Achieve your career goals with the Premier Life Skills experiences you’ll only find at HPU.
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”
– Vernon Law
A Message From the President
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Experience is the best teacher
Top-Tier Innovators and Mentors
Students gain wisdom from the insights of and experiences with accomplished mentors
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Experiential Learning: A Foundational Pillar
Allowing students to achieve success and learn from mistakes
An Intentional Campus
Imagine living in an environment that commands your best
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Service Learning Creates
Servant Leaders
Providing real-world context to classroom concepts
Dear HPU Friend:
As The Premier Life Skills University, we believe in this simple idea: Experience is the best teacher.
To understand what I mean, simply consider these examples – all of which regularly take place on our campus.
It’s one thing to take a political science class on local government. It’s quite another thing to hand a hot meal and a patriotic T-shirt to a first responder to thank them for their service during a global pandemic.
It’s one thing to learn about educational disparities among inner-city youth in a social justice class. It’s quite another thing to work one-on-one with children in the community on a regular, impactful basis.
It’s one thing to take a class on building a business plan. It’s quite another thing to present your business plan to Netflix Co-Founder and serial entrepreneur Marc Randolph, then listen
High Point University has dared to provide transformational education, where opportunities abound far beyond the classroom and lessons in higher learning become tutorials in higher
Experience Is the Best Teacher
HPU’s learning model is distinctive.
A college education should focus on more than the attainment of a diploma. It should focus on professional development and personal transformation, too. We want to ensure HPU students are ready for life’s best opportunities. That is why we surround students with experiential learning.
The truth is, our families are eager to invest in an education that nurtures their student into a fruitful, principled individual who seeks to contribute positively wherever they are.
I witness it every day when I walk across campus to see HPU’s sculptures of historic figures as classical music plays across our Kester International Promenade or as I visit students in the Butterfly Café inside the Caine Conservatory, part of HPU’s $500 million investment in STEM programs.
HPU’s campus itself serves as a daily reminder to students that transformation is a way of life, not a singular event. Focused on rendering value and creating meaningful opportunities, HPU is preparing students for the world as it is going to be.
Major League Baseball player Vernon Law was right when he famously said:
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”
Heroes, Models and Mentors
We are blessed to have a unique campus community that not only educates our students inside the classroom but outside of it as well.
HPU students learn from world-class faculty who collectively bring stellar academics to the classroom. Our faculty do not merely “teach.” They are enablers of learning who serve as heroes, models and mentors for the next generation of leaders.
At HPU, freshmen can engage in undergraduate research, something most universities reserve for upperclassmen. Students also benefit from an extraordinary group of in-residence faculty who share valuable lessons with students. When students meet with these accomplished leaders, they begin to understand that they, too, can achieve success.
Our students volunteer nearly 500,000 hours every year with at least 40 local agencies, and they participate in dozens of service-learning courses that take them everywhere in the region.
Our faculty and staff tutor, volunteer, feed the hungry, help the poor, sit on local boards, live in nearby neighborhoods and contribute to the United Way of Greater High Point — a total of more than $3 million over the past 15 years. Yes, our entire HPU community serves as heroes, models and mentors for our students.
Internships, global education, undergraduate research and meaningful mentorship from faculty make students better equipped to connect with others of different backgrounds. Ultimately, real-world experience and practical advice help HPU students understand it’s not about what the world can give you. It’s what YOU can contribute to the world.
Students learn through these experiences what it truly means to be encouraged, coached and to grow holistically. As The Premier Life Skills University, our 99% success rate for graduates employed or continuing their education within 180 days of graduating is due, in part, to our focus on instilling a growth mindset and ensuring students are prepared to thrive amidst constant change.
I invite you to come see HPU’s unique experiential learning model for yourself.
Sincerely,
Nido R. Qubein President nqubein@highpoint.edu
Ultimately, real-world experience and practical advice help HPU students understand it’s not about what the world can give you. It’s what YOU can contribute to the world.”
Learn more about President Qubein’s distinguished leadership background.
Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience. You need experience to gain wisdom.
– Albert Einstein
Theoretical Physicist
one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade
E periential Learning:
A Foundational Pillar at HPU
Students Find the ‘Real’ in Life
Talk to any student or professor at High Point University, and you’ll notice that the word “real” comes up often.
For the past decade, HPU faculty have made sure at least a quarter of everything taught has an experiential component.
Why? Because professors want their students to stretch themselves, work in the community and find out firsthand what “real” means.
Students then discover for themselves that experience brings real-world context to classroom content. And with the university’s opportunities for internships, study abroad and research, they graduate prepared and ready to go.
Statistics back that up. 180 days after graduation, 99% of HPU graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school. That’s 14 points higher than the national average.
It happens, in part, because approximately 25% of class time at HPU is devoted to experiential learning.
Throughout these pages, you’ll discover how HPU weaves experiential learning into classroom curriculum and throughout our nationally ranked campus.
Going Global
Learn more about global programming at HPU!
