Benefits of Teaching at a Small Liberal Arts College
Benefits of attending a small, liberal arts college
V students share their take on the college feel at Loyola—a university large enough for countless opportunities, just small enough to provide meaningful relationships and mentorship"Stepping onto Loyola's campus, a prospective student wouldn't know the endless opportunities that look them. I certainly didn't when I arrived for my first campus tour," Michelle, '22, a writing major from Mount Laurel, North.J., reflects.
"After spending three years hither, it'south obvious how much everyone at Loyola—faculty, staff, my peers—is dedicated to helping you flourish."
Loyola prides itself on deploying the university's full resources to ensure that a transformative experience is available and attainable to every student, wherever their hearts and minds lead, from the day they make it on campus to the mean solar day they set foot into the world after graduation.
"A small student population and dedicated faculty and staff help students achieve whatever possibility here—whether it be academic, social, actress- or co-curricular, research, scholarships, independent study, and study abroad, among then many others," Michelle explains.
Opportunities for academic enrichment and internships
For Michelle, individualized attention and care from professors, staff, and mentors fostered her transformation into an individual who is confident in herself and her ability to strike into her desired career path later graduation.
From the Honors Program, I've adult into a person who looks by the surface level to take hold of at deeper meanings and grown confidence in critical thinking and advocating for myself and my ideas.
"Information technology was a hard process to utilise to colleges and choose the right fit as a start-generation student who didn't have much assist from my parents in the process," she explains.
When she visited Loyola for an Open House for accepted students and attended an data session led past Joe Walsh, Ph.D., professor of Classics and history and director of the Honors Program, he provided the first nudge that she was on the right path.
"Dr. Walsh spoke with unbridled passion about the humanities at Loyola, and I remember laughing at the ridiculously long listing of reasons he presented for pursuing the humanities at Loyola. He didn't finish the presentation because he didn't have plenty time. Information technology was articulate to me from that moment that these were the kind of professors I'd have at Loyola: passionate, dedicated, and slightly humorous."
Dr. Walsh later reached out to Michelle about the Honors Plan. He said there were spots left and, from reviewing her awarding, he thought she might be exactly the kind of student who would be a good fit. "This was my first opportunity for growth," she says, calculation that she has never regretted her decision to use after Dr. Walsh'due south email.
Through the Honors Program, Michelle attends classes with 10-15 other students. Honors courses are seminar-way and designed so that students actively engage with their peers and professors in discussion. "We are consistently challenging each other to push button ideas further." From the Honors Program, Michelle says she has become a person who looks for deeper meaning—and she has grown confident in critical thinking and advocating for herself and her ideas.
Beyond her classes, Michelle has discovered opportunities for academic and professional growth through several different internships. "At that place are so many internship opportunities here in Baltimore or a brusk train ride abroad in D.C., and the professors and staff at the Career Center can help students prepare, find, and apply for them," she shares.
Since her starting time year, she has held 4 internships. Her internships have immune her to develop non simply her writing skills but her interpersonal and leadership skills, and they have provided critical opportunities to utilize her pedagogy to a real-world context in her field.
Opportunities for interest and personal connections subsequently transferring from a big higher
Since transferring to Loyola in her sophomore twelvemonth, Angel says Loyola continues to exceed her expectations.
Loyola has prepared me for a life of continuous learning and service to others in the spirit of the Jesuit core value of service, rooted in justice and love. Serving Loyola and surrounding communities through the Center for Customs, Service, and Justice has fueled my want to requite back and practise all things with love.
At her previous university, Angel, who grew up in Miami, Fla., says she institute herself becoming "another number, getting lost in the crowd" at a school ten times the size of Loyola's undergraduate student population. At present she loves making personal connections with her professors. She feels fortunate to engage with them regularly for communication or a quick chat.
A biopsychology major on the pre-med rails and an African American Studies modest, Angel has become an active member of the campus community. By seeking out the countless opportunities to get involved, she had found her home at Loyola. She is an intern and bout guide with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, a part through which she hopes to help prospective students observe a dwelling house on the Evergreen campus every bit she has; she serves every bit vice president of disinterestedness and inclusion for the Greyhound Ambassadors. She is besides co-vice president and treasurer of Doctors Without Borders and is an Evergreen Orientation Leader.
