Millsaps College Viewbook - 2010-2011 by Millsaps College

MILLSAPS COLLEGE: THE INTELLECTUAL HEART OF MISSISSIPPI

One? ARE YOU

From the first time I visited Millsaps College, I knew it was a place I could call home. We were moving my older sister into her freshman dorm, and everything about campus was just so inviting. As the year went on, I heard all about her new friends, fantastic professors, and all the incredible opportunities to broaden her education. The more I heard, the more amazed I was – and the more convinced that this was the college experience I wanted for myself. But it doesn’t take a sibling to get on the inside track at Millsaps. You can arrive a complete stranger, and you’re immediately embraced. To me, this close-knit community is what makes Millsaps so special. There is always an opportunity to get involved. No matter what I’m doing – planning an event for my sorority, writing for our student newspaper Purple & White, or helping form campus policy through the Student Body Association – I’m constantly surrounded by supportive, inviting, and uplifting people. This community extends to the classroom, too. My professors know me and are always available to discuss possibilities for my future. They are knowledgeable but down-to-earth people who love what they do. I’m not sure exactly what my future will hold – whether I’ll go straight into a career or to graduate school – but I know that my Millsaps education will have prepared me well for the path I choose. Through the Faith & Work Initiative, I’ve received the opportunity to examine the world through a spiritual perspective. By studying the meaning of work, I’ve come to realize the importance of finding a career that I enjoy – and one that utilizes my talents to make a positive impact. ARE YOU ONE? Schedule a visit to campus, and see if Millsaps is the place for you. – Bonnie Tucker, Class of 2011

EXPLORE MILLSAPS Before you decide where you want to go, stop and think about how far you want to go. Once you have the drive, you can pursue any goal. If you’re willing to go the distance, Millsaps College will provide the direction you need. Millsaps students have been blazing trails since the school was founded by Major Reuben Millsaps and the Mississippi Methodist Church in 1890. Arts, humanities, sciences, business, teaching – you can explore virtually any path through our curriculum. Our top-ranked faculty will guide you along the way. Small classes and personal attention from your professors ensure that you are an active participant in your education. Our liberal arts approach teaches you how to think, not what to think – so you’ll be equipped to handle whatever obstacles and opportunities come your way. That’s why we’re one of only 40 schools included in the widely respected guidebook Colleges That Change Lives.

Student Life You’ll make an impact as soon as you set foot on campus at Millsaps. A close-knit community, our student body energetically embraces new students. Clubs, sports, campus ministry, student publications – it’s easy to get involved here. You’ll find more than 80 clubs and student organizations reflecting interests from community service to martial arts. Socializing Activities and Programming for Students (SAPS) offers students the opportunity to plan concerts, dances, parties, and events for the entire campus. Our Student Body Association (SBA) works closely with the faculty and administration and makes sure students’ voices are heard. Writers and artists express themselves through three student publications: Stylus, our literary and arts magazine; Purple & White, our student newspaper; and Bobashela, our yearbook. Sunny and breezy days find scores of students chatting, relaxing, and studying in the Bowl – the aptly named courtyard in the center of campus, which also serves as a venue for concerts and campus-wide parties. And you’re always sure to find familiar faces unwinding after (or prepping for) class at Reuben’s, our campus café.

Facts QUICK

• Approximately 1,100 undergraduate students • 10:1 student/faculty ratio • Average class size of 15 • Approximately 63% of student body comes from out of state or foreign countries • ACT midrange: 24-29 • 37 majors and 42 minors, with the option to design your own major • B.S., B.A., B.B.A., M.B.A., and M.Acc. degrees • Pre-med, pre-law, pre-dental, pre-engineering, and pre-ministerial tracks • One-of-a-kind Faith & Work focus available for all majors

ACTIVE ACADEMICS

by Cree Cantrell, Class of 2010

• First Mississippi college or university to earn a Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary chapter • One of a select few liberal arts schools in the U.S. to have both a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation • 80% of student body lives on campus • More than 80 clubs and organizations • 12 active national fraternities and sororities • NCAA Division III athletics include football, soccer, cross country, track & field, tennis, basketball, baseball, golf, volleyball, lacrosse, and fast-pitch softball • Aggressive scholarship program, with more than 98% of students receiving some financial aid through merit scholarships and institutional, federal, and state need-based programs

Throughout my high school career, I was always incredibly involved in school activities. But I was worried that, when I came to college, I would become simply a number. These fears soon subsided once I reached Millsaps. I was excited to find that students are encouraged to be involved in many school activities. I played football, worked in the admissions office, and participated in student government, the newspaper staff, the Wellspring Community Service organization, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and various other committees and organizations. This may sound like far too much for a college student to be involved in, but Millsaps does a wonderful job of helping students fulfill their extracurricular needs while maintaining a strong focus on academics. By becoming involved, I gained a great deal of experience I could not have gained by simply going to class every day. Go Majors!