Whether they want to spend a few weeks or months abroad, the Office of Global Education offers numerous programs, so students can pick the best option for them based on their academic, personal and professional goals. Through the 55 study abroad programs offered at HPU, students have opportunities to see the world while gaining the Life Skills experiences that will make an impact in their future careers. HPU’s Study Abroad programs deliver international academic experiences that enlighten, challenge and prepare students to lead lives of significance in complex, global communities. While any student can learn about another country, studying abroad provides deepened insight and meaning into a country’s culture, ways of thinking and lifestyle.
Todd, ’22, right, works alongside Dr. Pamela Lundin, assistant professor of chemistry, left, inside a chemistry lab in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. Todd, a biochemistry major, is now attending medical school and was accepted into six medical schools before graduating.
Grace
Research Rookie Spotlight: Dr. Brad Barlow and HPU undergraduate students, pictured below, work with data received from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.
Cultivating Scholarly
Researchers HPU’s Research Rookies Program works to incorporate new students into the university’s culture of research and creative works early in their undergraduate careers. The program builds a community of undergraduate scholars and research-related skills to prepare students for faculty-collaborative learning in one’s field. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works also offers several summer research programs. Getting involved in research and creative works helps students build unique credentials to distinguish themselves from the 2 million other students they’ll graduate among!
30 PROGRAM |
Not All About Acting Theater
students in the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design dive into all aspects of production — not just acting. With much of class dedicated to hands-on learning, professors cultivate an appreciation and understanding of artistic expression, visual literacy and design. Whether students choose to focus on performance, design and tech, or collaborative theater, they’re all required to work in the scene shop, lighting shop and costume shop. Together, they have the knowledge and experience it takes to produce art with an impact.
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HPU Department of Theater and Dance
Compressing ime
By accelerating access to opportunities, HPU students go on to do more, achieve more and be more.
HPU’s educational model has a mission to help students create capacity in their lives. When they arrive, their learning experience is immersive and ever-changing. Their education is really a four-year career where they’re treated as professionals, leaders, scholars and executives.
Equipped with state-of-the-art resources and technology, the educational environment at HPU mimics the real world and compresses time for students.
Consider where this combination of mentorship and cutting-edge tech takes students.
It’s no surprise that when HPU students graduate, they’re ahead of their peers and prepared to achieve more in all aspects of their lives.
Here is a glimpse into the ways HPU compresses time for students:
Hands-On at High Point Market
Interior design and visual merchandising design majors gain professional experience each semester at the High Point Market — one of the largest home furnishings industry trade shows in the world. At the semiannual event, students network and learn from industry leaders around the globe. Not only is this hands-on experience impressive on a resume, but it has opened the door to impressive career opportunities for graduates!
HPU TV Studio
In the new HPU TV Studio, equipped with cuttingedge technology in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, students learn by doing. They produce high-quality news shows while gaining behind-thescenes and on-camera experience in a professional-grade news setting. And with caring professors and coursework focused on their future, students graduate with the portfolio, industry knowledge and interview skills to land their dream job in journalism.
Training on the Field HPU
athletic training graduate students learn to treat athletes who go into cardiac arrest on the field through a hands-on simulation. In the learning exercise held in partnership with HPU’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Guilford County EMS, HPU students use a high-fidelity mannequin to simulate an actual cardiac arrest patient.
Entrepreneurship Center
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving at HPU. In the Entrepreneurship Center, students craft sound business plans, pitch to investors for startup funding, brainstorm with business owners and connect with their peers. Through Annual Business Plan and Elevator Pitch Competitions, along with many other experiential learning opportunities, HPU students and graduates have the skills to lead successful business ventures.
National Conferences and Conventions
HPU students are constantly presented with opportunities to attend and present at national conferences and conventions around the world. Campus clubs and organizations often compete in regional and national competitions, gaining exposure to real-world experience in their prospective fields of interest. Whether it's the Robotics Club competing in the IEEE regional competition, English majors presenting at the Sigma Tau Delta Convention, or game design majors showcasing their game concepts at a national conference, there is something for everyone.
Conference-Room Confidence
Executive boardrooms and conference rooms can be found all around campus, allowing students to present themselves in a corporate setting. In these rooms, students will present, conduct practice interviews and even network with guest industry professionals over lunch. So, when HPU students walk into their job interviews, they’ll feel at home in that environment.
rofessional Development
Paving the Path for Career Success
The Office of Career and Professional Development helps students build a resume and LinkedIn profile, prepare for job interviews, network and find internships. HPU’s Internship Guarantee Program covers five categories: career exploration, professional development and branding, networking, research, and interviewing. The Office of Career and Professional Development encourages students to visit their team early and often to make the most of their professional development journey at HPU! Through career advising, employer engagement events and endless professional development opportunities — students have the chance to grow, so they’ll be ready for the working world of the future.
