After Degree

Burman String Quartet Plans South American PR Tour

In 2018, the Ministry of Education announced, “We have contacted all 60 school districts [in British Columbia] and there is no overall teacher shortage in B.C.” Four years later, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) reported that the teacher shortage has reached a “crisis point.” Some areas are more affected than others, but shortages prevail throughout Canada. Global News Canada estimates that “in the next one to three years, teaching is projected to be the number one job of the future.”

addressing the teacher shortage “crisis point”

In anticipation of increasing demand for teachers and also the desire for professionals in careers other than education to enter the teaching profession, the School of Education began offering the two-year After Degree program in 2011.

Those who already hold a three- or four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university, but do not meet the requirements for a teaching certificate, have the option of choosing the elementary track or the secondary track, depending on their new career goals.

Students give After Degree Program High Marks

Karim El Altrach holds a bachelor’s degree in English. He worked in hospitality management for more than 15 years on three continents before deciding on a career change. Karim’s “optimistic, energizing classmates and a welcoming campus community” have helped him cope with a demanding course load—and also with being far from family. He looks forward to achieving his goals of “planting seeds of curiosity” and “fostering creativity.”

Katherine Thompson’s and Noel Hanni’s home is just 15 minutes down the road from Burman University. When they decided on career changes—Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy; Noel, in political science and sociology—and googled universities that offer After Degree programs in education, they discovered Burman right in their (almost) backyard.

Now, after two years in the program, Katherine and Noel have met certification requirements and are ready to graduate. Katherine pursued the secondary track and concurrently obtained a minor in English. Both also improved their skills

Araucaria angustifolia

An Original Composition by Eduardo Solá

A professional-level string quartet from Burman University plans to travel to Brazil and Argentina this May (tentative dates are May 3 – 18). Professor Eduardo Solá will be joined by Zoe McCormick, an advanced music major, and Heather Ensley and Josh Flynn, two Burman alumni, for this tour to showcase the professional nature of Burman’s music degrees and the collegiality fostered on Burman’s campus.

in mathematics and have worked as math tutors while in the program. Consequently, school administrators already expressed interest in hiring them, even before they had completed their final practicums.

Holly Hilsabeck, who entered the program with a degree in English, is also graduating this April. She was looking for a small university community close to home—one that has a strong education program—when her mother-in-law suggested she consider Burman. Now completing her second year in the After Degrees program, secondary track, Holly says that Burman “exceeded my expectations.” She finds the community warm and welcoming. “Smaller classes,” she continues, “mean it is easier to form relationships with my classmates and professors. I feel that I belong here.”

All four students speak highly of their positive experiences. They like the low student-faculty ratio that is conducive to a better learning environment and increases social engagement within the learning group. They are also impressed with the curriculum that, as Holly points out, “not only focuses on content-area instruction and teaching strategies, but also includes much hands-on practice with lesson planning and micro-teaching in preparation for field experiences and practicums.”

Burman’s short, two-year After Degree program provides individualized attention and, in Holly’s words, “has been rigorous, informative, welcoming, and full of amazing opportunities to meet and work alongside exceptional individuals.” An added bonus, says Dean Chloe Weir, are Lacombe’s “soul refreshing quiet outdoor spaces, tranquil lakes, and inviting nature trails that create an ambiance conducive to learning.”

On November 25, 2022, an appreciative audience gathered at the College Heights church for the premiére performance of Eduardo Solá’s composition Araucaria angustifolia

The group will be performing at five main SDA universities and academies. Dr. Solá explains, “With our recitals at these South American schools, we hope to attract international students to our music program and to our university at large. We want audiences to see the strength of our music department and make our program known beyond North America.”

A detailed itinerary is still under construction, but the group plans to perform in Bahia, São Paulo, and Paraná, Professor Solá’s home state. Sightseeing opportunities will include Iguaçu Falls, Curitiba, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. Perhaps even more important, by performing together, the group will learn from one another and, as Sola points out, “grow enormously as a community of musicians.”

An on-campus fund-raising concert to support the tour is planned for mid-April.

YACC Starts Up Again

The Burman University Concert Orchestra, with the addition of a group of professional musicians from the Central Alberta community, introduced the audience to Professor Solá’s original piece that, as he explains, “reflects my memories of the majestic Brazilian pine trees in the state of Paraná where grew up.” Each movement draws on images of nature: the gralha-azul (blue jay), the misty landscapes, the falling of pine cones and pine seeds, and more. It also draws upon rhythms, melodies, and themes from Paranaense folklore.

Solá says, “I wrote this work last summer with my students in mind. I wanted to share my artistry and cultural background with them to connect with them in meaningful ways.”

Burman University’s Young Artistic Concerto Competition (YACC) is again active after having been tabled during the Covid years. This year’s competition took place on January 9. The music faculty selected seven winners from competing young musicians from around Alberta.

On April 8, the winners will perform their major pieces with the Burman University Concert Orchestra in an event that will be live-streamed through the university’s channel. Eduardo Solá, the orchestra’s conductor, says, “We are all delighted to bring this competition back and are committed to providing a high-level experience to those participating in this project.”