STUDENT LIFE Situated on 100 vibrant acres, Millsaps is a bustling campus. You can dash from your dorm to that biochem class across campus in less time than it would take to park at most schools. And since you can get everywhere by foot, you tend to run into more familiar faces – especially when you consider that more than 80 percent of our student body lives on campus. Millsaps is an NCAA Division III school, and more than half of our students play at least one varsity or intramural sport, and they play hard – we are the co-conference football champions. Spirited sports fans also fill the stands at baseball, soccer, and volleyball games. While our varsity teams fill the bleachers, our Campus Ministry Team packs the pews with students of all faiths. The One Campus, One Community initiative brings students from all walks together and keeps the student body, faculty, and staff involved in Jackson with community service projects and roundtable discussions. The HAC (Maurice H. Hall Activities Center) offers a fantastic outlet to blow off steam. This 63,000-square-foot athletic facility offers a well-equipped gym; basketball, racquetball, volleyball, and squash courts; and an outdoor pool. SBA (Student Body Association) and SAPS (Socializing Activities and Programs for Students) events offer plenty of parties, and Millsaps’ 12 active national fraternities and sororities provide their fair share of revelry – and also encourage community service, academic performance, and leadership. Rest assured, there is life off campus as well. As the state’s capital, Jackson offers everything from ballet to barbecue. And most of the hot spots can be found within a few blocks of Millsaps. Just hop aboard the neighborhood trolley and paint the town red...or purple, as the case may be.

Nearly a third of Millsaps scholar-athletes recently received all-conference academic honors.

Visit our spectacular 4,000-acre biocultural reserve in the heart of Yucatán, Mexico.

CUSTOMIZED INTERNATIONAL

Education

We believe that studying abroad is one of the most powerful tools for understanding our world. To that end, nearly 40 percent of our students undertake coursework outside the country. From religious studies in Israel to cultural studies in Tanzania, these innovative programs open eyes, broaden perspectives, and build character – not to mention friendships. Other popular Millsaps cultural experiences include studying international business or arts and letters across Europe, classical studies in Greece and Rome, Spanish immersion in Costa Rica, and French immersion in Nice, France. We operate a spectacular biocultural reserve in the heart of Yucatán, Mexico. These lush and rugged 4,000 acres offer a wealth of archaeological sites vital to the understanding of ancient and modern Maya culture. But our Living In Yucatán program also provides faculty and students a truly unique living laboratory where they

Millsaps faculty design and teach study abroad courses around the world, including London, England.

study the relationships among disciplines as varied as biology, English, business, the environment, sociology, and anthropology. By demonstrating and exploring the connections between economic development, environmental policy, and cultural preservation, this program has become a national model for interdisciplinary studies. Of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a commute to make it to class in Albania, and airfare can be intimidating, if not prohibitive. But thanks to the generosity of the Robinson International Fellows Program and the McNair Fund for Christian Missions, international study and service become more fiscally feasible. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a life-informing experience every student deserves, and Millsaps offers some undeniably incredible opportunities.

THINKING WITH YOUR HEART by Chad Bowen, Class of 2009 In his book Desiring God, John Piper asserts: “If we take our doctrines into our hearts where they belong, they can cause upheavals of emotion and sleepless nights. This is far better than toying with academic ideas that never touch real life.” The Faith & Work Initiative at Millsaps provided me with many restless nights as I struggled to grasp more completely the complex ideas of meaningful work and a meaningful life. It is the means by which academic ideas are fused with a sense of the needs of the world – the movement of ideas from the head to the heart. As a Lilly intern, I worked at Alta Woods United Methodist Church, a church in south Jackson. I had the pleasure of serving as the youth and children’s minister and learning about parish ministry from my mentor, Reverend David Carroll. The internship itself added two integral parts to the education I received at Millsaps that I could not obtain in a classroom. First, it gave me the opportunity to seek out and more clearly define the vocation I wished to pursue after I graduated. Secondly, it allowed me to do work that mattered and that I enjoyed while I continued in my other academic endeavors. It was an opportunity not only to obtain “real world” experience while I was in college, but also to search for a means to make my life positively affect someone else.

