News - The Echo

Taylor announces $6 million CMC grant

By Marissa Muljat · Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

Taylor University announced the acceptance of a $6 million gift to the Center for Missions Computing (CMC) on Oct. 31.

Social work seniors connect with Hartford City

By Samantha Saad · Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

“It’s hard to learn about community from your desk,” Kara Riggleman, adjunct social work professor, said. Chilly, but warmed by sunny skies, seniors in Process and Practice III — a macro-level course required for social work majors, also dubbed the “communities class” by its participants — prepared to welcome and encourage residents in Hartford City for their Run, Walk n’ Roll 3K event.

Taylor University New Welcome Center.jpg

University announces plans for new Welcome Center

By Samantha Saad · Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

Meet the new “front door” of Taylor University, created to maximize the institution’s ability to practice hospitality as well as increase cohesion between different facilities and departments on campus.

Bonnie Odle dies at 101

By Makenna McCord · Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

Bonnie J. Odle (’44) died Nov. 7, 2023 at the age of 101.

Campus Bookstore addresses delays

By Stephen Wisnewski · Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Two weeks, three weeks, four weeks all pass by, and still no sign of that final textbook. Many students across campus rely on Slingshot deliveries for access to class materials, but this semester there have been more than a couple snafus with the system.

Taylor recognizes six outstanding alumni

By Abigail Vlietstra · Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

The alumni awards ceremony took place during homecoming chapel on Oct. 20. It was wonderful to be at chapel and see how responsive students were, Faye Chechowich, professor emeritus of christian ministries, said.

Student contestants swim with the sharks, compete for up to $5,000

By Samantha Saad · Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

The 10th edition of Taylor’s Shark Tank — themed “Back to the Future” — was held in Rediger Auditorium on Nov. 2. It welcomed six business pitches in competition for a first-place prize of $5,000, an amount doubled from the previous year.

Residence Life comments on 2022 'Right-To-Know' report

By Makenna McCord · Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

The 2022 Right-To-Know report was released as a 30-page document detailing the security and fire safety reports of Taylor University in recent years. In the document, a chart explains numerous drug and alcohol offenses.

Honors Guild attends Intercollegiate Colloquium

By Alaina Ventry · Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

During fall break, Honors Guild students attended the annual Intercollegiate Colloquium on liberal arts at Grove City College.The colloquium was a three-day event filled with breakout sessions, featuring speakers and chances to grow in community with other Christian liberal arts students who attended.

OIP introduces new faculty member

By Devin Smith · Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

Taylor University’s Office of Intercultural Programs (OIP) has hired its newest member. Tia Cavanaugh-Goggans was brought on as the director of intercultural initiatives and programs for the OIP before the 2023-24 school year. She was taken through a lengthy interview process and officially started her new position on Oct. 2.

FAFSA is delayed as changes are made

By Abigail Vlietstra · Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

The 2024-2025 school year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been delayed due to changes in the application process and aid calculation.The FAFSA’s opening date has not been specified, however, the Department of Education said that openings will be sometime this December. The normal FAFSA release date is Oct. 1.

Phishing email attempts to scam TU accounts

By Kate Delaney · Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

A compromised Taylor account emailed thousands of the university’s email addresses on Oct. 9, falsely listing items for sale in exchange for personal information. It was identified as a phishing attack and nobody responded to the email itself, Chris Jones, vice president and chief information officer, said.

DC open house and student tours

By Alaina Ventry · Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

The Hodson Dining Commons open house, complete with student tours of the new building renovations, took place on Thursday, Oct. 26. The open house was an informative hour filled with 15-minute tours to update students and provide insight for what is coming to the DC.

Writing Center regains momentum under new leadership

By Kay Rideout · Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

When Writing Center consultants returned to campus at the end of August, the couches were missing.So were the recliners, the coffee tables, the rugs and the posters — what had formerly been a fully-decorated corner was instead a bare room with bare walls: a blank slate.

Student body discount rate rises annually

By Makenna McCord · Monday, Oct. 30, 2023

The student discount rate at Taylor University has seen a slight drop compared to the steady increase from past years. The discount rate of an institution can be described as money not given to the student as a scholarship, but money taken away from the full cost of tuition, resulting in a discount for students.

Title IX changes to release in October

By Jane' Aubry Page · Monday, Oct. 30, 2023

On Title IX’s 50th anniversary, June 23, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education released proposed changes to the regulations. Now, institutions like Taylor University who receive any sort of federal funding wait for the U.S. Department of Education to release the Title IX ruling.

Taylor professors respond to ChatGPT tool

By Kate Delaney · Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

ChatGPT is a new language processing tool that could affect how students and teachers approach their work at Taylor University. The difference with ChatGPT from typical artificial intelligence is that it uses the whole internet as a database to draw from, giving the user fast results, Jeff Groeling, department chair and professor of communication, said.

IXL club grows, students learn to respond to financial callings

By Kali Siemers · Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

The Kingdom-minded investment club (IXL) grows as students become interested in finances on campus. Last school year, IXL had one member in the club. This year, numbers have increased to 60 members — most being freshmen.

Nearspace Park announces its opening at the red ribbon ceremony

By Jane' Aubry Page · Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

Over this past summer, NearSpace Launch — with the aid of other organizations — tore down factory buildings off of Main St. to develop the land into a public park. On Tuesday, Oct. 10, NearSpace Park officially announced its opening to the Upland community with a red ribbon ceremony. Several of Upland’s key officials, donors and locals came in support of the new park.

Student GPA rises

By Makenna McCord · Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

Taylor’s incoming class of 2023 has a high school GPA higher than the university average. According to Education Next, this is consistent with recent trends of increasing student GPAs at universities and colleges around the country.The incoming class’s high school GPA average is 3.89, comparable to that of admitted students at Ivy League schools like Princeton University who, according to Be Varsity, has an average of 3.9.