Career Exploration in the City
HPU students benefit from career connections and professional development opportunities across the country. During fall and spring breaks, HPU's Destination Success Program takes students to New York City and Washington, D.C., for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work for major organizations such as Bloomberg, Google and the United Nations. Whether you’re interested in government, communication, sports media, business, fashion or more — HPU's Destination Success Program offers experiences for students to network with professionals and learn more about their industry of interest.
Research Rookies Program
Students can join the Research Rookies Program as early as their freshman year! Working to incorporate students into the university’s culture of research and creative work, this program is designed to create a community of undergraduate scholars and help build research-related skills to prepare students for faculty collaborative projects that make an original contribution to one’s field. Students also build personal relationships with professors who are committed to helping them grow.
Marketing and Business Insights
Students use real biosensors in the Beacon Lab to conduct marketing and business research. The biosensors measure brain activity, heart rate and more while the subject is looking at a piece of content. The information collected tells students how engaged someone is with the content and the emotions they are feeling. Access to this information and technology is one of the many factors that inspire innovation and understanding in students.
1924 PRIME, Alo and Kazoku:
Three of the Nation’s Most Unique Learning Labs
While some universities provide an etiquette class during a student’s senior year, HPU provides students with four years of career preparation inside three different fine-dining restaurants. HPU uses 1924 PRIME, Alo and Kazoku: as professional, real-world settings to teach the art of persuasion, effective communication and how to navigate common exchanges, such as an interview over a meal, which help HPU students stand out.
1924 PRIME, HPU’s flagship restaurant, Alo, HPU’s boutique hotel restaurant, and Kazoku, HPU's hibachi experience, provide the perfect atmosphere for students to engage in a unique type of learning laboratory. At 1924 PRIME, students practice their interview skills in a setting where they can develop confidence while at the same time gaining familiarity with international cuisine and culture. In Alo, students practice interviewing, focus on continental dining style and learn to be comfortable with European dining etiquette and protocol. At Kazoku, students are exposed to business etiquette, leadership and Life Skills sessions.The caring, knowledgeable staff inside 1924 PRIME, Alo and Kazoku guide students through proper table etiquette.
While a weekly visit to 1924 PRIME, Alo or Kazoku is included in student dining plans, reservations are required — and no cell phones are allowed. During their experience, students learn the importance of fully engaging with others.
“I’ve never had any anxiety when having a seat at the table because HPU did such a stellar job integrating business and dining etiquette into our college experience. Visiting 1924 PRIME was something my friends and I looked forward to each week. Without knowing it, we were walking out with more than just full stomachs. We were walking out with knowledge of how to be comfortable and prepared in these business settings.”
—Taylor Helson, ’21, Assistant Merchandiser and Marketing Coordinator at Violino USA
“HPU helped prepare me for the third-round interview of my job at Marsh McLennan Agency through 1924 PRIME, one of HPU’s fine-dining learning labs on campus. 1924 PRIME taught me everything I needed to know about etiquette to ace the interview and land the job.”
—Annie Zupon, ’22, Senior Associate Advisor at Marsh McLennan Agency
“The interview process for my internship included a lunch component and multiple business lunches over the summer. Having the opportunity to eat in a fine-dining learning lab like 1924 PRIME allowed me to feel confident. I never had to second guess myself on what I should be doing while eating.”
—Tyler Maher, ’20, Senior Accountant at Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.
“The countless opportunities at 1924 PRIME and Alo, HPU’s finedining learning labs, made me feel comfortable and relaxed in an otherwise high-pressure setting. I was able to differentiate myself from the other candidates by having the business acumen to understand the proper way to conduct myself over a meal.”
—Kate McCarthy, ’23, Client Services Development Program at Visa
“After securing my internship position, I was invited to meet with the executive team for dinner at an upscale restaurant. I felt very comfortable having dined at 1924 PRIME, where I learned the Life Skills required to give the best impression. High Point University prepared me to be confident in any setting.”
—Elijah Choice, ’22, Banker Associate at OneUnited Bank
‘Cuisine & Culture’ Series
Each month, 1924 PRIME, Alo and Kazoku are pleased to showcase the cuisine and culture of important international or regional destinations all around the world as part of the “Cuisine & Culture” series.
Success in Any Scenario
Imagine you just graduated and are interviewing for career opportunities. A prospective employer offers you an interview over lunch or dinner. What do you do if your university didn’t prepare you?
When HPU graduates enter the workforce, they not only know how to ace the interview, but they’re also comfortable and confident in various business settings. This prepares them for a lifetime of success. Just picture it: after you accept the job offer, your boss asks you to take an international client to dinner. Or you’re meeting colleagues after work to offer a major proposal.
Whatever the scenario, HPU students graduate ready.
A New York Times article titled “How to Hire the Right Person” highlights the fact that taking a candidate to lunch or dinner is one of the most revealing and important parts of the hiring process, according to employers.
‘Your Professional Brand’ Series
1924 PRIME, Alo and Kazoku host the Life Skills development program alongside the Office of Career and Professional Development, faculty and industry professionals. The series propels students forward on their professional journey. Sessions include:
• Crush the Dinner Interview: Tips and techniques to navigate the new interview location of choice for employers – the restaurant.
