has a lot to offer the adult student in terms of improving their career as well as getting a degree.

“There is financial aid available if needed, making this quality program affordable for working adults. And the program is designed with their busy lives in mind, including the fact that the full application process can be taken care of in one stop.”

The BSBA degree is very flexible and applicable to a wide range of business, non-profit and government positions. The course list includes such topics as entrepreneurship, human resource management, business law, principles of management, principles of marketing, financial management and management strategy.

In addition to transfer credit for coursework done at other colleges, students can receive up to 12 credit hours for knowledge they’ve already acquired on the job, through different kinds of training.

“We expect this degree program and others we’re creating will help Goshen College become known for one more thing: a prime educational resource for the non-traditional student,” said Randal Gunden, executive director of Adult and Online Programming.

The winning team at MEDA’s Student Case Competition comprised of three senior business majors: Kristina Lopienski of Bartlett, Ill.; Clayton Miller of Goshen; and Hans Weaver of New Holland, Pa.

At MEDA’s (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) annual Business as a Calling Convention in Niagara Falls in early November 2012, Goshen College business students won the Student Case Competition. The winning team at Goshen comprised of three senior business majors: Kristina Lopienski of Bartlett, Ill.; Clayton Miller of Goshen; and Hans Weaver of New Holland, Pa.

The competition is hosted by MEDA for university and college students, giving them practical experience on solving real business problems. Seven student teams were challenged to develop a business plan for Winterfeld Greenbau Construction Co. from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Each team had to give a presentation to the judging panel explaining their solution to at least one of challenges given, providing fresh insight to owner Will Winterfeld. After a busy afternoon of intense competition, Goshen College edged out Bluffton (Ohio) University for first place.

Winterfeld expressed such thanks to the students who took part in the competition, sharing that, “It was a great opportunity to hear new perspectives and innovative ideas on how to solve some of the challenges I’m facing. I encouraged the students to not only seek a vocation in their field of study but to also seek an avocation to use their passions to help build a more just world. All teams should be commended on their efforts and their professional presentations because it made it very difficult to select a winner.”

MEDA is an association of Christians, in business and the professions, committed to applying biblical teachings in the marketplace; MEDA members share their faith, abilities and resources to address human needs through economic development, believing that all people may experience Christ’s love and utilize their abilities to earn a livelihood, provide for families and enrich their communities.

Classes will be held each Tuesday from Sept. 18 to Oct. 30, from 12 to 1 p.m., in the Goshen College Church-Chapel Fellowship Hall, 1700 South Main Street. Registration deadline is Sept. 6.

Classes include:

Sept. 18 – “Ten Strategies for Better Time Management” led by Mary Ann Lienhart Cross, M.S.

Finding a time management strategy that works best for you depends on your personality, ability to self-motivate, and level of self-discipline. This program describes ten possible strategies for improving your ability to manage the events in your life in relation to time.

Sept. 25 – “Having Fun Fitting Fitness into Your Busy Schedule led by Norma Monik, M.S., MBA

Have fun learning how to blend exercise into your busy day and still get the health benefits and results you want.

Oct. 2 – “Fraud Prevention” led by Martha Packer, director of loss prevention at Interra Credit Union, and Al Mackowiak, director of safety and security at Goshen College

What is identity theft and how can you protect yourself against it? What is considered fraud and what are some current scams in Elkhart County? Hear from two perspectives on this timely topic.

Oct. 9 – “Tech Tips – Microsoft Excel” led by Frank Caprino, MBA

Want to learn more about Excel? The presenter will help in understanding conditional formatting, sparklines, subtotals, sorting and filtering data, and pivot tables in Excel 2010.

Oct. 16 – “Tech Tips – iPads for the Home and Office” led by Seth Conley is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Goshen College

We’ve heard a lot about the potential of the iPad but may not know just how it can help us personally. In this session we’ll explore how the iPad can be beneficial to you at home and in your business. From the newbie to more experienced users, you’ll get a chance to preview popular apps and learn how to navigate this new, digital device.

Oct. 23 – “Heart Disease – The Silent Killer” led by Jennifer D. Coffman, MPA

What are the risks of heart disease and what resources are available? This presentation will answer those questions, along with what to ask your doctor and what to do if you’re not getting the care you deserve.

