With over 2800 students enrolled in 5 departments and Junior College, SGU emphasizes christian values in education. The Education Department has 7 applicants for each position in the freshman class. The Social Welfare Department has a Masters Degree program, and teaches all students to love their neighbor as themselves, with students volunteering in many ways. University convocations and lectures include sign-language for hearing-impared persons. Yukiko Altman got her Masters Degree here, and has worked for SGU teaching courses in Women's Issues, and International Social Welfare Issues. She was appointed a (volunteer) supervisor of the Lifeline Telephone Counseling service, and this year joins the staff of SGU student counselors.
Dr. Harry Altman, Professor of Physics and Mathematics, is the only remaining missionary of 7 that were serving SGU when he joined SGU 24 years ago. He was elected to his 3rd term as Director of Christian Activities, and has sung in SGU's Messiah chorus for 15 of the annual concerts. As Head of the Messiah Planning Committee, he is especially proud of the international exchange involved there - during his 4-year exile, when the Japanese government refused to restore his visa (cancelled arbitrarily because of his fingerprint refusal, in support of the human rights of Koreans born and raised in Japan), he taught for 2 years at Han Nam University (also founded by the Presbyterian Church) in Korea. He was supported by SGU Presidents and Deans who traveled to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, and the SGU Music Professor who brought both the SGU Handbell Choir and Messiah Chorus to Korea to perform at HNU. HNU chorus members then traveled to Japan (providentially carrying Dr. Altman's luggage since he was at last reissued a visa) in December 1992 to join in the performance of SGU's Messiah, and the following year began annual HNU Messiah concert in which SGU students joined. This international exchange continues, and on May 2, 1998, Dr. Altman, students and other faculty from SGU will join in this year's HNU Messiah Concert, part of the celebration of 20 years as sister colleges.
The Han Nam U - SGU international exchange also includes annual international lectures and student 1-week seminars with full scholarships each year for 2 students from each college to study at the other. These programs have done much to erase the bitter relations between Koreans and Japanese for the past century.
Shikoku Gakuin U has pioneered an affirmative action program in college admissions, accepting exceptional students from several minority groups on the basis of interviews rather than the traditional entrance exam. Christian students with leadership potential have enrolled through this program and made considerable contributions to the campus christian activities.
As with many colleges in Japan, SGU is concerned by the decreasing number of high school graduates, with the resulting decrease in number of applicants. Please pray that SGU leaders can make the right choices to continue quality christian education in Japan.
Presbyterian ties have helped SGU to contribute to international understanding. Dr. Altman and SGU President Hashimoto visited several Presbyterian Colleges in the United States, initiating international exchange agreements which will result in SGU students studying at Eckerd College, Rocky Mountain College beginning in September 1998. Whitworth College students will be at SGU this year, and SGU graduates help in the Japanese Language instruction program at Whitworth.
Shikoku Gakuin University ECO #684402 (SCC)