• Dress for Success: This series instructs students on what (and what not) to wear for a positive first impression and beyond.
• Leadership and Life Skills: Students discuss and discover the importance of motivation, personal initiative, coachability and other skills employers say they need most in new hires.
• The Pathway to Professionalism: Students are presented with effective strategies to grow their career to C-suite level.
That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.
Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the United States
one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade
ccess to Innovators
Companies invest millions of dollars each year to provide opportunities for employees to attend conferences and engage in professional development. But HPU has built this into the four-year academic journey, compressing time for graduates and helping them stand out from the competition in job and graduate school interviews.
High Point University’s All-Star In-Residence Lineup
INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE
Steve Wozniak Apple Computer Co-Founder
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Russell Weiner Domino’s CEO
ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE
Marc Randolph Netflix Co-Founder
JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE
Byron Pitts Co-Anchor of ABC’s “Nightline”
EXECUTIVE COACH IN RESIDENCE
Dr. John C. Maxwell
Bestselling Author and Internationally Renowned Leadership Expert
DATA EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Teena Piccione
Global Transformation & Operations Executive at Google
TALENT ACQUISITION EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Dee Ann Turner
Former Vice President for Talent at Chick-fil-A
TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Sean Suggs President of Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina
SALES PROFESSIONAL IN RESIDENCE
Larry Quinn Director of HPU’s Professional Selling Program and Former National Sales Training Manager at Xerox
ACTOR IN RESIDENCE
Dean Cain
Famed Actor, Producer, Television Presenter and Former Football Player
DESIGNER IN RESIDENCE
Gary Inman President of Gary Inman Interior Design
CLERGY IN RESIDENCE
Rev. Dr. J. Alexander
“Al” Ward
Former Senior Pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
HPU is continually finding innovative ways to equip students with the Life Skills and experiential learning they need to excel in a competitive workforce. That’s why you’ll find global industry leaders regularly engaging with and mentoring students on HPU’s campus as part of our Access to Innovators Program
This is only a glimpse of the industry titans HPU attracts to campus. Learn more about HPU’s evergrowing lineup of innovators.
SPORTS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Charlie Freeman
President of Business Operations with Orlando Magic
IN RESIDENCE
DENTAL INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE
Dr. Rick Workman
Founder of Heartland Dental
SPORTS REPORTER IN RESIDENCE
Bob Ryan
Famed Sportswriter for The Boston Globe; known as “The Quintessential American Sportswriter”
LEADERSHIP EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Mark Sanborn
Bestselling Author, Speaker and President of Leadership Development Idea Lab Sanborn & Associates
HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Dr. Ellen Zane
CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Marilyn Sherman Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Chris Ullman
Founder of Ullman Communications LLC, a Strategic Advisory Firm
SPORTS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE
Cynt Marshall
CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Former Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Dr. Willie Jolley
Hall of Fame Speaker and Bestselling Author
BROADCASTER IN RESIDENCE
Joe Michaels
22-year Former Director of NBC’s “TODAY” Show
HEALTH CARE EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Sue Downes
CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr.
ARTIST
Ben Owen III American Studio Potter
Men orship Matters
HPU students are regularly mentored by these global leaders. Their time with students on campus results in life-changing moments and long-lasting relationships.
Hear from just a few students who have been impacted:
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and HPU’s Innovator in Residence, works with students across all majors to generate ideas and be inventive in their problem-solving.
Having Mr. Wozniak on campus shows us what we can become, and no other university provides students the opportunity to engage with leaders at this level. We were able to ask questions and hear more about the steps he took to get to where he is. It’s inspiring.”
– Aidan Kelley, ’23, Software Engineer –Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton
Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence, regularly meets with students to hear and offer feedback on their business plans.
Getting feedback from Byron has given me the opportunity to expand on the knowledge I already had and grow as a journalist and broadcaster. My parents and I have seen his stories on TV, and now I have a connection with him. At HPU, I can see how he works as a journalist, and how he works to find his stories and tell them to a national audience.”
– Class of 2022 journalism major
It is an honor to have the privilege of not only hearing Marc Randolph speak at our school but to also pitch my business ventures to him and get feedback on my ideas. The in-residence innovators, like Marc Randolph, are one of many extraordinary aspects of High Point University and one of the key reasons I chose this school.”
– Class of 2021 business administration major Mack Bonvallet, who presented his business, Ohana Lock, to Randolph
Cynt Marshall invited me and a few other students to her Dallas office for a day. It was a whirlwind! She let us sit in on all of her meetings. It showed me various aspects of the sports industry. I connected with her general counsel, and that experience convinced me that I wanted to be a lawyer. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity at any other university.”
– Class of 2021 sport management and political science major Grace George, who is now in law school
and
Byron Pitts, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence, works closely with students inside HPU’s Nido R. Qubein School of Communication on the art of storytelling.