Oct. 30 – “Living a Healthy Lifestyle” led by Roy and Chris Pickler, contestants on “The Biggest Loser”

Roy and Chris Pickler will share what they learned on “the ranch” regarding what it takes to keep your life in balance by following the four key elements to living a healthy life. They will also share some personal stories from the show including what led them to apply and how they were chosen amidst thousands of other hopefuls. The couple’s main goal is to pay forward what they have learned, especially for the generation of children that are now faced with the nationwide obesity epidemic.

The seven-week series costs $139 per person, which includes lunch and presentation. Cost is $129 per person if three or more people register from the same company. Attendance of four or more sessions is required to earn .6 continuing education credits.

For more information or to register for the classes call the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Education at (574) 535-7451 or visit http://www.goshen.edu/business/registration.

Angie (Miller) Bastian '83 and her husband, Dan.

BY RICHARD R. AGUIRRE

Student. Hospital nurse. Mission worker. Graduate student. Psychiatric nurse. Small-business owner. National snack-food retailer. And namesake for a national brand.

Angie (Miller) Bastian ’83 has played all those roles in a varied life that has taken her from farm life to national notoriety. Bastian and her husband, Dan, a former teacher, have built their former garage business into Angie’s Kettle Corn, a multi-million company rooted in the values of family, treating people fairly and giving back to the community. They sell their snack food in 50 states through such retailers as Costco, Martin’s, Target and Whole Foods.

It’s not a career path Angie Bastian imagined growing up in Elkhart County. Switching from a nursing to a business career also prompted her to reconsider her definition of service.

“When you’re a nurse or a teacher you feel like there’s purpose and meaning in that career. When we started out in this endeavor to make kettle corn, we thought: ‘Where’s the meaning in that?’ But what Dan and I have come to realize, is that it’s a vehicle. The meaning is how we conduct ourselves in business and how we intersect in people’s lives.”

Angie Bastian was born at Goshen General Hospital to David Ray and Rosie Miller. She grew up in Jefferson Township and attended Pleasant View Mennonite Church. After graduating from Northridge High School in 1978, Bastian wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, besides Mennonite Voluntary Service.

So she took a year off and lived with her aunt and uncle in Colorado Springs, Colo. “They were both Goshen College graduates and my aunt was a nurse and she said, ‘You should go into nursing. You should go to Goshen College.’ I said, ‘OK. I’ll go check out Goshen.’ I liked the campus. It was the right fit for me and I loved my time at Goshen,” she said during a campus visit in September.

Bastian said her Study-Service Term “absolutely changed” the way she looked at everything.

“I grew up very sheltered on a small farm and I had never been out of the country. I had never been to a Catholic church before. On SST, I was with families. I loved it, but I was scared at the same time,” Miller said. “When you get to know other people that are different than yourself, it changes opinions. There is no longer ‘the other.’ You become one in that way; you’re with them and they’re with you. I understood myself as a global citizen instead of just an American.”

She received her nursing degree from Goshen College in 1983. After working for a few years at Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Hospital, she did a year of Mennonite Voluntary Service. She then earned a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing and gerontology from Emory University.

She met her husband, a graduate of St. John’s University in Minnesota, while working at a hospital that served an Indian reservation in New Mexico. They were kindred spirits who shared values consistent with Goshen’s commitment to service, social justice and accepting other cultures.

After getting married, the Bastians lived for a while in New Mexico and then Florida before settling in Dan’s hometown of Mankato, Minn. to raise their children and pursue their careers – Dan as a teacher and coach and Angie as a psychiatric nurse.

They began Angie’s Kettle Corn in 2001 as a side business in their garage when their two children, Aunikah and Tripp, were just 5 and 3. They wanted to build a college fund for their children and to show them the value of hard work. They purchased kettle corn equipment they found on the Internet and financed it with zero percent credit cards. They sold their product at fairs and festivals.

Their big break came when they decided to give Minnesota Vikings players and coaches free bags of kettle corn to enjoy after a long day at training camp in Mankato. Team members liked the kettle corn so much, the Bastians were offered the chance to pay a sponsorship fee to become an official snack product for the team. It was a big investment, but the exposure they received from the sponsorship helped them to expand the business and eventually move indoors and begin manufacturing for retail sales.