"There hasn't been a single guild or leadership part I felt like I couldn't sign upwardly for. I rapidly realized it all starts with me just putting myself out there and showing up."
As a student of color, Affections found that Loyola offers many resources to create a supportive environment where students of colour can succeed. She has made connections and received guidance from many students, faculty, and staff in the ALANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Native American) community.
One of the things she loves most is seeing herself "represented in spaces on campus, particularly in the guild Sister to Sister. I have truly enjoyed getting to join in on sis circles and engage with other women of color to talk about our experiences on campus—no matter how challenging or rewarding they might be."
For Angel, her Jesuit teaching dares her to challenge herself and encourages self-exploration through discernment and reflection, "constantly inspiring me to live a purposeful life."
"Serving Loyola and surrounding communities through the Center for Community, Service, and Justice has fueled my desire to requite back and exercise all things with love," she says, calculation that Loyola has prepared her for a life of continuous learning and service to others in the spirit of the Jesuit core value of service, rooted in justice and dear.
Opportunities for research and professional skill development
Whitney, '21, says she knew when she was looking at colleges that she wanted research to be a role of her bookish program, and she was initially drawn to larger schools for their research opportunities for engineering majors. She is majoring in mechanical and materials engineering and minoring in mathematics.
The Stalk community at Loyola is open to word almost the problems that women in STEM face every day and are willing to stand with the states as we fight confronting sexism and misogyny in our daily life every bit scientists, biologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
When she discovered Loyola offered several of the aforementioned quality enquiry opportunities for engineering students as a larger academy—but with the individualized attention that comes with smaller grade size—she knew Loyola was right for her.
Through her courses, the Annapolis, Md., native has gained practical, applied engineering science feel through labs like physics, circuits, and senior blueprint—experiences that affirm she has made the right pick for her career.
For six weeks during the summer betwixt her sophomore and junior year, Whitney was a Hauber Boyfriend working with Suzanne Keilson, Ph.D., associate professor of engineering, to blueprint an original inquiry projection with Sinai Hospital which used Spring Motion to rail the angles of hands to help concrete therapists with their work.
Whitney says she specifically chose a project that assisted others while allowing her to learn a new skill—coding—that pushed her across her intellectual comfort zone. And she wasn't solitary in this process, she says, because Dr. Keilson along with other professors helped her throughout the experience. She emerged from the project with valuable skills, conviction, and field experience.
As a woman in STEM, Whitney says she has constitute innumerable opportunities for personal and academic growth through community and female mentorship. In addition to Dr. Keilson, she is grateful to Raeinta Fenner, Ph.D., associate professor of engineering, faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers Guild. At Loyola, Whitney has discovered a Stem community that includes both professors and students who are "open to discussion most the issues that women in Stalk confront every day and are willing to stand with us as we fight against sexism and misogyny in our daily life as scientists, biologists, engineers, and mathematicians."
The community and back up Whitney institute at Loyola "has allowed me to grow… because I know there is always a friendly and helpful face up to turn to."
Beyond mentorship and inquiry, Whitney has found a wealth of opportunities for leadership, community engagement, and hands-on experience in her field. She serves as president of the Society of Women Engineers and vice president of Greyhound Ambassadors—roles that foster disquisitional skills like working with a team toward a common goal. When she wanted to engage with the Baltimore customs through service, Loyola provided opportunities to work with female center school students interested in STEM and to serve with local applied science organizations.
Opportunities for spiritual, athletic, and leadership development
The Jesuit tenant of cura personalis has been at the center of Faith's life since she came to Loyola from Williamsburg, Va. This concept of investing in the care for the whole person made her realize she had neglected certain areas in herself earlier coming to Loyola. At present in her third twelvemonth, Religion credits the university with providing her with an abundance of opportunities to grow athletically, academically, spiritually, and personally.
My personal growth has been fostered through the unyielding kindness and willingness of our boyfriend staff and advisors, who ensure that in addition to our studies, we have the opportunity to explore areas nosotros would like to further grow into.