Thomas Hart, who interviewed Pitts on the university’s Access to Innovators podcast
Dallas Mavericks CEO
HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence Cynt Marshall works with students on identifying their values and growing their leadership skills.
Cha pion Connections
How Students Connect With Global Leaders on HPU’s Campus
At HPU, students have unprecedented access to industry innovators. When they visit campus, it’s not to swoop in, give a speech and leave.
Here are merely a few examples of how innovators connect with HPU students in ways that are unheard of on other college campuses:
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Developing Your Business Plan
The first CEO of Netflix has helped dozens of HPU student entrepreneurs launch their successful and innovative startup companies. Students receive real feedback and action steps from in-residence faculty like Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence.
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Food and Fellowship
If you watched Bob Ryan on ESPN or read his prolific sports reporting for The Boston Globe, you might find yourself in awe when you have lunch with him at HPU’s sports grill, The Point. That happens regularly when Ryan, HPU’s Sports Reporter in Residence, visits campus. It’s common for other leaders to have lunch with students and provide mentorship over meals during their visits to campus, too.
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How to Land That Job
This straightforward Q&A session provides real-talk about how students can land the job of their dreams, and it’s always on the agenda for every inresidence faculty member. With corporate stars like former VP of Talent at Chick-fil-A and HPU’s Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence Dee Ann Turner on the roster, the session gives students takeaways to immediately implement in their job search process.
Career Connections
The connections students make with these global leaders last beyond graduation and throughout their professional careers.
When Jake Wilkins, ’20, met HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence and Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall his junior year, she connected him with contacts that opened doors to a summer marketing internship with the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Texas.
Many students land impressive internships that can be partially credited to the guidance and connections from HPU’s in-residence leaders. And while those internships make for impressive resume boosters and set students ahead of competing graduates — their connections and mentorship are lasting.
Two full years after Wilkins’ internship in Dallas ended, his industry connection with Marshall came full circle in 2021 when he returned home to the Dallas Mavericks full-time as a marketing coordinator in the Community Relations and Mavs Foundation Department.
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Go-Getting Internships
Picture this: You meet the Co-Anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence Byron Pitts on campus and exchange phone numbers. You meet up when Pitts is on campus. Then he helps guide you through internship applications for ABC and you land a 10-week internship in New York City with “Nightline.” It’s not a dream – it’s real life for HPU students thanks to the opportunities the Access to Innovators Program provides.
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24/7 Access to Practitioners
Joe Michaels and Larry Quinn teach and mentor on campus daily. For more than 20 years, Michaels directed NBC’s “TODAY” show. Now, he coaches communication majors inside HPU’s state-of-the-art TV Studio. Quinn has been a top executive in sales and marketing for companies like Xerox, and he leads HPU’s Professional Selling Program and Sales Center. You can find many more practitioners throughout HPU’s faculty, bringing students 24/7 access to decades of real-world experience.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. American Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist one of 50 inspiring
historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade
S rvice Learning Creates Servant Leaders
Service Learning provides real-world context to classroom concepts. And with nearly half a million hours of service each year, HPU sets a standard that inspires every student to serve.
The HPU family dedicates nearly 500,000 HOURS OF ANNUAL SERVICE to the local community and beyond.
According to the national valuation of service hours, that translates into an impact of almost $15 million each year.
Service Learning is more than volunteering. HPU’s Service Learning Program engages students in experiential and interdisciplinary learning environments that promote their understanding of and commitment to responsible civic leadership.
With more than two dozen service-learning courses each year, students take part in numerous service projects that align with the learning outcomes of their classes.
Students serve by becoming engaged in local politics, contributing to community development, serving at local nonprofits and supporting social enterprise opportunities. HPU students have worked with a variety of organizations including Business High Point - Chamber of Commerce, YWCA, High Point Arts Council, Open Door Ministries, Guilford County Schools, High Point Museum, YMCA and the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club.
At HPU, students are taught how to become responsible citizens and contributing members of society.
And it starts as soon as students step foot on campus their freshman year. Upon preparing for move-in, students are instructed to bring a copy of their favorite children’s book to donate to a local elementary school. Then, students participate in HPU’s Welcome Week Bike Build, where they work with a team of other students to build a bike and surprise a child in the local community with it. This sets a standard of service that students will continue to embrace throughout their journey at HPU.
Watch this news segment on HPU’s 2023 Freshman Bike Build!
Lear ing by Serving
Through service-learning courses, clubs, events and projects, students go on to lead lives not only of success but of significance.
HPU students have access to numerous opportunities to learn while contributing to their community. Apart from service-learning courses, HPU students enjoy 200-plus clubs and organizations — many of which provide opportunities for students to raise funds for food, health care and educational needs.
Here are just a few of the experiential service opportunities that instill the importance of giving back in students:
Sharing Science: HPU’s
Mobile Lab HPU’s Mobile Lab is a science lab on wheels and is staffed by HPU undergraduate science faculty and students. Integrated into the HPU undergraduate science curriculum, it allows students to create experimental modules on campus and increase accessibility to experimental sciences in the community. Student-driven experiments are conducted together with High Point community partners in the lab.