Invitational Honour Band Festival

April 2 marks the first Burman University Invitational Honour Band Festival. High school students representing schools from Central Alberta and across Canada will converge for a day of rehearsals and performance with the Concert Winds. (See the magazine's inside back cover for more details.)

Religious Studies

Growing and thriving

Enrolment Growth

The need for qualified pastors is growing across the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist church. At the same time, the number of young men and women answering God’s call to pastoral ministry has declined in the last few years at SDA colleges and universities in the United States. During the pandemic, Burman University faculty saw a decline in students entering the pastoral ministry tracks, as well.

This trend is now changing in Canada. Working with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) and local conferences, the administration has enhanced the practical, hands-on parts of Burman’s programs. Each year, students can experience on-the-jobtraining by spending extended periods of time in local churches across the country. Through a partnership between Burman, the SDACC, and local conferences, all students who are preparing for pastoral ministry at Burman University are eligible for $8,500 in annual scholarship funds. Local congregations are also engaged by encouraging their young people who may feel called to ministry to answer this call and contact the religious studies program.

Week of ADRA Emphasis

During the week of December 3-10, 2022, the Burman Ministry Centre had the honour of partnering with Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada (ADRA Canada) during their Week of ADRA Emphasis. This year’s focus was “Creating a Just World.”

The Burman Ministry Centre provided a biblical perspective on the need for, and nature of, godly justice in the world. Seven faculty and students prepared and shared insights on how social action and evangelism go hand in hand during the week’s videos. Presentations by Eduardo Solá, Chloe Weir, Adam Kiš, Dania Pandala, Lindsay Chineegadoo, Stephen Reasor, and Stephane Beaulieu helped ADRA “highlight the work of alleviating suffering, poverty, and need, rescuing the perishing, and demonstrating the compassionate loving care of our God in action.” All seven episodes are available at https://www.adra.ca/ emphasis.

Student Missions

The Burman Ministry Centre is working together with the North American Division (NAD) Office of Volunteer Ministries to send student missionaries from across Canada to serve around the world. Canada is the first union in the NAD to form this important partnership, and we hope to encourage young people in Canada to accept God’s call to serve.

Many areas rely on the help of student missionary volunteers to serve as teachers, preachers, accountants, dormitory deans, grounds/maintenance workers, etc. Volunteers are provided housing, food, and living essentials as they serve. Those with questions or a conviction of God’s call to serve can email bmc@burmanu.ca.

Student Spotlight: Arden Brock

One student new to Burman’s campus is Arden Brock. Arden and his family come from Iron Bridge, Ontario. He is a first-year pre-professional track religious studies student and has a rich background of experience, including farming and logging.

Referencing a life-threatening accident, Arden explains that working with heavy equipment is essential to his family’s operations, so he has always had to be conscious of a level of danger equivalent only to mining. He recounts times when God’s intervention was obviously clear.

One of these occurred shortly after Kristin, his wife, delivered their first baby. Arden was doing preventative maintenance the morning after spending a long day wrapping up baleage. His exacto knife didn’t produce the expected results. So, well-aware of the danger, he turned on the machine and, with great care, used a putty knife to loosen the wrapped material on the rollers. But the back tab of his leather glove caught in rollers that were turning at 1,000 rpm. He says, “It had the potential to kill me.”

His account of how God intervened (even though the accident took part of his right arm) was captured by It Is Written Canada and aired at the end of last year. This episode can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFxRGzwOI4.

In the years since this accident, Kristin and Arden’s family has grown to three children. Arden's desire to become a pastor and to minister to people has also grown and matured.

Someone You Should Know

A Valued Member of the Leadership Team

Burman’s Board of Trustee members come from across Canada. Some of these are ex officio—that is, they are members by virtue of the positions they hold in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Others are elected by local church constituents.

Dr. Marcia Whittaker has served on Burman University Board of Trustees since the Fall of 2021. She is a dynamic and strategic leader with cross cultural experience in the areas of academia, finance, and banking. She spent more than 20 years in banking in various capacities, including senior management. Her focus included providing strategic oversight and directon on revenue growth, profitability, financial/portfolio management, investment strategies, and human resources.

Professor Whittaker’s PhD in finance helped prepare her for various roles in higher education. In 2014, she transitioned to academic leadership. Specific accountabilities include strategic planning and leadership, profitability and long term sustainability, program and curriculum development, quality assurance, people management, resource allocation, and risk assessment and management. She oversees the finance and registrar departments, as well as business development, growth, and financial prudence.

Concurrently, Dr. Whittaker is an adjunct faculty in Canada and Jamaica. She is also a corporate trainer in areas of practical leadership and emotional intelligence. In addition, she is involved in numerous volunteer activities.

When asked what she believes to be Burman University’s main strength, she points to the university’s “wholistic development of young minds” in a “learning and growth environment that serves as a catalyst for academic success, personal/professional growth, emotional stability, and spiritual enrichment.” She points to Burman’s welcoming campus, small class sizes, professors that are passionate about their students’ success, and the university’s service-oriented focus.

As a Board member, Professor Whittaker’s focus will be to assist Burman with reaching and motivating young adults to make Burman University their university of choice.