Tracy Wood is director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the North American Division. Coming from a background of sales, engineering and architecture, he completed his graduate and postgraduate studies at the SDA Theological Seminary, serving for 16 years as a pastor and conference youth leader in the Oregon Conference. Tracy and his wife Angelina, treasure spending time with their children and grandchildren and love to hike, garden, and ride their motorcycle.

Seminary worship credit is available. Undergraduate co-curricular credit is not available.

Co-curricular short courses offer opportunities for personal, academic, professional and leadership development that complement your academic classes. Here is a complete listing of Co-Curricular Short Courses for Block 1:

NEW STUDENT FILM SERIES & MENTORING GROUPS

Hosts: New Student Orientation
Location: Films in Howard Performing Arts Center, Groups in Locations TBA
Description: This co-curricular short course is required of all first year students. Transfer are also encouraged to attend. Three sessions will feature recently released documentary films that deal with important issues facing college students today. The other two sessions are set aside for checking in with your Mentoring Groups and New Student Mentors.

Sept. 04—Documentary: “The Jackie Film”
Presented by: University Wellness
Description: The story of one Andrews University student’s wellness transformation is captured in this award-winning documentary. In 2017 "The Jackie Film" received an award of merit at the Christian Life International Film Festival in Canada, an official nomination and third-place award at the Kingdomwood International Film Festival in Atlanta and another award of merit at the Awareness Festival in Los Angeles. Dominique Gummelt, director of University Wellness, says, “We sincerely hope that the film will inspire people to consider making positive lifestyle changes to experience transformation on an emotional, physical and spiritual level and to start living life to the fullest potential.”

Sept. 11—Mentoring Groups
Presented by: New Student Mentors (complimentary snacks provided)
Locations: Room assignments TBA

Sept. 25—Documentary: “Angst”
Presented by: Counseling & Testing Center
Description: Angst is a 43-minute film that explores anxiety, its causes, effects and what we can do about it. This 2017 documentary features candid interviews with youth and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they've learned about it. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools. It has been featured on the Today Show and ABC News, as well as in People and Men’s Health magazines.

Oct. 02—Mentoring Groups
Presented by: New Student Mentors (complimentary snacks provided)
Locations: Room assignments TBA

Oct. 16—Documentary: “Like”
Presented by: Division of Campus & Student Life
Description: "Like" is a brand new documentary (releasing in October 2018) that explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain. The goal of the film is to inspire and help equip us to self-regulate. Social media is a tool, and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care...but is that what's really happening? Come ready to think about the impact that social media can have on your college experience.

COLLEGE WELLNESS 101

Hosts: University Wellness, Counseling & Testing Center
Location: Buller Hall, Room 251
Description: This foundational course is designed to help you become a stronger, healthier you. Improving your physical and emotional wellbeing is one of the best ways to boost your academic performance and lead a more satisfying life.

Sept. 04—“Wellness Transformation”
Presenter: University Wellness
Description: See “The Jackie Film” and be introduced to the Wellness Transformation Guide.

Sept. 11—“Physical Fitness”      
Presenter: University Wellness
Description: Learn how to eat well and to maintain your physical activity and rest.

Sept. 25—“Mental/Emotional Wellbeing I”        
Presenter: Counseling & Testing Center
Description: Learn how to cope with stress and manage your time.

Oct. 02—“Mental/Emotional Wellbeing II”
Presenter: Counseling & Testing Center
Description: Learn how to build resilience and to manage anxiety and depression.

Oct. 16—“Social Wellbeing”       
Presenter: Counseling & Testing Center
Description: Learn how to build healthy relationships and to spot unhealthy ones.

RELIGION FORUM—ISSUES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Host: Department of Religion & Biblical Languages
Location: Buller Hall, Newbold Auditorium
Description: Join us for a variety of presentations focused on issues in the Old Testament.

Sept. 04—Archaeology I
Presenter: L. Scott Baker Jr. is a PhD candidate in Biblical and Near Eastern Archaeology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Sept. 11—Theodicy
Presenter: Dr. Roy Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Sept. 25—Deuteronomy
Presenter: Dr. Rahel Wells is associate professor of Hebrew Bible at Andrews University

Oct. 02—Exodus
Presenter: Dr. Richard Davidson is J.N. Andrews Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Oct. 16—Archaeology II
Presenter: Dr. Randall Younker

CAREER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Host: Student Success Center
Location: Buller Hall, Room 208

Sept. 04—“Emotional Intelligence and Career Success”
Presenter: Stacey Nicely
Description: Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize and manage our emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Employers value EQ because it enhances workplace productivity/outcome. This presentation will discuss the importance of EQ in your career development and how to develop strong EQ.