Faith & Work ACADEMICS

We don’t just want our students to find good jobs – we want them to find good lives. So with funding from the Lilly Foundation, we launched the Faith & Work Initiative – a dynamic path of study exploring the crossroads of conviction and profession. Through internships, mentor programs, corporate projects, travel, and inspirational coursework, you’ll get a grasp on the real meaning of work and how it can serve your beliefs and passions. You will examine ethics, values, and faith, while learning how to build a career and life that benefit the greater good – not just your bank account. Our Lilly internship program matches your professional interests with local businesses to give you a taste of potential careers and how they might mesh with your calling. Mentors from the business community offer a wealth of wisdom, insight, and guidance. Your shared experience with fellow Faith & Work scholars creates a community of compassion you can rely on for support, discussion, and inspiration. Faith & Work may be undertaken as a minor, or as a means to enhance any other studies. The program is open to all students of all faiths. The only requirement is a desire for purpose.

THE GOSPEL OF WORK by Liz Ofem, Class of 2009

“The able and enthusiastic faculty has national rather than regional roots. Its members not only earned their academic spurs in the nation’s top universities, “The able also and enthusiastic faculty has national regionalaroots. Its but have taught in them. But they prefer torather teach than at Millsaps, conviction members notthrough only earned theirclear academic the nation’s topsay.” universities, but that comes loud and in justspurs aboutineverything they have also taught in them. But they prefer to teach at Millsaps, a conviction that – Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives comes through loud and clear in just about everything they say.” – Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives

The Faith & Work Initiative helped me examine what was really important to me as a person, what kind of career I wanted, and how I wanted to live my life. The program showed me new and interesting approaches to life and taught me how we see ourselves as people. Not only did Faith & Work enhance my thought process about my future career, but it also gave me a chance to experience the work firsthand. I have always wanted to work in the music business, but was never sure exactly what area of this broad, fast-paced industry I wanted to be a part of. The Faith & Work Initiative searched for someone local who could give me the hands-on introduction to the industry I needed. Malaco Music Group is internationally known for its rhythm and blues and traditional gospel offerings, as well as its distribution. My Faith & Work internship at Malaco was a truly enlightening experience for me, where something exciting happened every day! I had the opportunity to talk to music professionals all over the country, to meet legendary recording stars, and even to travel with the company to some of the most important events in the gospel music industry. The internship showed me my calling and paved my career path – and it was all because of the Faith & Work Initiative.

“

Bottom line: Millsaps is a college for high school graduates serious about learning and about having a full social life. — Barron’s Best Buys in College Education

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Faith & Work ACADEMICS

THE GOSPEL OF WORK by Liz Ofem, Class of 2009

“

Bottom line: Millsaps is a college for high school graduates serious about learning and about having a full social life. — Barron’s Best Buys in College Education

”

No matter what major you declare at Millsaps, the most important concept you’ll learn is how to think. Millsaps College consistently creates academic programs that set us apart from ordinary institutions. That’s why we were the first Mississippi institution to earn a chapter of the nation’s oldest academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. By reinforcing the connection between academic pursuits and the real world, we educate men and women who become informed and engaged leaders in both their vocations and communities. Our liberal arts core curriculum imparts the foundations of modern knowledge while teaching the analytical skills to approach topics from a broad perspective. The Heritage program offers the opportunity to tackle most of the core components in two allencompassing semesters, immersing you in an interdisciplinary study of Western culture and world history. No matter how you approach it, you’ll be steeped in a wide range of subjects and ideas to broaden your awareness, intellect, and vision.

