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School of Humanities, EDUCATION, & Behavioral Science

Peace & Conflict Transformation

The peace and conflict transformation (PACT) program was founded by an endowment established in 1997 through the vision of Maurice and Dondeena Caldwell. The endowment recently surpassed its $1 million goal, making it the fastest-growing endowment at AU.

The PACT program at Anderson University seeks to:

Encourage the inclusion of the concerns of peace and conflict transformation into the existing curriculum and campus life.
Facilitate multiple forums for students and faculty to explore and analyze the spiritual, moral, philosophical, and political issues inherent in conflict and efforts for peacemaking.
Inform students and faculty of the processes of nonviolent transformation of interpersonal, cultural, organizational, and political conflict.
Support the efforts of Anderson University personnel to teach others mechanisms for conflict transformation.
Support research projects related to peace and conflict transformation.
PACT 2100, Introduction to Peace & Conflict Transformation, is offered Fall semester, and PACT 2200, Peacemakers Past & Present, is offered Spring semester.

Contact: Jason Varner, Program Director

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Program Options

This program is offered as a minor.

The 18-hour minor is available to all students. The PACT minor is not limited to one department, but is designed as an interdisciplinary engagement with the broad array of issues involved in peace and conflict transformation.

Introduction to Peace & Conflict Transformation
Peacemakers Past & Present
Peace, Conflict, & Religion
Principles & Practices of Conflict Transformation
1 hour cross-cultural, service-learning, or internship experience
9 hours from any of the following courses: ARTH 3410; BIBL 3260; CMIN 3240; COMM 3110; CRIM 3010; ECON 2010; HIST 3190; INED 2410; PHIL 3210; POSC 3300, 3310; PSYC 2100; RLGN 3120, 3320; SOCI 2010, 2020, 3400

View the Anderson University undergrad catalog for course descriptions.

Funding Opportunities

Students at Anderson University can submit an application to fund a special peace initiative project that fits one of the five objectives of the peace and conflict transformation (PACT) program at Anderson University. The project should be related to issues of local, national, or global peace-building. In addition, our goal is to fulfill the Anderson University mission to educate students for a life of faith and service in the church and society. Students will provide insights into how the funding will assist them in enhancing their own knowledge about peace-building, as well as how they will engage and give back to the university campus with what they have learned. The generous PACT endowment established in 1997 through the vision of Maurice and Dondeena Caldwell provides funding for these student peace initiatives

PACT Project Testimonials

I was given support by PACT to go to the Clinton Global Initiative University in San Diego. I was accepted into the conference due to a proposal I wrote for a Youth Empowerment Project I am starting in Jamaica. The project is geared toward youth in rural areas that lack the opportunities needed to realize their purpose. The program is designed to empower through mentorship using sports, sustainable farming practices, the arts, awareness in various social issues, and literacy campaigns.

Latoya Francis BA ’12

MAJORS IN ACCOUNT AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
MINOR IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP

The shoe drive was a student-led, month-long event where students, faculty, staff, and friends of Anderson University donated shoes that would be sent to Soles for Souls, Inc. Roughly 300 shoes were donated. PACT covered shipping costs, which ended up being less than one dollar per pair.

Megan Whitmire BA ’12

MAJOR IN BIBLE AND RELIGION
MINOR IN PACT

PACT Objectives

Each proposal needs to fulfill at least one of the PACT program objectives, including:

To encourage the inclusion of the concerns of peace and conflict transformation into the existing curriculum and campus life.
To facilitate multiple forums for students and faculty to explore and analyze the spiritual, moral, philosophical, and political issues inherent in conflict and efforts for peace-making.
To inform students and faculty of the processes of nonviolent transformation of interpersonal, cultural, organizational, and political conflict.
To support the efforts of Anderson University personnel to teach others mechanisms for conflict transformation.
To support research projects related to peace and conflict transformation.

Proposal Deadlines

Proposals are reviewed on a monthly basis, and are due the first of each month. Please submit proposals as far in advance as possible. Applicants must send one electronic copy of their proposal to the director of the PACT program. Each proposal must be discussed with the director.

Application Process

Review Process

Each proposal will be reviewed by a committee at the monthly committee meeting. Each proposal must be submitted with a copy of the student’s AU ID, any documentation needed, and any reservation or registration forms completed and attached. Each proposal is blindly reviewed, meaning that committee members do not know whose proposal they are reading. This is to ensure fairness as proposals are considered for funding. Students will be notified of decisions on proposals by the PACT director within one week of the monthly committee meeting.

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