History

Aug 24, 2018 - The history department launched the 2018-2019 school year with meetings and participation in special events that culminated in Union’s fall convocation on August 24.

Several activities involving history faculty took place in mid-August. Department members met at Dr. Stephen Carls’s home on August 13 for a working lunch to discuss university and department activities planned for the fall semester. On August 14, Carls attended a chairs’ workshop that focused student learning assessment. That same evening, the annual faculty-staff dinner took place that featured comedian David Ferrell. All university faculty members participated in the school’s annual workshop on August 16; it emphasized writing in the classroom and in faculty members’ professional work. The following day faculty members helped new students move onto Union’s campus. On August 18, Carls hosted five history majors at the university’s New Student Dinner; he discussed the department with them and learned about their hometowns, educational backgrounds, and areas of interest in history.

One of the major happenings prior to the start of classes was the Student Life Fair on August 19. The history department had a large display there, with flyers about the Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lectureship in October available for the taking. Jessica Barton, Lauren Butler, and Luke Sower represented the department, Phi Alpha Theta, and the Rutledge Honorary History Club at the department’s display.

Daytime classes began on August 21, with history department members introducing themselves and their courses to the students enrolled therein. In all history classes, there was a high level of anticipation among both the students and the professors.

The climax to the August events was Union’s annual Fall Convocation on August 24. The faculty wore their academic garb, the Union University Singers provided special music, and Dr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver presented the convocation address titled “Temperance.”