"It takes a whole community to educate one person."
The African proverb has unique relevance for the kind of experiences you will
have as a student at Guilford College. Here, learning is a cooperative effort
shared by all members of the college community. Founded in 1837 by the Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers,) Guilford College is an independent college offering
a distinctive four year liberal arts and sciences education in the Quaker
tradition. It is the third oldest coeducational college in the nation and
the oldest in the South. Guilford's Quaker heritage stresses simplicity, integrity,
compassion, tolerance, equality, hard work, enjoyment, spiritual receptivity,
and concern for social justice and world peace. Growing out of this heritage,
the college emphasizes educational values embodied in a strong and lasting
tradition of coeducation, in a curriculum with intercultural and international
dimensions, in close individual relationships between students and faculty
in the pursuit of knowledge, and in governance by consensus and a commitment
to lifelong learning.
While embracing many traditional educational goals and methods, the College also promotes innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Guilford particularly explores interdisciplinary and intercultural perspectives and sseks to develop a capacity to reason effectively, to look beneath the surface of issues, to understand the presuppositions and implications of ideas, and to draw conclusions incisively, critically and with fairness to other points of view. The College encourages the development of "community of seekers" comprised of individuals dedicated to shared and corporate search as an important part of their lives. As a community Guilford addresses questions of moral responsibility, explores issues which are deeply felt but difficult to articulate, supports modes of personal fulfillment, and cultivates respect for all individuals.
Guilford students tend to be politically aware and concerned about campus and community issues. Guilford students are involved in campus decisions in ways that contribute to their personal growth. Student opinion is respected and valued at Guilford, and students have a voice in major college decisions such as setting tuition, deciding budgets, and assisting faculty and administrators with strategic planning.
Some Guilford students choose to live in theme housing with other students who share a common interest or concern. Housemates discuss mutual interests and collaborate on activities and projects that increase awareness of issues in the community. In recent years, theme houses at Guilford have focused on gender awareness and equality, Habitat for Humanity, men against sexual assault, Greensboro Beautiful (Ecology), Guilford Geology Workshops for Children, substance abuse awareness, recycling and environmental concerns.
It is estimated that Guilford students perform more than 40,000 hours in community service each year. Through the program Project Community, students work with several organizations including Delancey Street, a nationally recognized drug and alcohol rehabilitation program; Turning Point, the rape crisis and child abuse agency of Greensboro; and a facility that educates the physically challenged. Students collaborated with faculty and three community service agencies to develop an interdisciplinary course on homelessness.
It has become a tradition for Guilford students to spend their semester breaks traveling to communities across the United States, helping people stricken by natural disasters or those who face the challenge of poverty. For many years, students have helped residents of Johns Island, South Carolina, with construction and renovation work on housing. Other semester break work trips have brought Guilford students to the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina and to southern Florida to assist residents recover from the damage from Hurricane Andrew.
One of the most important advantages of a Guilford education is that students have the opportunity to work directly with faculty. Faculty who are involved with research projects will often include their students in the project. For example, a criminal justice professor helped start a successful dispute settlement center which mediates everything from neighborhood disagreements to criminal charges. Student interns are active participants in the operation of the center.
