It's not the speed at which you travel, but the direction in which you go. These words, uttered back in the 70's by the purple-suited guest speaker at my high school graduation, remain etched in my memory.

Without a doubt, the greater your speed, the faster you will get where you are going. But where? This is the kind of question that we at Ambrose University College expect our students to answer at a time when both church
and society are asking that same question. Institutions have had enough of speed but lack a sense of direction.

Direction is a much more subtle phenomenon than speed and is therefore harder to measure. It's hard to know which direction to take or to understand why one path is better than another. The answer requires an investment of both time and money.

Education at Ambrose: The Choice of Direction over Speed

Even so, training courses that gets students in the field right away can sound like a better and more spiritual approach than a three or four year degree program. Why not get our Christian students into places of service as
quickly as possible?

Because a sense of direction never comes easily or quickly, we ask our students deep questions that demand thoughtful answers. Such answers take time: time spent in the library, in a practicum, in the classroom, in the offices of our professors, with fellow students, or on a cross-cultural experience. There are no shortcuts.

Understanding direction also requires an investment of money. An Internship or practicum adds significant time to a student's program. They are expensive to staff and supervise. A full-time Director of Field Education who is in charge of internships, and a Behavioural Science Associate who coordinates student practicums are essential for learning that gives direction. Teaching loads of three courses each semester and smaller class sizes give faculty more one-on-one time with students and opportunity to do scholarly research. This enriched learning environment has a cost.

Outside the classroom, our fully-staffed residence program provides crucial guidance to young lives. Our strong athletic program staffed by a full-time director and certified coaches enriches the experience of the many Ambrose students on our Lions Athletics teams. The Learning Services Centre, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and led by a director who creates individual learning solutions ensures that students with learning issues are able to succeed in their course work. The Career Services Centre staff counsel students about life callings and career direction. In particular, the
"Going Global?" program brings students together to hear from alumni who are serving in other cultures. Our well stocked library is central to students' academic development, and our campus chaplains enable them to grow spiritually. Highly qualified staff and resources in these key areas greatly enhance the learning experience of our students.

Yes, there are cheaper and faster (some would say more efficient) ways to educate. But we are convinced that the Ambrose way is more effective long-term. At Ambrose, direction is never sacrificed for speed.

So why choose direction over speed? Because the Church and our society need leaders with a fresh understanding of the challenges they face and innovative solutions to meet them. The educational fast track often means sacrificing effective leadership for the long term. When leaders reach the end of the paved road, will they know where to go next?

Both the church and society need a generation of Ambrose-educated leaders who have invested years in a quality Christian education. At Ambrose we take seriously our roles as shapers of both the mind of the Church and the mind of society. Ambrose students are pushed to develop an inner compass that will guide not only their individual lives but the lives of those around them.

We are filled with anticipation about the level of influence our graduates will have in the future. Only God knows what direction they will set for our church and nation. Our job is simply to form them as agents of godly change.

A gift to Ambrose helps provide the resources we need to fulfill our institutional calling to choose direction over speed.

We believe that you are interested in the direction in which our students are heading, not just the speed at
which they go.

Your investment will help us provide an education that gives our students the opportunity to plot a fresh course for the church and for the institutions of our society.

Sincerely,
E. Kim Follis
Director of Annual Giving

Ps. This Easter, help us raise $200,000 to balance our annual budget by our April 30 year end. Your gift to Ambrose will provide faculty and staff with resources needed to educate students who are shaping their
direction and ours.