Sept. 11—“Skills Building for Career Success”
Presenter:  Stacey Nicely & Miriam Janosova
Description: This presentation will teach skills such as anger management, assertiveness, planfulness, interpersonal competence and openness to constructive supervision that can enhance career success.
 
Sept. 25—“Personality Type and Career Development”
Presenter: Cathy Tang
Description: This presentation will engage students in identifying practical ways in which personality type can influence decision-making, career interest and career success.
 
Oct. 02—“Strengths, Purpose and Career Development”
Presenter: Salman Alqahtani
Description: Come explore how your strengths and sense of purpose fit into your career decision.   
 
Oct. 16—“Making Your Major Work for You”
Presenter: Stacey Nicely
Description: This presentation will provide tips on how to integrate your EQ, skills, personality, strengths, purpose and choice of a major to enhance career development. We will also explore ways to make your major work for you.

STOP WAITING, START LEADING

Presenters: ULead Faculty
Location: Campus Center, Student Life & Leadership Lab
Host: Undergraduate Leadership Program

Sept. 04—“Stop Waiting, Start Creating”

Sept. 11—“Stop Waiting, Start Problem Solving”

Sept. 25—“Stop Waiting, Start Relating”

Oct. 02—“Stop Waiting, Start Communicating”

Oct. 16—“Stop Waiting, Start Interviewing”

UNDERSTANDING THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS

Presenter: Marcella Myers
Location: Buller Hall, Room 135
Host: Department of History & Political Science

Sept. 04—“Election Mechanics” (How to Read Polls, Who Is In Charge, Etc.)

Sept. 11—“Control of Congress”

Sept. 25—“Who Runs for Office?”

Oct. 02—“Who Votes”

Oct. 16—“The Role of the Parties” (Campaign Financing, Endorsements, GOTV)

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH—STORIES: UNA VOZ. MANY LANDS.

Location: Buller Hall, Room 149
Host: Hispanic Heritage Committee
Description: Hispanic Heritage Month is featuring these stories from students, faculty and staff. Each narrative presents you with the voices, the characters, the unexpected plot twists that have shaped each presenter both with a common heritage and their distinct place that comprises the mosaic of Hispanics.

Sept. 04—“Ev Milliner”

Sept. 11—“David Hernandez”

Sept. 25—“Vanessa Corredera”

Oct. 02—“Marcos Burgos”

Oct. 16—“Myrna Constantine”

SWIM WORKOUT

Presenter: Jessica Wilson
Location: Beaty Pool
Description: Students who participate in this option should be comfortable in deep water and have a working knowledge of the main swimming styles: Front Crawl, Back Crawl, and Breaststroke. Butterfly will be optional yardage. A swim workout will be provided and will have a total distance of a mile (36 laps). Adapting for shorter distance totals is very possible if a mile is too long for your current endurance abilities. Bring goggles and a swimsuit (males should wear swim trunks or knee length jammers, and women should wear a modest one piece swimsuit). Just keep swimming!

Sept. 4—"Workout 1"

Sept. 11—"Workout 2"

Sept. 25—"Workout 3"

Oct. 2—"Workout 4"

Oct. 16—"Workout 5"

JUPYTER NOTEBOOKS

Presenter: Dr. Tiffany Summerscales
Location: Haughey Hall, Room 133
Description: Jupyter Notebooks are becoming increasingly popular for performing, organizing and communicating analyses of data in the sciences, engineering and applied math. The notebooks allow text, tables, pictures, code and equations as well as automatically-generated graphs and calculations to be displayed all in the same place. Bring your laptop and learn by trying out examples.

Sept. 04—“Introduction to Jupyter Notebooks”
An overview of Jupyter Notebooks. Bring your laptop to create your first notebook and try out some notebook features.

Sept. 11—“Markdown and Python”
Learn how to use Markdown to format text, tables, equations and more.  Also learn how to use python to manipulate data and create simple plots.

Sept. 25—“Using Large Data Sets”
Learn how to import data into your notebook from a variety of formats and sources.

Oct. 02—“Plotting”
Learn how to make a variety of different 2D and 3D plots.

Oct. 16—“Applications & Examples”
Explore different applications of Jupyter Notebooks and try additional examples.