History Comes Alive with History Detectives
Students in the History Detectives class discover how historians work to find and uncover historical facts. The class works collaboratively to research, interpret and present their findings on a historical problem that has affected the community. “I think this has been a model of how service learning can benefit both the students and the community with which they work,” says Paul Ringel, associate professor of history.
Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic
Located in High Point, the state-of-the-art Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic serves members of the High Point community who have unmet physical therapy needs. It aims to improve the health and quality of life of the underserved by providing exceptional, free physical therapy services to people who are underinsured or not insured.
Martin Luther King
Jr.
Day
Each year, faculty, staff and students spend MLK Jr. Day partnering with the community to complete more than 40 service projects. Service projects often include packaging meals, planting community gardens, painting buildings, hosting a teach-in and more. The projects take place on HPU’s campus and at partner organizations throughout the city of High Point.
Veterans Day High Point
University honors hundreds of men and women who have served the nation during its Annual Veterans Day Celebration The event includes a complimentary breakfast for 2,000 veterans and their family members, a patriotic salute and recognizes students leading initiatives to support veterans. Keeping with its yearly tradition, the university also pledges 100 American flags to local nonprofits, schools and government buildings. At HPU, students are actively engaged to make a difference in the lives of veterans and display their appreciation.
Longitudinal Patient Experience
HPU pharmacy graduates treat people, not patients. In the Longitudinal Patient Experience course, each HPU pharmacy student is partnered with a local resident in the community for five semesters. In the course, pharmacy students experience connecting and caring for an individual over an extended period of time. The strong interpersonal skills it takes to make a good pharmacist are being taught to HPU students by experience.
Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s useum
The Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum serves the community by providing a place of wonder, discovery and inspiration for children. Designed for children of all ages, they explore surroundings that they may not have experienced or have yet to interact with – through play and experiential learning. The facility features two stories and 75,000 square feet of activities, making it one of the largest children’s museums in the state.
The children’s museum provides an integral link in service to High Point University, which shares its resources as a conduit for internships, volunteers and experiential learning for early education instruction. The museum offers a unique mix of discovery, play and excitement through learning lab exhibits. And it’s located just two blocks from campus.
Here are just a few of the fun-focused educational environments children will experience:
The Mars Academy
High Point’s First STEAM Lab Powered by HPU
Standing for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, this is a flexible space where children create, invent and build. Here children practice programming robots, designing and testing fast cars, and building objects to fly in the Launch Tube.
Outdoor Adventure Zone
Children can search for real fossils in the Dino Dig; play and learn in the open-air amphitheater; or explore the butterfly and pollinator gardens.
Cadets are introduced to life aboard a space vessel, imagining themselves in the module with their crew as they measure their Mars weight, report to Mission Control and practice their flight skills.
Art Studio
Each week staff and volunteers will offer a new project for visitors that sparks creativity, imagination and fun. Young artists learn techniques such as collage, watercolor, building with reusable materials and more.
HPU Bonner Leaders
The Bonner Leader Program is a national service program only found on select college campuses. They are servant leaders who connect HPU students to nonprofits and social innovation projects in the Greater High Point area. They help other students learn to serve well. At the Qubein Children’s Museum, HPU’s Bonner Leaders work with staff to contribute to valuable programming and serve children in the community through exciting, educational experiences.
One-Of-A-Kind Exhibit
Steve Spangler, HPU’s STEM Educator in Residence, unveiled a life-size version of his Energy Stick science toy that no other museum in the world has. The Energy Stick demonstrates the flow of electrons that travel across a person’s body, completes a circuit, and then triggers the stick to light up and make a sound. This one-of-a-kind exhibit provides yet another experiential learning opportunity for early education instruction introducing young minds to the concept of simple circuits.
LEGO Showcase
HPU’s Stout School of Education faculty and students host a LEGO learning lab. This free event for the community shifts the focus of learning from being contained within classroom walls to being a lifelong exploration in a fun, interactive environment. Engineering competitions, machine building, robotics and storytelling with LEGOs are just a few of the STEM activities children enjoy. In addition to strengthening STEM lessons, the activities promote teamwork and communication among children. And with the HPU LEGO Maker Lab inside the museum, children can learn with LEGOs year-round.
There’s more to life than being a passenger.
– Amelia Earhart
American Aviation Pioneer and Author
one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade
PU’s Intentional Campus:
This 520-acre classroom is designed to foster student success.
Spend 15 minutes on campus, and it’s clear that HPU is committed to experiential learning.
Modern science and engineering facilities are housed on HPU’s $500 million Innovation Corridor, while communication, business, education and other academic facilities are located along HPU’s Kester International Promenade.
These facilities have grand lobbies that mimic Fortune 500 companies or glass walls similar to Silicon Valley headquarters.
Why?
Because HPU knows that students rise to the level of their environment.
Every corner of HPU’s campus is intentionally designed to provide opportunities to grow, connect, collaborate and inspire.