The Bastian now work only for the company; Dan focuses on operations and sales and Angie coordinates marketing and public relations. They have 150 full-time employees and can produce 80,000 bags a day of kettle corn in three varieties — Classic, Lite and Caramel. Their products are still made in real kettles with natural ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives — allergen free, certified gluten free and certified Kosher.

Although they have appeared on the “Martha Stewart Show” and been featured in such national publications as Family Circle, Good Housekeeping and Redbook, Angie Bastian said their values have remained the same. “We both care deeply about social justice issues and the way we run our company has to do with service.

“Our business won an award as a Top-100 work place in Minnesota this past year and as a top family business and as an emerging company this year, too. Our employees like their work. I think it’s partially because we don’t ask employees to do anything we wouldn’t do. It’s a partnership with democracy in the workplace. And I see that as the way that Goshen translated Culture for Service.”

The Bastians donate their time and resources to many community fundraising events and programs, including March of Dimes, Kids Against Hunger, Salvation Army, and the YMCA. Still, Angie Bastian said that she takes greatest pride in the company’s impact on the community.

“We work with the drug court with people who need a job, who are on probation and need a last chance and aren’t doing well. We work with their probation officers and we’ve had some people turn their lives around. They’re going to college. They’ve been promoted. They’re clean. They’re sober. The way they see their life is different and that all came from the community supporting them and our piece of that was a culture where they could work and feel that they were understood and supported and we paid them,” Miller said. “You can serve in many different ways. In nontraditional service careers, you can still serve.”

May term, a three-week academic term during which students concentrate on one class, offers a wide variety of unique educational experiences. While a number of courses are held on campus, off-campus opportunities are available that take students as far away as Paris and Spain to study subjects such as art, history and business.

A group of students who traveled to Paris, France, learned about European historical works and architecture. The Art in France class, taught by Professor of Art John Blosser, visited major art venues, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and the Pompidou Center. Students experienced the engaging culture of Paris in a variety of ways, from popular night spots with laser shows to an evening at the Opera Bastille for a performance of Don Quixote. “The City of Lights absolutely provided a rich reservoir of art, architecture and cultural engagements that will live with us all for many years,” said Blosser.

Business students enjoyed a unique perspective of business concepts in another country. Offered every other year, the Business in Spain class traveled to Barcelona with Professor of Economics Del Good and studied international marketing, the Spanish financial system and how to manage cultural differences in the business world. In between lectures and study time, the students had a chance to tour the city and regional attractions.

Assistant Professor of Spanish Dean Rhodes traveled with a group of students to the South American country of Peru. The class, titled Lost Empires of Peru, included forays into the rain forest and along the Inca Trail, as well as a trip to Machu Picchu, also known as the Lost City of the Incas.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see so much of Peru in such a short time,” said Thushan Hemachandra, a senior from Sri Lanka, who especially enjoyed interacting with the local people. Rhodes has led other groups to Peru after becoming familiar with the ecologically and culturally rich country during a term of voluntary service.

In Colorado, Associate Professor of History Jan Bender Shelter and students in the History of the Southwest class explored methods of learning history aside from traditional written archival sources. Along with lectures and museum tours, the class studied recently recovered artifacts of the region and participated in their own excavation. “A lot was packed into three weeks and the students found that this kind of intensive experiential learning is a great way to go,” said Shetler.

Mennonite Women: Voices on Video was a class that took place both on- and off- campus. Students traveled as far away as Los Angeles and New Mexico to videotape interviews with Mennonite women across the United States. The students then returned to Goshen to edit the tapes and produce a final documentary on Mennonite women of color. Pat McFarlane, associate professor of communication, and Ed Cundiff, instructor of broadcast communication, taught the class.

Several courses were also offered away from the main campus, but relatively nearby, at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. In Ornithology, students studied the natural history, taxonomy and conservation of birds and learned visual and aural identification. Students of the Ecology class focused on the dynamics of natural biological organisms and communities. They were also taught the impact of human natural ecosystems and how to live sustainably.