“

I gave up my search for the perfect identity and realized all I had to become was me. I found myself at ease as a Millsaps student, and not just a face in the crowd. – Sital Sanjanwala, Class of 2010

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OUR

Academics The Millsaps College Writing Program is recognized as one of the premier writing programs in the country. Our Writing Across the Curriculum initiative ensures that every student in every class, from geology to history, develops excellent writing skills – a prized commodity in any profession. Interdisciplinary degrees such as Environmental Studies (science meets the humanities) and Public Management (political science tempered with business) bolster ideals with practical skills. You can work with your faculty adviser to design a major around your particular interests and ambitions. Pre-professional concentrations are also available within any major. Specialized tracks include medicine, law, engineering, education, or ministry. But no matter your career choice – accountant, writer, or scientist – your studies will be geared to perfect your talents, stoke your passions, and achieve your goals.

Applied Mathematics

SCIENCE From biology to psychology, clinically minded students have the facilities and faculty at their disposal to analyze and comprehend any

Biochemistry Biology Chemistry

problem. And armed with our liberal arts background, you’ll be able

Computer Science

to relate data to the bigger picture and actually communicate your

Computer Science with

theories – traits highly sought-after by top M.D. and Ph.D. programs. Our medical mentoring program pairs students with practitioners in their chosen field. Students work alongside their mentors in clinics

Computer Info Systems Education

and hospitals, earning credit for real medical experience on their

Geology

transcripts. Political science and pre-law students spend semesters

Mathematics

in Washington, D.C., studying the inner workings of government. And regular trips to Ghana, Tanzania, and Albania offer rare insight into the social sciences. Sociologists, anthropologists, and biologists have a

Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies

living research lab at their disposal in our biocultural reserve in Yucatán,

Physics

Mexico. In addition to all these exotic and unique research programs,

Political Science

student-teacher teams regularly publish and present their findings in scientific journals and at national conferences. Unsurprisingly,

Psychology

Millsaps graduates’ acceptance rate to graduate and medical schools far

Public Management

exceeds the national average.

Sociology/Anthropology

ARTS AND LETTERS Through Arts and Letters, Millsaps students find their own perspective, voice, and vision. Whether it’s on a canvas, in a newspaper column, in a poetry journal, or on stage, you’ll have abundant opportunity to express yourself. In the process, you’ll refine your approach until it rings loud and clear – to audiences, critics, and employers. Millsaps’ Arts

African Studies

Music

Art

Philosophy

Art – Art History

Philosophy –

publish, perform, and exhibit their own highly lauded works.

Art – Studio Art

Religious Studies

So the entire division functions as a dynamic creative

Classical Studies

Religious Studies

community, with students and teachers alike embracing

Communications

Religious Studies

causes and concepts from Sudanese refugees to the impact

English

– Sociology/

of biotechnology. Through the study of ancient masterpieces

European Studies

Anthropology

and Letters faculty is respected around the world. Their expert insight is sought-after on topics ranging from the writings of Eudora Welty to the Dead Sea Scrolls. They also all regularly

and the creation of their own works, students forge intellectual partnerships with faculty mentors. They push each other to explore the eternal questions and dilemmas of mankind while inspiring each other to define their own voices.

French

Spanish

History

Theatre

Latin American Studies

BUSINESS Some people find it surprising that a liberal arts college is home to one of the best business schools

Accounting

in the country. It makes perfect sense to us. Ideas

Business Administration

are a vital raw material in any industry. So we teach

Economics

you the ins and outs of business practices and principles. In addition, you’ll develop the broad critical-thinking skills required to see the possibilities and assess the opportunities for any business. You’ll also get realworld experience through our exceptional internship connections. From the steps of the state capitol, to towering corporate offices, to grassroots community efforts, or even to recording studios – we can open the door for you to see how things really work at your dream job. Princeton Review ranked our business faculty eighth in the nation. Millsaps is also one of only a handful of liberal arts colleges in the United States to hold both a Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary chapter and accreditation by AACSB, the international accrediting agency for business schools. What’s more, our Else School of Management graduate program allows Millsaps business majors to earn an M.B.A. at Millsaps with just one additional year of study.

THE

Value

OF YOUR EDUCATION

Your education is one of the most valuable investments you’ll ever make. A Millsaps College degree can open doors with employers, graduate schools, and nonprofit organizations nationwide.

