Academics
Taylor University, a nondenominational Christian school, is "a small, rural campus that strongly emphasizes community," much to the students' satisfaction. Undergrads here agree that professors, administrators, and their fellow classmates bond to create a nurturing atmosphere in which to study the world from a religious perspective. The faculty, students tell us, "are incredible people. They make themselves available and accessible to their students. They are deeply concerned with their students' well-being as well as their understanding for their class. If a professor senses that you are having difficulty in class, they are more than willing to set aside time to help you." Similarly, the administration "is great. It is always possible to get in touch with any of the administrators if you need to talk to them. They are very understanding and care for their students." Most of all, students appreciate how "most courses emphasize the text and Christian faith. The integration of faith and learning creates for an exciting aspect of class. Taylor challenges students academically and spiritually." According to some, Taylor's nondenominational status "is our biggest strength and our biggest weakness. It is our strength in that we get people from every church denomination worshiping together in unity. It is our weakness in that no one single denomination supports us financially."
Student Body
Students at Taylor are proud of the fact that their "very ambitious and usually well-rounded" classmates "are very friendly. Everyone says ‘Hi' to each other on the sidewalks and you get to recognizing people after a while." The friendliness, most agree, is a function of the school's size; writes one, "The student body is relatively small so you can't hide from others. It forces you to talk with others even if you aren't in the mood." Some feel that "there tends to be too many of the same type of student at Taylor—perfectionist, preppy, well-off financially." Notes one student, "Our school could definitely stand more diversity. We have very few international students and very few minority groups represented." Students happily tolerate a lack of diversity in one area; reports one, "We share a common bond in Christ, which opens us up to one another."
Campus Life
By nearly all accounts, Taylor students enjoy the wholesome social life one would expect of undergraduates at a devout faith-based institution. Writes a typical student, "The wild parties that a lot of college students talk about don't happen here. And contrary to belief, we like the standard that we live by. We like the fact that we can go out, have a ton of fun, and actually be able to remember what we did the next day." Students note that "we are in the middle of a cornfield, so getting off campus means going 20 to 30 minutes away. Events on campus include "all-night movie marathons, prayer & praises, coffee houses, and a Monopoly tournament." "Chapel services are excellent and well-attended even though attendance is based on an honor system. The Life Together Covenant (LTC) plays a key role in the life of the students. The LTC lays out the Christian community guidelines, which are expected to be followed. It is a type of honor code." Students tell us that "dorm life is the heartbeat of the campus. Because of our isolated location, community life thrives. Hanging out in each others rooms and playing video games are common week night activities."
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