Why Pacific? - Sydney's Story

Name: Sydney
Major: Sociology
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

What was your college search like?

Difficult. I was overwhelmed with the idea of leaving my family and everything that was familiar. I was unsure of what I wanted, so naturally I applied to 14 different schools all up and down the west coast. I was accepted to 11 of the 14, and began touring schools that were in my top 5. Pacific was the last school I was set to tour, and I instantly fell in love. 

How did you hear about Pacific University?

I heard about Pacific through a private career counselor that I had worked with to help me with the college process. She highly recommended Pacific and thought it would be a perfect fit for me. After going through Pacific's website and seeing what they offered to assist with my long term goals, I decided to apply. 

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What was your first Pacific visit like?

My first visit was two weeks before Decision Day (May 1st). I was lost in the decision process, but once I arrived on campus, I was welcomed by the admissions staff and immediately felt at home. This was the first time at any of the schools that I had toured where someone actually sat down with me and discussed how the school fits into the vision for my future. For the first time, I was not just another student looking at the school, I was Sydney--the girl looking for a new home.

Why Pacific?

I wanted small class sizes, hands on learning, a motivated student body, and a family oriented campus life…Pacific had it all! 

Are you happy with your college choice?

I am extremely happy that I chose Pacific! I could not imagine my life anywhere else. Pacific has provided me with so many opportunities to find my true self, find what I am passionate about, and learn about the world from a different perspective. 

What are you involved in at Pacific?

I am a campus tour guide, CASBE member (student panel that speaks at prospective events), Freshman Year Seminar Mentor, and an admissions office assistant. I am really passionate about helping students find their way here at Pacific!

What are you planning on doing with the rest of your time at Pacific?

In my future here at Pacific, I hope that I will continue to challenge myself, build my resume, and work with professors on research opportunities. Also, I hope to build more lasting relationships with both faculty and staff here at Pacific. 

What are your plans after Pacific?

Being a sociology major, I have lots of doors open to me and I am not quite ready to close any yet. I am interested in marketing for non-profits. I want to work with people and make the world a better place. 

Academic Highlight 005: Exercise Science

Academic Highlight 005
Exercise Science

"I want to help people with physical injuries or disabilities,” she said. “I want to help people live life to the fullest."
-Serena Wallace, Class of 2019 (pictured above)

How do our Exercise Science students change the world?
By helping others live life to the fullest.

Our Exercise Science students know exactly how to take the concepts that they learn in courses like Exercise Physiology and Perceptual Motor Learning, and take them to the communities around them, helping others to live healthier lives. The Mayo Clinic provides 7 reasons why regular exercise makes life better for all people, and our exceptional Exercise Science students are learning exactly how to take those benefits to the masses.

Every day, students like Serena Wallace are pushing and pulling on exercise academia, through ongoing research projects with our professors, and hands on learning experiences that sometimes even have our students telling our staff and faculty a thing or two about how they can live healthier lives.

So whether it's as a Physical Therapist, or as an Elementary School PE teacher, our students are ready to make the world a healthier and happier place for all people. Our outstanding Exercise Science department is ready for you to join in that too.

So, do you want to join us in helping others live life to the fullest? Contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit with Pacific; a University that's helping passionate Exercise Scientists to change the world by helping others live healthier lives.

Diverse Perspectives

Raise your hand if you think you need to know about people and places around the world, in order to know how best create change?

Yeah, our hand is up too.

Here at Pacific, we believe that changing the world should be integrated into your everyday life; the way you live, the way you do everything, should reflect the type of world that you want to have. This means that one of the four cornerstones for your time at Pacific is International and Diverse Perspectives.

                                             

We believe that, in order to effect true world change, we all need to continually increase our awareness of and competency with diverse cultures. If we know more about different people and cultures, then we can better know how to make the world a better place for all, even just in our day-to-day interactions.

Sounds great, right?

We think so too. Here’s how we do it:

·         Pro-social clubs and organizations, like Black Student Union, which are open to all students for participation.

·         On and off campus events that extend your cultural horizons, whether it be a panel on gender and sexuality diversity, or a serve day on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

·         Study abroad, and immerse yourself in another culture, learning the about the issues most pertinent to that part of the earth.

                            

And if that’s not enough, your cultural horizons will be expanded just by showing up to class. We offer classes that emphasize diverse thinking in everything from Anthropology to Art, and everything in between. If you want to learn how to think more inclusively, and you want to do it through a Music, we even offer that.

Diversity is something we value here at Pacific, and we’re excited that you do too. Come see what we’re all about: contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit.

