Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, promises to be “just a little younger, cooler and better looking than most of the other Jesuit colleges.” Le Moyne utilizes the philosophy of Jesuit founder St. Ignatius, who said “go forth and set the world on fire”; a notion that seems to have played out amongst notable alumni – from astronauts to politicians, professional baseball and basketball players, actors to federal court judges.
Like the other 27 Jesuit colleges and universities around the United States, Le Moyne strives to put Jesuit values into action every day. That means educating the whole person – their mind, heart and soul – in ways that move well beyond the textbook and classroom environment. It’s an education that promotes a just society and creates great people – not just great students.
As a result, Le Moyne attracts people from diverse backgrounds and religions who want to make a difference. There are a number of advantages to choosing a small, Jesuit college – and here we’ve named a few:
1. Opportunity to become involved in a wide range of activities
The smaller campus at Le Moyne means students have a much greater chance of getting involved in fun activities. While there are more than 30 majors and 20 minors, life at Le Moyne is also about life beyond the classroom. There are 80 clubs to choose from including visual and performing arts, entertainment and literature, service and social action, and more. Here you can do everything from playing in the college chamber orchestra to discussing medieval literature, or even launching an entrepreneurial idea.
Le Moyne students are also encouraged to engage in various service and social action clubs such as Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross. Leadership activities abound in these roles with plenty of opportunity for personal development.
Students are also given plenty of opportunities to engage in research projects. They are encouraged to work alongside faculty with the possibility of getting published. Le Moyne has also secured partnerships with top institutions, such as Yale, in the scientific research of neutrinos.
2. Faculty and staff take great care and know every student by name
At Le Moyne, the undergraduate student/teacher ratio is just 13:1, a fact that is particularly beneficial to international students who play an integral role to campus life, bringing a rich diversity of insightful thoughts and ideas.
Keri from the class of 2013 said that you can’t underestimate the value of the care and wealth of resources that you are able to utilize as a student on a small campus. Simran of the 2016 class said “you’re not a number [at Le Moyne], [the] faculty know you not just by your name, they help you not just in classrooms but outside of classrooms.”
The Student Outreach and Engagement Program works with each new student that comes in to help them with paperwork, immigration and taxes.
3. Value of a Jesuit education
The Jesuit heritage at Le Moyne is taken very seriously and woven into the fabric of life in everything from academia to athletics. Within the centuries old tradition at Le Moyne is a focus on academic excellence and service to others. Part of the vision is to “prepare its members for leadership and service in their personal and professional lives to promote a more just society.”
The core of the Jesuit Society is social justice, so Le Moyne students are given plenty of opportunity to improve the world they live in until it’s one they would love to inherit. Students are given the chance to participate in invaluable community projects – like soup kitchens to feed the homeless – and global partnerships provided through connections within the Madden School of Business. The school taps into the network of nearly 200 Jesuit colleges and universities around the world, as well as a growing online repository of real-world business cases.
There are also long and short term study abroad programs in places as diverse and exciting as Florence (Italy), Colchester (England), Madrid (Spain) and Hirakata-Shi (Japan).
4. Outcomes
Le Moyne has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as amongst the top 15 percent of colleges and universities in the northeast for almost 25 years. The 2017 U.S. News & World Report recently ranked #16 Best University in the northeast, and #4 Best Value college. The Princeton Review particularly noted the strong nursing and business programs at Le Moyne. The nursing programs provide real world experience to students at leading healthcare facilities and an opportunity to participate in service activities, such as traveling to Ghana or Belize.
Le Moyne offers not just undergraduate programs, but also study at the graduate and professional levels, continuing education, and programs for high school students and veterans. Some of the professional programs include occupational therapy, physician assistant, nursing, business administration, and information systems.
5. Proximity to major American cities
Syracuse is a superb location for an American college, located in the economic and education hub that is Central New York. The area attracts conventions, fairs, education, and service industries, and is home to the Great New York State Fair.
Only minutes from campus are retail and outlet stores, art galleries and museums, theatres, restaurants and entertainment venues, spectator sports, golf courses, downhill ski resorts, hiking trails, and other recreational activities. Syracuse is also conveniently located with easy access to big cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto.
In 2014 Travel and Leisure magazine voted Syracuse America’s best college town. They wrote, “Syracuse, NY, takes home top honors, thanks largely to an abundance of choices for such collegiate necessities as… good, cheap food, and strong coffee.”
It’s also been rated by Forbes magazine in the Top 10 places in the U.S. to raise a family thanks to low crime ratings, a low cost of living, ease of commuting and household income rank.
Le Moyne was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946 and named after Simon Le Moyne, S.J., a priest, missionary and teacher with a considerable influence on Central New York. You can follow Le Moyne College on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
All images courtesy of Le Moyne College
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