Dr Greg Clarke is calling on tertiary students to enrol with MCSI this week as the Christian education body seeks to overcome its second hurdle in as many months.
As director of the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (MCSI), Dr Clarke says he needs another 40 students to enrol in an MCSI subject for this coming semester by the end of July.
"At the end of last year and with little warning, Macquarie University modified its relationship with us. In our view, this led to far lower student numbers last semester than expected," he says.
At the moment MCSI is no longer in a privileged position at the university and MCSI subjects are no longer listed on Macquarie University’s enrollment section of the website.
"We will have to work much harder to gain our students at Macquarie and grow the work to other campuses, too, through our online learning options."
Dr Clarke oversaw the organisation through a period of financial difficulty last month when $100,000 was needed in just two weeks to give MCSI the ability to run into semester two.
"It's a pleasure to report that through our generous supporters we raised the funds we needed by 15th June and were able to continue to the next step," Dr Clarke says.
"The money came from 70 different donors, showing that there is a big community of people who want to see this kind of Christian involvement in higher education survive and thrive.”
Hidden gems wait to be found
MCSI seeks to take a carefully considered Christian approach to knowledge in all of its disciplines, offering subjects on contemporary culture, science, the life of Jesus, economics, the Bible, world religions, ethics and more.
The subjects can be counted by most university students towards almost any degree at any university.
Members of the general public also take the subjects, including many people involved in lay ministry and related organisations such as Anglicare and teachers in Anglican schools.
"Our lecturers are distinctive because they take a Christian approach to each subject," Dr Clarke says.
Dr Clarke adds that Christians can do numerous things to support the work of MCSI.
"Encourage any students you know to enrol online in our subjects before 31st July. Pass on this message through student websites, church groups, or anywhere else that students hang out. Or consider doing a subject yourself. You don’t have to be an enrolled student to study with us."
MCSI has been expanding its promotion at other universities, where students are being encouraged to enrol in online units and cross-credit it to their local qualification.
Senior AFES staff worker, Peter Hughes was employed in February to promote MCSI on campuses.
At present, 60 students are enrolled and another 40 students are still needed.
MCSI courses are ideal for shaping the worldview of Christian students, according to Dr Clarke.
"There are also excellent gospel opportunities as students can encourage their enquiring friends to take the subjects with them," Dr Clarke says.
"Our courses are a bit of a hidden gem as you can study the Bible and earn credit toward your degree. You would be nuts not to do at least one MCSI subject as part of your degree."
Visit the MCSI website for course details.