Other biology classes took place in the Florida Keys during May term at the college’s marine biology laboratory and residential facility. Professor of Psychology Duane Kauffman led students through the Marine Biology and Biology of the Sea classes, where they learned about marine life, seeds, plants and insects of the Keys. Students participated in lectures, lab work, boat trips and snorkeling.

There are also three groups of students studying abroad in the college’s summer Study-Service Term (SST) program. The groups are located in Costa Rica, led by Keith and Ann Graber Miller; the Dominican Republic, led by Jim and Lisa Caskey; and Senegal, led by Samuel and Noka Zadi.
- by Melanie Histand

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” Kaplan’s “Most Interesting Colleges” guide and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

Editors: For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu

GOSHEN, Ind. – By next fall, the beginnings of a campus entrepreneurial venture will be fully brewing. In a unique partnership, Goshen College Student Life and Business departments are offering students the opportunity to manage a new coffee bar – the “central focus of the connector” between Yoder, Kratz and Miller residence halls which is currently under construction, according to Bill Born, vice president for student life.

So far, a start-up team of students, juniors Jessica Berkey (LaGrange, Ind.), Tom Stahly (Goshen) and Thushan Hemachandra (Sri Lanka), has been selected to make the initial decisions with Associate Professor of Accounting and faculty supervisor Michelle Horning, about how the coffee bar will operate – from what kind of coffee to serve to what hours it will be open, or how much they will charge for a cup of joe.

The start-up team’s plan is to be up and running by the first day of classes in August 2004, but the coffee bar will evolve based on their experiences and the feedback they receive from customers – like all new businesses. “This is a chance to put into practice what they have learned in classes,” Horning said.

Horning wants students to have the opportunity to experience the realities of entrepreneurship and decision-making in a supportive environment. The coffee shop will have a board of directors so that the students have an entity to which they are responsible and will help shape the direction. Though the coffee bar will technically be part of Goshen College, it is being set up to be as independent as possible “to enhance the educational experience of the students” as they get a taste of “the realities of a small business.”

Unlike more typical entrepreneurial efforts though, the coffee bar will experience leadership turnover as students are selected for the management team for a semester or two at a time. And students will receive academic credit for their labors.

Espresso machines, grinders, display cases and other equipment have already been purchased for the coffee bar, which will be located a few steps down from the enclosed walkway between Kratz and Miller Halls, and connected to a two-story student lounge.

The new space will create “a late-night option for students with a variety of menu options,” Born said, as well as the possibility for a performance area. The new connector structure will also encompass floor lounges, study rooms, a laundry room, kitchens and a game area.

Born said the coffee bar will be a convenient and fun gathering space for students and will help “create a space to enhance community life” that is easily accessible to the students living on campus, particularly in the three largest GC residence halls.

Now coffee, and entrepreneurial learning, will be flowing right outside their doors.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” Kaplan’s “Most Interesting Colleges” guide and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit http://www.goshen.edu/.

Editors: For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

GOSHEN, Ind. — As a new manager or supervisor, you may feel as if you need all the help you can get. Through the Goshen College business department’s continuing education program “Developing Supervisory Leadership — Part II” course, you can learn to cultivate productive relationships with employees while maintaining control of the company’s operations.

The second unit of this two-part course will explore topics important to improving the productivity and efficiency of your organization: motivation, appraising the work of others, discipline, counseling troubled employees, meeting employment laws and your own personal development. Students are not required to have taken the first part of the course to sign up for part two.

The course instructor, David A. Bontrager, is a human resources executive and consultant with 30 years of human resources management experience with NIBCO, The Marmon Group, Brown Corp., Goshen Rubber Co. and Western Rubber. Beginning as an hourly employee at NIBCO in 1958, he climbed the corporate ladder and held top human resources positions from 1979 to 1986. He has taught management courses for Purdue University, Goshen College, Ivy Tech and Vincennes University and holds a master’s degree from Ball State University.

The course will be held Tuesdays at 4-5:45 p.m. from Feb. 3 to March 9 in Newcomer Center Room 17 on the Goshen College campus. The course is worth 1.2 continuing education credits and 12 continuing professional credits.

The course fee is $229 and includes textbook, study materials and coffee breaks. To register, call the Management Development Office at (574) 535-7150.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.