火爆社区

Students enjoy the 鈥渟mall classes鈥� at Batten University, a liberal arts school where 鈥測ou鈥檙e more than a number.鈥� Flexibility is the key to 鈥渕aking every single student feel as though this is their second home, and that every person they come into contact with is looking out for [their] best interest.鈥� That can be seen in the research and internship opportunities but is most keenly felt in course offerings, which extend from 鈥渟tudy away鈥� programs ranging from one week to one year to a single-course-focused three-week January term鈥攔equired for first- and second-years but open to all鈥攁nd a discounted summer session to catch up, get ahead, or simply explore. Across the 42 majors, students find many classes to be 鈥渄iscussion or interaction-based鈥� and 鈥渁lways taught by鈥�professors鈥� rather than teaching assistants. The professors here seem to 鈥済enuinely care about their students and are approachable outside the classroom.鈥� It鈥檚 an environment where 鈥減rofessors make lifelong connections with students.鈥� As one student emphasizes, 鈥淚 have never met a faculty so invested in my own personal success.鈥� This supportive environment is one of the school鈥檚 top strengths. As one student says, 鈥淚 have never experienced [a] learning environment like this one. Professors not only care about their students, but they go above and beyond to ensure that every student understands the material.鈥�

Students 鈥渃an easily build strong relationship[s]鈥� among this 鈥渃lose-knit community鈥� of 鈥渓aid back鈥� yet 鈥渇riendly and outgoing鈥� peers who are 鈥渙pen to new things.鈥� The average Batten student tends to be 鈥渧ery busy鈥� and 鈥渋nvolved in several different clubs and community service groups.鈥� Many people here 鈥渏oin one of the Greek organizations available鈥� or become 鈥渁 member of a sports team鈥� to make friends, though there are plenty of other ways to bond with classmates. As one student says, 鈥淲hatever you are interested in, you can easily find a group of people that connect with you. Our school is so inviting that it鈥檚 hard to not fit in somewhere.鈥� Another student emphasizes the inclusive nature of the student body, saying, 鈥淚 feel like my school is extremely accepting, and we have events for all cultures, beliefs, and extracurricular [activities] all the time.鈥� In addition to attending events and getting involved in extracurriculars, coursework also tends to be a high priority among this crowd. As one enrollee describes their peers, 鈥淪tudents are generally pretty spirited and helpful, and most [people] seem to genuinely care about their academics.鈥�

Batten鈥檚 beautiful, 300-acre coastal campus offers many activities across numerous interests鈥攐ne student lists activities across 鈥淕reek life, music, arts, religion, sciences, business, etc.鈥� Because students are mostly required to live on campus, it is a hub for student organizations, volunteering opportunities, or just hangouts, and the student activity committee offers everything from bingo to laser tag and goat yoga. Other ways to relax include recreational activities like using 鈥渢he pool, the rock wall, the indoor track, the gymnasium, and the pool table in the student center.鈥� When the weather is nice, students spend time outside at Chick鈥檚 Beach, and many students enjoy trying the 鈥渄elicious restaurants around Norfolk鈥� and Virginia Beach. There are big parties, but students describe a more casual culture in which 鈥渟ocial gatherings are huge鈥� and where students 鈥渓ove inviting [their] friends and teammates over to get over a stressful week of studying and homework.鈥