HPU’s campus is truly a 520-acre classroom. When our students land an internship or job interview, their level of awareness, maturity, professionalism and ability to succeed has been accelerated thanks, in part, to their campus environment.
The following pages provide a glimpse of real-world learning labs that live on HPU’s campus.
Culp Planetarium
The Wanek School of Natural Sciences is home to the Culp Planetarium, one of the nation’s brightest planetariums. The three-story, 6,000-square-foot learning lab includes 125 seats and a 50-foot dome with a 4K projection screen and a state-of-the-art surround sound system. The facility is equipped with programming to teach astronomy, earth science, anatomy and a variety of STEM lessons for HPU students, as well as elementary, middle and high school-age groups in the community. But the immersive, experiential opportunities in the Culp Planetarium extend far beyond just STEM — performing arts students integrate the facility and technology into unique productions, too.
Caine Conservatory
The Caine Conservatory offers students a special space to conduct research, enjoy a meal at the Butterfly Café and be inspired by beautiful plant life. “It’s an oasis on campus that also serves as a space for hands-on education,” says Jason Lattier, director of the Caine Conservatory.
A Ca pus That Coaches
Here are just a few ways High Point University’s campus has been cultivated into an environment that coaches. Schedule your visit to experience the entire campus, ranked among the Top 20 Most Beautiful in the Nation by The Princeton Review.
Schedule your personalized tour of HPU’s nationally ranked campus!
Patriotic Pride HPU is a God, family and country institution. Students are surrounded with reminders that while no nation is perfect, the United States is full of opportunities for anyone willing to work hard, help others and commit to purposeful living. It’s why American flags and patriotic imagery are featured throughout campus. The Kester International Promenade on campus is lined with flags representing all of the home countries of HPU students.
Sculptures of Historical Leaders
Classical music flows up and down the inspiring Kester International Promenade, where you’ll also find quotes from and sculptures of history’s most notable leaders — like the ones you’ve seen of Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Amelia Earhart featured on previous pages here. It’s because HPU President Nido Qubein believes that who you spend time with is who you become. By surrounding students with reminders of people who have positively impacted the world, students learn the “art of the possible.”
Study Spots All Around Campus
Libraries and comfortable study spaces are found throughout campus, so students always have access to a quiet study spot. Inside Cottrell Hall, you’ll find the airplane fuselage. It’s the perfect spot to meet for a study group or to practice your networking skills — so you’ll be ready to network in any setting!
Transformation Is in Our DNA!
A visual reminder of this is found in the lobby of Congdon Hall, home to the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, where a floor-to-ceiling DNA sculpture lights up. The 40-foot double helix sculpture of Z-DNA is a transient configuration that is symbolic of students’ journeys to becoming health care professionals and serves as a reminder of the innovative lab spaces and technology all around.
Nido and Mariana Qubein rena and Conference Center
A Hub of Experiential Learning
The Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center is HPU’s newest learning lab. It’s home to HPU Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, as well as a venue for major events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, academic symposia and recreational activities.
But more importantly, the 350,000-square-foot space is an educational facility where students “learn and grow, nourish their mind, nurture their soul and believe in the art of the possible,” according to HPU President Nido Qubein.
The opportunities for students in event management, hospitality, sport management, media production and more to gain hands-on experience in the Qubein Arena and Conference Center are endless.
Experience With an Edge
Designed to inspire greatness, the wood panels in the arena’s ceiling are reminiscent of what you’ll find at Madison Square Garden, and the architects who designed the arena also created the home court for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
To outsiders, they view the arena as “the place to be.” But for students, it’s “the place to become.”
With a wide variety of internships and experiential learning opportunities available, students play a huge part in helping run the arena. And they have fun while acquiring the Life Skills crucial to helping them succeed in business and in life. Media production students operate video and production equipment to broadcast major concerts, basketball games and community events on the state’s largest collegiate Jumbotron and other screens.
These experiential opportunities are big — but they’re not out of the ordinary at HPU.
Take it from Class of 2022 media production and entrepreneurship graduate Emmy Beck-Aden who, with seven other students, broadcast the Train concert for thousands in attendance during Fall Family Weekend.
“This is a purposeful, intentional and caring place. The faculty and staff always go out of their way to provide students opportunities beyond the classroom. It’s what you can put on a resume and what can give you an edge wherever you go,” says Beck-Aden.
This is a purposeful, intentional and caring place.”
Read more and watch a quick video about this Premier Life Skills experience!
Grammy Award-winning band Train took the stage at the Qubein Arena while HPU students broadcast the concert.
Emmy Beck-Aden
Emmy Beck-Aden, ’22, Production Coordinator at CNBC
Premier Life Skills xperiences
The conference center can hold as many as 2,500 people, be subdivided into nearly a dozen breakout rooms and become a place that can captivate any audience with an audiovisual system that includes 54 speakers and is 43 feet wide. But it’s more than just a beautiful room. It’s a place of connection for so many. Students will find an invaluable mentor when they conduct research with a faculty member and present their findings during a symposium inside the conference center. They’ll intern in the building, gain work experience in their major and attend a career fair where they’ll impress recruiters, land a job and see a dream become real.
