While four years is a short time to learn the ropes at a college, it is all that most of us are given. I believe that I may have a few helpful admonitions about service and service organizations that would benefit the Milligan Community.
Our college is currently pursuing two major goals. The first is our vision to become an institution that fosters Christian leadership. Rather than simply trying to teach leadership, Milligan should strive to create an environment where Christian leaders thrive. In my four years of college, I have consistently seen students learn leadership by rising to the challenge of reaching out as the hands of Christ. Student leaders are best equipped to perceive needs in the community and follow God’s will to answer those needs. Overwhelmingly, it is students who lead service initiatives.
The second is to improve our image and reap the benefits of being a recognized Christian College. The best public relations Milligan College could ever hope for is an established rapport between students and the local community. The Boy Scouts of America are never short of funds because they are known as organization that helps individuals and gives back to the community. It is unfortunate that Milligan College is not similarly viewed, especially when service should be integral to our identity as Christians.
I believe that these two goals are not only compatible, but that the first is essential to the second. I offer the following suggestions for creating an environment of Christian service and Christian leaders:
Work with students and student organizations to advertise service opportunities. Do not merely permit advertisements, but actively encourage them. Allow communications students to be independently creative rather than have an official office, which controls on campus advertisements. The beginning of chapel and convocation are an excellent time to reach the entire student body with service advertisements.
Streamline the accounting process with student organizations. Service organizations often have trouble withdrawing money in a timely fashion. However, time is often of the essence when reaching out to the community. Milligan should strive for a 24-hour turnaround time when processing checks.
Encourage students to use their knowledge to assist the service organizations they participate in. Computer Information Systems students can work with Milligan’s IT department to create websites. Communications majors can help advertise service events through print and video. Accounting majors can help student organizations keep their books. Milligan is full of creative artists and writers who can show Christians’ struggles and Christ’s work to the world. Everyone at Milligan should have the opportunity to use their skills to participate in God's work and gain invaluable life experience.
The Milligan Community can achieve its goals by expressing its Christian identity. If Milligan is willing to make service a high priority and draw upon the whole body of Christ, I believe that our unique blend of liberal arts, science, and Christianity can make us not only a respected college, but a truly Christian witness.