THE ROLES OF PROFESSORS & ALUMNI
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
(I Corinthians 12)
CSOs aren’t simply for students. In the Manual, Mrs. Eddy invited instructors and faculty members to participate as well. She also allowed alumni to get involved if they had the unanimous approval of the CSO members. It can be beneficial to engage the support and participation of both of these groups.
Professors and faculty members
Some CSOs think of professors and faculty members as simply advisors. But the Manual doesn’t confine them to this role. Mrs. Eddy didn’t distinguish between the involvement of students and professors. In many CSOs, students and professors share equal roles.
There are many benefits to faculty participation in CSOs. Professors often have a better understanding of university policies and how to gain permission for activities. They are able to network with their colleagues, some of whom may be interested in having a CS lecturer speak to their class or willing to inform their students about a relevant campus lecture. Faculty members can bring continuity, stability, and sustainability to the CSO, as they tend to be at the university for a longer period of time than most students.
Some universities require an organization to have a faculty advisor. In cases where there is not a professor who is a Christian Scientist, many CSOs have found a faculty member who is supportive of their efforts to act as an advisor for it.
Alumni Support
Mrs. Eddy allowed alumni to join the CSO, so she saw their involvement as beneficial. But she did stipulate in the Manual that they could join only by being voted in unanimously by the members, ensuring that those who “form and conduct” the CSO are currently a part of the campus community.
Alumni can be a huge support to their CSOs. Many alumni feel close ties to their alma maters and the CSOs at them. Keep them apprised of what you are doing. They can be tapped to prayerfully support your CSO’s projects or, in some cases, financially support your activities.
Because campus populations are so transitory, CSOs sometimes slip into inactivity as students come and go. Alumni can help build and maintain institutional memory by sharing what the CSO has done in the past, what lessons have been learned and what has and hasn’t worked.
The TMC Youth office can help you contact Christian Science alums from your university.
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