A fellow member of the Greyhounds swimming and diving team, Religion aims to invest the aforementioned attending to her sport and courses as she does with her spirituality—while also making space for things like her newfound passion for Italian civilisation (she serves every bit vice president of the Italian Club).
"My evolution has only been further fostered by the unyielding kindness and willingness of the staff and advisors at Loyola, who ensure that in add-on to our studies, we have the opportunity to explore areas nosotros would like to grow into."
Exterior of the pool, Organized religion is involved with several areas of campus life. A Jesuit academy, Loyola offers the opportunity for students to appoint with their organized religion in myriad ways; Faith serves equally a Eucharistic Government minister with Campus Ministry building weekly at the Lord's day morning Mass.
She is also a tutor at the Report and is actively involved with Hounds able-bodied mentoring and academic interest clubs such every bit the Pre-Wellness Social club and Women in Pre-Wellness Lodge. Final year during the pandemic, Organized religion founded a new club for Loyola students, like her, seeking research internships and opportunities.
A biology major with an English minor, Faith is on the pre-medical track through Loyola'south Pre-Health Programs. She is grateful for the valuable field experience and professional training she has gained through her work equally a medical scribe in the emergency department of Riverside Doctors Infirmary in Williamsburg, Va., during the summer months and throughout the bookish year, during breaks from Loyola.
This spring, Faith conducted semester-long research alongside Derek Kendig, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological science. "In Dr. Kendig's lab, I'm developing imperative skills to enhance my higher-level thinking that will be tested when I take my MCAT," says Organized religion, who plans to attend medical or graduate school—maybe both—after Loyola and aims to eventually teach students at a instruction hospital and continue enquiry.
Opportunities for mentorship and meaningful experiences to serve the community
When Matthew, '21, arrived on Loyola's campus for Accepted Students Day every bit a high school senior, he immediately "felt a sense of belonging" that he hadn't felt at an institution earlier. Since then, the international business organization major from Columbia, Md., has dedicated his fourth dimension to searching for why Loyola "was such a magnet for me."
Through my experience, I learned to concur myself and others accountable when I witness inequality and injustice. I'm confident in my ability to be an agent for modify.
Now a college senior, he says, "My Loyola didactics has been ane of the best investments my parents and I accept made" in part because the resource Loyola provides students are extensive. The university hosts programs and courses designed for students to use the skills they learned in the classroom into meaningful experiences for the Baltimore community."
One of his meaningful experiences came from the France-Merrick Foundation Scholarship, which allowed him to spend his first ii years serving at whatever service site that compelled him in partnership with the Eye for Community, Service, and Justice. At the stop of his two years, Matthew plant his experience so fruitful that he continued his involvement as an intern. "Coming away from this internship, I have learned to agree myself and others answerable when I witness inequality and injustice. I'thou confident in my ability to exist an amanuensis for change."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Matthew interned with HOGAN, which allowed him to gain experience in the commercial real manor industry, the field he will launch his career in afterwards he graduates in May. He conducted market research and went on site visits with his supervisor, learning more he would or could have through classes alone.
Matthew values the relationships he has built during his time at Loyola and shares this advice with fellow Greyhounds: "Find a mentor you tin can trust, someone who has a broad diverseness of experiences throughout their lifetime and is willing to invest their knowledge in you."
I of his mentors is Rev. Scott Adams, assistant manager of Campus Ministry building. "He one time told me, 'You have never seen an apple tree tree consume itself. The sole purpose of that apple tree is to provide nourishment for others to grow.'" Sort of like a good mentor, he says. "Good mentors create a lasting bear on in the lives of their mentees, and in turn, their mentees will soon get mentors for others."
As graduation nears, Matthew reflects on his teaching and feel at Loyola and believes that this university is "the best place for a Jesuit liberal arts education simply because of the people in our community. [At Loyola, you'll find] some of the best professors in the nation. They are passionate about Loyola'southward values, which motivates and inspires students."
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Source: https://www.loyola.edu/explore/magazine/stories/2021/benefits-of-attending-a-small-liberal-arts-college