火爆社区

From the first day a student sets foot on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus, they receive highly personalized attention and support. Each student is immediately assigned a professional mentor, and students say one of the school鈥檚 greatest strengths are these 鈥渟taff and faculty who aim to help the students academically, personally, or professionally.鈥� Affirms one student, 鈥渢hey want to ensure we all have a good and safe experience at IUP.鈥� Class sizes 鈥渁re small, so there is more one-on-one time with professors,鈥� and 鈥淸there are] a lot of resources that you can use if you need help, whether it鈥檚 with academics or [wellness].鈥� Among students鈥� most appreciated aspects of the school are the 鈥渧ariety of academic choices, the writing center, 鈥渁nd the 鈥渟tate-of-the-art labs with amazing resources.鈥� Also, 鈥渢hrough the multicultural center there are a lot of programs that focus on leadership and all of the soft skills.鈥� Professors 鈥渃are a lot about the success of their students and go out of their way to help them to truly understand what is being taught.鈥� The amount of work a student puts in shapes the relationship with the teachers, and 鈥測ou have to try in your classes and be present, [but] they will notice you if you do.鈥� Classes can be lecture-style or 鈥渧ery discussionbased, [which] it makes it interesting to know everyone鈥檚 opinion on a topic,鈥� and some incorporate field trips or outdoor classrooms. 鈥淔or my language development class, we had a project where we had to find a child and do a book reading activity with them in order to practice using book reading as a method of treatment for those with language impairments,鈥� says a student.

The community found at IUP 鈥渋s widely diverse, yet inclusive, [which] creates a wonderful environment to want to be a part of.鈥� Students here are 鈥渟upportive, collaborative, and unique鈥� and 鈥減rovide a welcoming environment for [incoming] students鈥� of all kinds, including the 鈥渧ery welcoming鈥� LGBTQIA student body and international population. This is 鈥渁 group of people that likes to try new things from cooking, workout, intense board games, or watching a sports game on campus,鈥� and 鈥渆veryone has their own style and views,鈥� and 鈥渟eems to be respectful of each other.鈥� People here are 鈥渧ery well-rounded along with committed to working together as a whole鈥� and 鈥渁re attentive in class, make smart [decisions], and are passionate about their futures.鈥� This bond transcends academic interests; as a student says, 鈥淚t is so easy to make friends here, even in classes that don鈥檛 pertain to your major.鈥�

Students say that even though 鈥渕ost people are in a routine of going to classes, studying, and either balancing work, an extracurricular, or a varsity sport,鈥� the 鈥渨orkload [is] challenging but doable.鈥� Part of this credit goes to the school itself, which is 鈥済ood at making sure everyone feels included with the various clubs and activities,鈥� features many 鈥渙rganizations to join that are both fun and helpful for jobs outside of school,鈥� and is 鈥渁mazing at communicating these opportunities.鈥� Off-campus, the town of Indiana 鈥渋s small so there is not much to do besides explore Main Street and outdoor hiking/ activities,鈥� but students agree 鈥渋t鈥檚 great to walk around during the fall and spring.鈥� All in all, the 鈥渙pportunity that IUP provides students in terms of activities, networking, and future career guidance鈥� is at a high level, especially for 鈥済reat on-campus job[s]鈥� and there are 鈥渁 lot of resources around campus to help you with anything you could think of.鈥