Many benefits come with a small college campus, such as Geneva College’s campus. One benefit of a small campus is the convenience. If you forget something on a large campus, you have to run all the way across campus, but with a small campus, it is much easier to go from place to place. There is less likelihood of arriving late to classes if the campus is small.
Another benefit is the small classrooms. On Geneva’s campus, we have a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This allows professors to really pour into their students, allowing a relationship of trust and care. It also allows for a greater discussion in the classroom. Professors have a greater idea of who in their class is struggling and can then be better able to help them, whether that is academically, emotionally, or spiritually. Classrooms of several hundred students feel incredibly impersonal and students in those rooms often feel like a number. Here at Geneva College students are people and are treated like people. They have ambitions, intelligence, and struggles, just like any other human being, and our professors treat them accordingly.
Small campuses also allow greater opportunities for campus involvement. There are plenty of clubs on campus, and since we are a small campus, it’s easy to help them out, become an officer for one, or attend their events. There are also plenty of events on campus such as Film Fest, Cokes and Connections, or Covey Cup. Knowledge of the events spreads easily because most people know they are happening. Smaller events also make it easier to talk to other people who happen to be at the event. It is easier to open up a casual conversation at an event since many times you will run into people who are in the same humanities class, or you know in passing.
Another benefit of small campuses is the connections made on campus. Generally, students have their core group of friends, but then they know most people on campus, at least by name or face. You can pass a dozen people you know on campus while walking from lunch to class. This creates a great sense of community, something that is very strong here on Geneva’s campus. Even in the dorms it can be easier to connect with your RA or with other students who live on the floor. We are called to be part of a community, and even if we don’t fully agree with the other people, we still are able to be a community. A small campus can be a great catalyst for building a long-lasting, meaningful college experience.
Anna Eshelman ‘24
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jan 22, 2024
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