For Waynesburg University students, the website ‘myConnect’ is a frequently visited URL. From submitting class assignments on Blackboard, to scheduling the upcoming semester on Self Service and checking e-mails, students are often logged in to the browser.

myConnect is a website that allows students to not only fulfill their classroom requirements, but also to learn about different opportunities that happen across campus. The ‘tabs’ at the top of the home screen advertise such activities as ‘Service’ on campus, ‘Residence Life’ and ‘Student Senate’. The main screen also informs students of upcoming meetings and events on the ‘Bulletin Board’. At the start of the 2017-2018 school year myConnect added a new ‘Faith’ tab to its variety of information.

The new tab allows Waynesburg students to get ‘plugged in’ to different ministry opportunities on campus. The ‘Faith’ tab has information about the different small groups that occur on campus, the calendar of upcoming events and speakers at chapel. Additionally, the tab incorporates resources for students including books, videos and links that challenge students to grow deeper in their faith while at Waynesburg.

The idea for the tab has been on the table for several years. While the tab was not created until the start of this school year the concept of the tab began in 2011.

Anthony Jarrell, resident director for Martin Hall and director for campus ministry assistants, has been involved with conversations about the ‘Faith’ tab.

“The ‘Faith’ tab is one of those really funny stories because it has been a long time coming,” Jarrell said. “I remember the idea of the ‘Faith’ tab being talked about as a concept to add to myConnect as far back at 2011/2012. When Josh Sumpter started here, it was really a priority of his and he got it done and it is beautiful and I’m very happy with it.”

Since Josh Sumpter, assistant chaplain and instructor of biblical and ministry studies, has joined the faculty at Waynesburg the campus ministry program has been focusing a lot on becoming a growing presence around campus.

“We want to find ways to connect students to the ministries that take place on campus,” Sumpter said. “There are a lot of students that are connect but there are a lot of students that haven’t made connections yet.”

The campus ministry team aims to make these connections through the ‘Faith’ tab, utilizing social media such as Twitter and Facebook and through being a presence across campus.

Vice President of Student Services Reverend Jim Tinnemeyer has been an advocate for the ‘Faith’ tab since the concept was first considered. Tinnemeyer also praised the efforts of Sumpter and Jarrell as well as 2017 Biblical and Ministry Studies alumni and previous Waynesburg campus ministry intern Matt McDermott and the growth that has been seen in campus ministries in past years due to the addition of the ‘Faith’ tab and the more prevalent use of social media.

“People use social media more and more and more so as we have seen an increase in the last couple months that have hooked up in the number of social media that we use,” Tinnemeyer said. “We will keep putting the information out there and we love to hear about other ways we should communicate with students.”