Elmhurst College - Overview
Elmhurst College Overview
Elmhurst College is a liberal arts college in Chicago's western suburbs that offers the intimacy of a small institution and the advantages of being next door to one of the world's great cities.
Located in the community of the same name, Elmhurst College offers its students small classes that encourage discussion and inspire exploration. The average class has 19 students and the student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1 is among the best in higher education. The primary mission of the college's professors is teaching, not research, and their credentials are unsurpassed -- 90 percent hold the highest degree in their field, usually a Ph.D.
A College on the Move
Elmhurst College offers a rich undergraduate program, with bachelor's degrees in some 50 subjects. It also offers graduate programs in nine fast-growing career fields, including education, nursing, computer information systems, industrial/organizational psychology, supply chain management, accounting, and MBA.
Elmhurst College is a college on the move. Under its new president, S. Alan Ray, a former senior vice provost at the University of New Hampshire and chief academic affairs officer at Harvard Law School, the college has laid out an ambitious five-year strategic plan.
That plan comprises: educating the student for life in a global society; forging innovative relationships to advance learning, scholarship, and service; building a diverse faculty, administration, and staff; constructing a physical environment that will shine as a model for liberal education; and demonstrating outstanding stewardship of resources to all its constituencies.
Elmhurst College traces its intellectual underpinnings to brothers Reinhold and H. Richard Niebuhr, Elmhurst alumni who went on to become renowned theologians. Their commitment to social engagement helped shape the political and religious thinking of the early 20th century and has had a lasting impact at Elmhurst, as a faith-based, service-oriented college that aims to prepare students for lives filled with purpose and meaning.
Personal Academic and Career Advising
Students appreciate the small class size and the opportunity to forge relationships with their professors. Every class is taught by a faculty member -- unlike at large universities, where many courses are led by teaching assistants. Students work with faculty advisers to develop personal academic plans, including the courses and experiences that will best help meet long-term goals. Other advisers work with students in career planning and help facilitate opportunities such as internships and community service, which can often lead to jobs.
Much learning at Elmhurst takes place outside the classroom. Many students study abroad for a term or a year -- Spain, the Netherlands, and England (including Oxford University) are a few popular destinations. The January Term offers undergraduate students the chance to undertake courses and field projects off-campus.
There's Plenty to Do
Elmhurst College aims to foster a diverse and rich social and cultural life on campus. Students play on a roster of 18 varsity teams, from football to golf. They perform or work backstage in theater productions, attend interfaith programs, and join fraternities and sororities. Students may join an organization such as Hablamos, which hosts and promotes multicultural experiences or travel to New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity to help the rebuilding program.
While many liberal arts colleges are in small towns, Elmhurst has the advantage of being a 35-minute train ride from Chicago's Loop. Students take full advantage of the city -- visiting museums, attending concerns, dining out, and just hanging out.