Academic Highlight 004: Education

Academic Highlight 004 Education
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela
We couldn't have said it better ourselves; but we try to at least come close, every day.
Pacific University works hard to prepare its students to educate the next generation in ways that empower themselves as teachers, and their students as learners. How do we do this? By giving our students in the Education program a "deep understanding of the psychological, social, philosophical, and curricular foundations of education."
By doing this, we take on that privilege of using education as an agent for social change, and give our students the tools to do the same. The students in our Education program graduate ready to pass on the tools they have learned to youth of all ages, in all sorts of classroom settings.
How does that sound to you? Yeah; it sounds pretty amazing to us too.
Do you want to join us in creating a generation of teachers that empower their students to change the world? Contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit with Pacific; a University that's helping passionate teachers change the world by equipping youth with the same skills.

Academic Highlight 003: Business

Academic Highlight 003 Business
How does Pacific University empower its Business students to be world-changers? By developing skills in students that "foster students’ ability to make decisions with ethics and integrity."
Michael Porter, in his increasingly engaging Ted talk (if you have 15 minutes, we think you'd really enjoy watching it) discusses why businesses may actually be the future of solving issues in the world like sustainability or lack of access to water.
Pacific University Business students are ready to jump in with exactly what Michael Porter discusses.
Pacific University students are joining in that effort to use their skills for Business in making the world a better place. They're taking their ideas, and using their skills to find solutions to the issues the world is seeking answers for. How?
"The business program at Pacific University helps students develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication and quantitative reasoning. These skills foster students’ ability to make decisions with ethics and integrity."
Pacific University Business students graduate prepared to become effective, not only in their business practices, but also in using those business practices to help those around them.
Contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit with Pacific; a University that's empowering passionate Business students to make a difference in our world.

Liberal Arts for Personal and Global Growth

What happens when everyone grows?
Society grows.

What happens when you attend a Liberal Arts University?
You grow; and research backs that up.

So, what happens when a group of people engage in a Liberal Arts Education?
Society will grow and continue to progress forward.

Richard A. Detweiler found quantifiable evidence supporting a lifetime of positive results in students who attended a Liberal Arts University (aka, what we do best). These benefits span a breadth of characteristics that I think we can all agree would be worthwhile to develop in ourselves, and our world as a whole:

• Students who attended a Liberal Arts University were more likely to have altruistic characteristics, especially at Universities that discussed ethical issues (aka our commitment to Civic Engagement).
• Students who had more personal relationships with professors were more likely to feel more personally fulfilled in their lives. Further, students who talked with professors about nonacademic subjects were more likely to become leaders in their communities (aka our incredibly intelligent and personable professors).
• Students who took part in class discussions were more likely to be lifelong learners (aka our student to faculty ratio of 11:1 that actually allows students to get involved in class.

What does all this mean?
Essentially, Liberal Arts Universities, like Pacific, are more likely to create altruistic leaders who expand their understandings of the world throughout the entirety of their lives.

So what does this mean for Pacific University?
Well, I guess you could say that we're kind of experts in the field of developing altruistic leaders who like to learn.

With our (1) commitment to every student's Civic Engagement, (2) our passion for creating students that "think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world" long after they graduate, and (3) our Professors who are nationally ranked and engage with students in a genuine way, we know a thing or two about our graduates going into the world and pushing for progress.

Not only are we a Liberal Arts University, we are a Liberal Arts University that excels in preparing our students to be effective people in the world. According to research, we're doing exactly what we need to do, to give you, and our world, the full value of a Liberal Arts Education at a high level.

Want to hear more about how you can begin your process of becoming a Boxer? Contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit with Pacific; a University that creates leaders who care, learn more, and use that to create a better world for all.

Research article referenced: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/01/09/research-documents-life-impact-attending-liberal-arts-college
The value of a Pacific education: https://www.pacificu.edu/future-undergraduates/parents/pacific-value

Academic Highlight 002: Peace & Social Justice

Academic Highlight 002

Peace & Social Justice

How does Pacific University use our academics to change the world?
By having an entire set of classes dedicated to empowering students to create social justice and a more peaceful world.

Raise your hand if you've ever watched the news and wanted to do something about it all.
Yeah, our hand is up too.

So, we created an entire field of study dedicated just to "doing something about it all."
How?
The Peace & Social Justice minor at Pacific University engages students in investigating issues of social justice, inequality and violence among individuals, groups, and the nations of the world.

With an interdisciplinary approach to creating peace and social justice in our world, students will be prepared with the diverse perspectives necessary to solve the diverse problems our world faces today. It's rare that a social issue has a clear cut solution; things tend to be nuanced. So we made our education in peace and social justice nuanced to match that.

We're creating well-prepared, informed and active citizens who have a broad understanding in varying social issues. Contact Admissions to learn how you can apply for free or schedule a visit with Pacific; a University that's empowering passionate students to make a difference in our world.