And to event management graduate Nicole Butterworth, ’22, it’s a confidence booster. She had the opportunity to speak at the grand opening of the conference center — an opportunity that set her up for success in the real world.
“This place is more than just beautiful. It’s a confidence booster. I’ve never spoken in front of that many people before. At High Point University, I’ve learned that it’s important to put myself out there. Every time I do, I learn so much about myself and what I want to do. Our university prepares you for the real world, and I’m ready,” says Butterworth.
Nicole Butterworth
Together, Alo and the Kahn Hotel demonstrate what High Point University provides every student: A holistic education that goes beyond the classroom and prepares them for an ever-changing world.
Kahn Hotel
Adjoined to the Qubein Arena and Conference Center, the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel offers more than simply elegance and comfort. It is really one big classroom. Students in hospitality management will learn firsthand what it takes to run a hotel. The Kahn Hotel is a learning lab integrated into the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication’s curriculum. This academic configuration sets HPU apart and gives hospitality management majors vital experience to succeed in their careers.
Connected to the hotel is Alo, one of HPU's three fine-dining learning labs. Alo educates HPU students and helps them understand through experience the very definition of Alo — a verb that means to develop, foster and nourish.
Career and Internship Expo
Organized by the Office of Career and Professional Development, students network with recruiters from national and local organizations such as Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola Consolidated and Volvo at the Career and Internship Expo. Held twice a year in the conference center, every student has the chance to practice networking, tailoring their resume and professionalism.
Every single time I’ve come to the Career Expo, HPU never ceases to amaze me by the variety of companies they bring in. It is almost like a learning lab for students to get more experience speaking with employers and to see what they may be interested in pursuing.”
– Raya Riley, ’25, Criminal Justice Major
The Team Store and Panther Boutique
Operated by students, The Team Store and Panther Boutique is another area inside of the Qubein Center where students can find hands-on experience, and the ultimate design was greatly influenced by student designers. Students gain experience in customer service, product design and event management.
ocused on Outcomes
Thanks to HPU’s commitment to experiential learning, HPU students and graduates land impressive internships, jobs and graduate school placements. That’s why 99% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within 180 days of earning their degree – 14 points higher than the national average.
Here’s what just a few students had to say about how HPU helped them get to where they are now:
“HPU helped me through their direct focus on career and professional development. I attended many LinkedIn and mock interview sessions hosted by the Office of Career and Professional Development, which significantly helped me with my skills in obtaining an internship. HPU also helped me through its wide offering of alumni and family mentors.”
– Tyler Thomas, ’22, Data Strategy & Business Operations Associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Plano, Texas
“HPU’s inspiring environment helped position me with like-minded individuals who also strive for success. Group and individual projects helped me build my communication and interpersonal skills as well. When it comes to the values and virtues at HPU that have made the most impact on me, the values of integrity and honesty are the most important to me.”
– Morgan Smith, ’23, Digital and Integrated Marketing Specialist at Cisco Technologies
“Prior to HPU, I knew about Life Skills, but I’d never really thought about Life Skills in a business setting and how useful they can be. HPU really helped me figure out what my skills were and how to really hone in on specific ones.”
– Madison Ryan, ’21, Suites Manager – Operations at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“HPU helped me network with different accounting firms during job and career fairs on campus. At HPU’s Meet the Firms event, a job fair with accounting firms, I met with a KPMG representative who took interest in me. From there, I was able to set up an interview for my summer internship with the company. The Office of Career and Professional Development helped me prepare for situations like these by providing me with resume tips.”
– Nicholas Desmond, '24, Audit Associate at KPMG
“HPU has provided me with incredible life and interpersonal skills that helped me set myself apart in the workplace and to recruiters. The values modeled on campus and within student life inspired me to go after my dreams and made me believe that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. And the curriculum and organizations I’ve been a part of have provided me with real-world experiences that I can talk about during interviews.”
“HPU helped me prepare for my future goals by providing me with great opportunities, such as the ability to network with companies and leaders, access to Success Coaches and classes taught by professors with real-world experience. I also used the Office of Career and Professional Development for help with my resumé and advice on how to find the best job for me.”
“HPU’s hands-on, experiential learning allowed me to pursue topics I love outside the typical classroom setting. Unique programs such as the Willed Body Program gave me the opportunity to shadow as a lab assistant and gain hands-on experience that helped nurture and encourage my future goals and love for forensic science.”
– Lexi Silverio, ’23, Master of Science in Forensic Medicine Candidate at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland
High Point University graduates are finding success in industries and organizations around the globe. Read what more HPU grads have to say about how their university set them up for success, and see where they are now!
– Austin Vohra, ’23, Project Controls Specialist at Duke Energy in Orlando, Florida
I hear and I forget, I see and I may remember, I do and I understand.
