HCHC UPDATE
from Enrollment Management
Spring Semester’s Enrollment
Dear HCHC Community,
I’m delighted to share the continued good news regarding Hellenic College Holy Cross enrollment. Our undergraduate college grew by 9% this semester. This growth is especially remarkable given the cohort of 16 Semester of Faith students last fall semester whose program ended in December. Amazingly, twelve of these students chose to enroll in degree programs this spring semester. These students came to deepen their faith and explore what HCHC offers; 75% of the Semester of Faith students chose to continue, which is a good sign that what we say HCHC offers and what we offer are in close alignment.Holy Cross had a healthy number of new students enter degree and non-degree programs this term. The total number of registered students remained the same. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students was about 7% lower than the previous fall semester census., which is typical due to students graduating, pausing or ending enrollment, or reducing credit hours. The total HCHC FTE student census is about the same as last semester.
In collaboration with the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Holy Cross offered the course “The Ecumenical Movement: the Sources” remotely. Hellenic College offered two remote hybrid classes: “Introduction to Orthodoxy” and a psychology course exploring the research and practical applications regarding the relationships between neuroscience and Orthodox spirituality. Look for news soon about online or remote course offerings for the Fall 2024 semester.
The HCHC Enrollment Regional Representatives program identifies and represents HCHC at as many local, metropolis, and national events as possible. Please let us know if there is an event in your area that would be good for us to attend by our regional representatives.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our alumni and friends who contributed their time, effort, suggestions, and prayers to strengthen our school. Together, let’s continue fostering an environment where faith and learning intersect, equipping and inspiring our students for leadership in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In gratitude,
Dr. Bruce Beck
Director of Enrollment Management and
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Upcoming Events
HCHC AT THE 2024 NATIONAL CLERGY-LAITY CONGRESS
We’re excited to announce that Hellenic College will be present at the 2024 Clergy-Laity Congress. We will have a booth representing HCHC’s array of programs and resources. You are invited to attend our workshop “HCHC Outbound: Nurturing Orthodox Christians through Accessible Education, Publications, and Spiritual Formation” to learn how our school is extending its global educational mission.
📆 Date: JUNE 30 TO JULY 4, 2024
🏛️ Location: SAN DIEGO, CA
Featured Programs
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
The MDiv program equips students for ordained or lay ministry through a systematic array of theological courses, skills training, and formative co-curricular activities. Daily Orthros and Vespers are the heartbeat of the student body.
Byzantine Music Certificate
The Certificate in Byzantine Music program equips students with a mastery of the skills required for chanting the sacred hymns of the Church. The program provides thorough knowledge of the psaltic notational system, the ability to sight-read musical scores at all levels of complexity, and an extensive familiarity with the contents of liturgical books and the rubrics of the Orthodox Church.
Semester of Faith
The Hellenic College Semester of Faith invites students to study at Hellenic College for a semester with a full-tuition scholarship to deepen their Orthodox faith while they earn credits toward their bachelor’s degrees.
Be Attentive Retreat
The direction to “be attentive” is repeated throughout the Divine Liturgy. With it, we are called to direct our attention to God speaking to us through the sacred scriptures and in the mystery of the Eucharist.We invite men of any Orthodox jurisdiction who may be considering ordained ministry to come and Be Attentive to God’s voice speaking in their lives to help them discern their vocation. You may inquire below regarding the next retreat, which is planned for early Fall.
FDF & HDF
It was a privilege for Hellenic College Holy Cross to participate in this year’s Metropolis of Atlanta Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF) and the Metropolis of San Francisco’s Faith, Dance, and Fellowship Festival (FDF). These opportunities to engage with young people from across the country allowed our Enrollment team to inform the next generation of Orthodox Christians about the opportunity to place faith at the heart of their educational journey at Hellenic College or Holy Cross.
Celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent, The Sunday of Orthodoxy marks the end of the period of iconoclasm, a turbulent era in the history of the church when the veneration of icons faced opposition. On this auspicious day, the faithful gather in parishes adorned with icons, holding processions and services that emphasize the importance of icons in conveying the divine mysteries.“O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate Your Pure Image, O Good One. Of your own will you condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and deliver those You created from the bondage of the enemy.” (from the apolytikion).
