2007-2008 Grace University Catalog
Our Graduate Students Characteristics
Graduate students are often pursuing advanced studies to enhance or expand vocational possibilities for their future. But we believe education reaches beyond vocational skills and training. We believe in the importance of developing all students in character and leadership skills so that they can be servants in the home, the church and the community/world in which they live. The characteristics listed below identify key character traits of a servant leader. Whether a student is in our undergraduate or graduate program, our faculty seeks to instill these characteristics in every graduate.
A Biblically Literate Student
A Grace graduate is a Christian who knows Scripture and can interpret and apply it to life situations. The Grace graduate systematizes that Biblical knowledge into theological propositions and communicates those propositions to others in relevant ways.
A Critical Thinker
A critical thinker searches for and promotes truth in all disciplines of human knowledge. A critical thinker is one who, while critically analyzing the world, makes wise choices in life integrating one’s literacy about the world with one’s literacy of Scripture. A Grace graduate is a Christian who observes the world (general revelation) and who knows, interprets and assesses the merits and limitations of the various belief and value systems developed throughout history.
An Obedient Disciple
A Grace graduate is a Christian who acts consistently with the commands of Scripture, who has the ability to place him or herself under authority demonstrating a submissive heart, and who always is in relationship with a local fellowship of believers. The obedient disciple understands that all levels of authority are God-ordained and seeks accountability for personal and professional behavior.
An Engaging Citizen
A Grace graduate is a Christian who engages culture, attempting to promote a Biblical perspective on life, family, law, justice and mercy, and societal governance. As an engaging citizen, the Grace graduate seeks to understand the role of citizens in the home, in the church, and in society, and as a citizen works to bring Kingdom values to each of those arenas and provide public service to those in need.
A Compassionate Leader
A Grace graduate is a Christian who can lead a team to accomplish a mission or task, exercising the skills to cast and communicate vision, select and train team members, delegate authority and empower and motivate team members, provide accountability structures, evaluate the success of the mission or task, and function as an ethical professional. A compassionate leader follows a Biblical model of servant leadership, expressing compassion and care – never threatening or abusing a position of leadership, always encouraging and building up those who are serving or who are being served.
A Global Christian
A Grace graduate is a Christian who understands God’s view of the world and its need for divine instruction and redemption. Grace graduates take personal responsibility for communicating these things to all who will listen. A global Christian graduating from Grace seeks to understand culture and find diverse, relevant, multi-cultural and international communication strategies to accomplish the tasks to which every Christian is called. These communications skills are transferable to all dimensions of life.
An Equipped Professional
A Grace graduate is prepared to enter his or her chosen profession with confidence and competence.
