“This slower-paced, more reflective environment is just one of the things that allows students to really grow in this setting, and I can’t think of a better model,” said Rob Simpson, director of the program since 2005. “We have a fantastic group of faculty and staff who are deeply passionate about what they do here. I’m more convinced every day that this is a great place for us to carry out the mission of APU in a unique setting.”
Junior liberal studies major, Cassie Smith, a fall 2006 participant, enjoyed her experience so much that she returned this semester, serving as the women’s resident advisor. “I love everything about the program: the small class sizes that allow you to have closer relationships with your professors, the awesome outdoor opportunities, the tight-knit community that naturally develops between students, and the focus on experiencing and appreciating God’s marvelous creation.”
With a one-to-five faculty-to-student ratio, individual attention abounds. Faculty and staff become guides and mentors as they engage students in thinking critically about not only academics, but also the world around them.
This distinctive atmosphere drew Jack Carter, associate professor of mathematics, to the program. “The exquisite setting, the academic rigor, and the family environment, which facilitate faculty/student mentoring relationships, all coincide with my personal and professional interests.” Carter, along with his wife, Ginny, develops deep relationships with students that continue when they return to the Azusa campus.
This support becomes important as students meet the challenges provided by the rigorous coursework. The program design offers an ideal way for students to fulfill a substantial amount of General Education (GE) requirements. To create a more meaningful approach to the subject matter, faculty use original texts. Rather than read a synopsis about Aristotle, students read his original writings. Instead of studying a multitude of sources, they focus on a few select works and contributions of artists, philosophers, historians, and writers, all from the same time period.
