Contact Union

402.486.2600
ucinfo@ucollege.edu

3800 S. 48th St.
Lincoln, NE 68506 USA

Enrollment Services

402.486.2504
enroll@ucollege.edu
Admissions homepage

Alumni/Giving

402.486.2503
alumni@ucollege.edu
Advancement homepage

Personnel directory
×
×

background trapezoid Union College Union College | Finding purpose. Unlocking potential.
Union College – Experience the Spirit

About
  • About Union College
    • About Seventh-day Adventists
    • Accreditation
    • College Symbols
    • Consumer Information
    • Employment
    • Employee Resources (login)
    • Mission and Vision
  • Connect with Union
    • News from Union College
    • Contact Us

  • College Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employee Directory
  • Lincoln, Nebraska, a great place to learn
    • things to do |
    • places to eat |
    • where to stay


Thumbnail of an illustration of campus. Campus map
  • Google Maps
  • Map with accessibility features
Academics
  • Majors and programs
  • Workforce development certificates
  • Academic Support
    • Computer labs
    • Library
    • Records Office
    • Studio for Writing and Speaking
  • Information and resources
    • Academic bulletin
    • Academic calendar
    • Canvas
    • Class schedules
    • Final exam schedules
    • Accommodations and accessibility
    • Graduation information
    • Transcript request
  • Student Success
    • Academic and life coaching
    • Disability information and access
    • Career services
    • Tutoring
  • Professional Excellence Program
  • Adventist Colleges Abroad
Alumni
Stay connected to Union
    • Join us for Homecoming!
      • April 13-16, 2023
    • News from Union College
    • Read CORDmagazine
    • Watch live events
    • Find event photos on Facebook
    • Update your info and share news
    • Read Pastor David Kabanje's daily devotionals
  • Advancement Office
  • Ways to give
    • Give online
    • Planned giving
    • More giving opportunities
  • Request transcripts
    (via Parchment)
  • Explore our history
    • Clocktower archive (1927-2010)
    • Educational Messenger (1905-1926)
    • Library photo collections
Campus Life
  • Student Life Office
    • About the Student Life Office
    • Residence Halls
    • Campus apartments
    • Find clubs on uGroups

  • Athletics
    • Varsity calendar
    • High school tournaments
  • Campus Ministries
    • Upcoming events
    • Good Morning Union
    • International Volunteers and Taskforce
    • Project Impact
    • Watch worship services on uTV
  • Services for campus
    • Campus Health
    • Campus Safety
    • Campus Store
    • Information Systems
    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Library
    • Student Employment
    • Plant Services
    • Accessibility Services
    • Union Market
Community
  • Services for our community
    • George Stone Elementary School
    • Guest Services at the Ortner Center
      • Guest rooms
      • Meeting spaces
      • Reservations
    • Union Market Dining Services
  •  
    • Larson Lifestyle Center
      • Become a member
      • Facility rental and parties
      • Swimming lessons
    • Library
      • Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society
  • Events for our community
    • Athletics
      • Athletic calendar
    • Arts and performance calendar
Parents
  • Prospective parent links
    • Why Union students succeed
    • Finding a calling: read examples
    • Financing a Christian education
      • Scholarships and financial aid
      • Tuition
      • Financial FAQ
      • Financial checklist
      • Financial aid forms
      • Contact Student Financial Services
    • Help plan a campus visit
    • Learn about Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Current parent links
    • Services for parents
      • Order a Party Pack
      • Order LifeSavors
      • Make a payment online
    • Events
      • Parents Weekend (Sept. 23-25, 2022)
      • Graduation (May 5-7, 2023)
      • Watch uTV
      • See photos on Facebook
Thumbnail of the Boones. Watch: parents share how Union helped their daughter find her calling.
Thumbnail of Pastor Rich Carlson. Watch: the 5 biggest decisions in life.
Prospective Students
  • Admissions Office
    • Apply online
    • Union's guarantee
    • Plan your campus visit

  • Financial information
    • Scholarships
    • Grants and loans
    • Costs
    • Financial FAQ
    • Net price calculator
    • Financial aid forms
    • Student Financial Services
  • Learn more about Union
    • Academic and life coaching
    • Residence Halls
    • See our majors and programs
    • Interactive campus map
    • Follow us on Instagram

  • Checklists
    • After you're accepted
    • Financial clearance
    • International students
    • Transfer students
Thumbnail of Mary with play button. Union inspired Mary to excel in nursing and gain spiritual confidence.
Thumbnail of Joslyn with a play button. When a letter arrived from a little Nebraska college, Joslyn heard God calling.
June 8, 2015

Expanding the virtual classroom Shared classrooms between sister colleges help improve academic offerings at Union.

Photo of students listening in on a lecture at another university
Students Sarah Dawson and Lexi Dossenko watch a lecture from a professor at Southern Adventist University during their History Topics: WWI course.

Since discussions began between Union College, Southern Adventist University and Southwestern Adventist University about forming the Adventist Educational Alliance two years ago, the three schools have sought ways to collaborate to not only save money, but provide the best possible educational experience for students on all three campuses.

One of the early fruits of the Alliance began this past school year in the form of shared courses between the three schools.

These offerings have included parasitology, taught by Union graduate and Southwestern biology professor Amy Shepherd McHenry ’04. Likewise, a high level math course taught by a Union adjunct professor was offered to students at Southern.

Using innovative technology, distance learning allows a professor at one campus to teach an interactive course with a live classroom on their own campus and an online classroom at the other two. Students in the online classrooms still sit in a classroom, watch the live lecture on a video monitor and interact with the instructor and students in the other classrooms.

Malcolm Russell, vice president for Academic Administration, has taught many classes at Union, including in his area of expertise, Middle East history and politics. This semester he is sharing that knowledge with the other two campuses in a course marking the centennial of World War I.

Russell believes distance learning has many advantages, but also recognizes some marked differences from teaching a strictly local class. For one, the video and audio transmission over the Internet can cause a delay, sometimes making class participation difficult. “Discussion has to be more formal, slower and more controlled,” he said.

McHenry from Southwestern agrees this is likely the biggest challenge. “It’s much more difficult for me to ask students to discuss a question in small groups of two or three and circulate around the room to help them understand the concept.”

While students appreciate the opportunity to take additional courses, they see the limitations, too. “I think you need to be a self-motivated student to do well in these classes,” said Sarah Dawson, senior history major taking the WWI course partially taught by Russell.

“We have an advantage because one of the teachers is here on our campus,” explained Lexi Dossenko, junior history education major also taking the WWI course. “If we have questions, we can just talk to Dr. Russell. It’s not as easy for some of the other classes.”

Because Southern Adventist University had already developed some online courses, their staff helped train professors at the other two schools to teach multiple classrooms at the same time.

Both Russell and McHenry see the ultimate advantage to students on all three campuses. “I think it’s a great opportunity for our departments to share faculty expertise,” McHenry said.

“Offering our students access to courses we can’t teach on our own enables us to enrich student learning,” Russell agreed.

In the long run, Russell believes the program will provide a cost savings, too. “Suppose Southwestern and Union together hired a  sociologist or anthropologist?” he asked. “One could be located in Lincoln, the other in Texas. It will also give us more faculty in broader areas.”

Distance learning does require technological dexterity, and for now, the learning curve is steep. However, as technology continues to improve, professors and students may soon participate in distance learning without a second thought.

By Natalie Bruzon ’16

Media contact

Ryan Teller
Director of Public Relations
402.486.2600 ext. 2272
ryan.teller@ucollege.edu

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

 

Footer – About/Contact

Finding Purpose.
Unlocking Potential.

Union College is an accredited, Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning in Lincoln, Nebraska since 1891.

  • Learn about Union College
  • Website privacy policy
  • Non-discrimination policy

Contact us

ucinfo@ucollege.edu | 402.486.2600
3800 South 48th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 USA

Footer – Campus systems

Calendars

  • Events
  • Academic and class schedule.

Directories

  • Employees
  • Students (login required)

Employment

  • Openings

Consumer information

Footer – Campus systems 2

Portal

Register for classes, see grades, make a payment and more.

uGroups

Connect and communicate with campus.

Canvas

Participate in classes online.

Library

Footer – Column 4

 

Apply

$

Affordability

Academic Programs

 

Get directions

Ranked top tier by US News
 
News ...
  • News from Union College
  • Matt Teller launches a new era for Gymnaires
  • Union launches 17 Professional Workforce Development certificates
  • Biloffs honored with President's Award
  • Ruben Garcia: doing it all
  • Whitmore joins enrollment team
  • Honor society inducts Union students and staff
  • Lilly Lauina: a compassion for children
  • Castro couldn't break our pizza man
  • Megan Johnson: unlocking leadership skills
  • Daniel Klein: discovering a passion for dentistry
  • Pierce's Beast and the Bible is a revelation
  • Union launching three new graduate programs
  • Home
  • About Union College
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Advancement Office
  • Campus Ministries
  • Campus Services
  • Services for Parents
  • Student Life
  • Student Success