APPLICATION DEADLINES: November 15 Early Decision deadline

December 1

We want every Millsaps College student to be able to take advantage of the experiences here, which is why we devote significant resources to financial aid. There are also merit scholarships available to qualified students, and Millsaps College is one of the only colleges in the United States to offer families with the greatest financial need full-tuition grants.

Early Action/Performing Fine Arts/ Second Century Scholarships deadline

February 1

Regular Decision/Millsaps Awards Preferred deadline

March 1

Need-based financial aid priority deadline

May 1

National Candidate’s Reply Date Millsaps College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or scholarships and loan programs. Millsaps College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of its students with disabilities.

“

At Millsaps, I’ve found a true connection with other students and my professors, which has allowed me to explore more possibilities for my future than I ever imagined. –Zach Davis, Class of 2011

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AWARD WINNING

Faculty

Our professors come to Millsaps for the same reason our students do – the rare opportunity to learn and grow in a genuine, meaningful, and personal way. This nurturing environment draws them from leading graduate schools like Berkeley, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, and Juilliard. They know their academic disciplines inside and out, and on our campus they’re able to get to know their students just as well. Millsaps has an 10:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 15. Classroom discussions are inviting and insightful, and perplexing topics are often hashed out over coffee during informal sessions in professors’ offices. Millsaps students regularly conduct research projects and publish papers with their professors – academic privileges reserved for graduate students at most schools. But at Millsaps, the faculty is focused on you.

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When looking for the perfect college I knew that I did not want to be just another number; however, I never dreamed that I would find a place that would allow for such personal growth so soon in my college career. I can only imagine what I’ll learn in the next three years at Millsaps. – Kendall Gregory, Class of 2013

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WHY I TEACH AT MILLSAPS by Dr. Bill Storey I grew up in New York and was educated at Andover, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins. I never thought I might live in the South. I first learned about Millsaps from my wife, Joanna, who grew up in Jackson. Jackson’s mild weather, calm lifestyle, and cultural attractions appealed to me, so eleven years ago, when an opportunity for me came open at Millsaps, I was very happy to accept the dean’s offer. My favorite thing about Millsaps is that I am part of a community that is dedicated to learning. Students, faculty, and staff get to know each other, thanks in part to the small size of classes, and thanks also to the spirit of the place. The people who come here truly want to learn respectfully about the world. I see this in my classes every day – students have abundant curiosity about the specific subjects that I teach, ranging from the history of South Africa and the British Empire to the history of the environment and technology – and they are always thinking about ways to connect these narrower subjects to their broader experiences in disciplines across the liberal arts. A liberal arts education helps us all to step out of our own shoes and imagine the world from somebody else’s perspective. I see this every day at Millsaps, not only in academic discussions but all around the campus. Students hold doors open for one another. Faculty and staff are cordial. Civility is our mark of citizenship. I’ll never forget how my students responded to 9/11. As I worried out loud about friends and family in New York, my first-year writing students asked if they could have the day off, so that they could donate blood. They had become true citizens of Millsaps and true citizens of the world, too.

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My professors at Millsaps are always enthusiastic about helping students, and I’ve never felt like just a number. I can be myself without worrying about how others think. Millsaps has helped me recognize my amazing skills and talents— and how much potential I have to give to the world. –Khushi Patel, Class of 2012

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Careers AFTER MILLSAPS

We want our students to leave our halls with much more than a stellar GPA. As a college, it is our goal to give you both the knowledge and experience to excel in the real world. So we encourage students to undertake internships within their field of interest. Through Millsaps’ connections in the corporate, cultural, and political worlds, opportunities abound in Jackson and on a national level. Our students have interned at places like NASA, Nike®, the FBI, and Sotheby’s. Graduate school is also a prerequisite for many careers, so students and parents alike should sleep a little better knowing that Millsaps graduates are accepted to medical school, law school, and graduate school at a rate well above the national average. As a matter of fact, more than 70 percent of our graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees at the nation’s top graduate schools – many of them armed with outstanding scholarships.

POWERFUL FRIENDS

by Meredith Drake, Class of 2007 When I look back over my four years at Millsaps College, I realize how fortunate I was to have made the wise decision that got me there. I did not realize the importance of that decision then, but now I do. Millsaps provided me with an extraordinary education and stellar professors who continually challenged me. Every professor had my best interest at heart– both academically and personally. They and my advisers were always available to offer assistance with difficult material and coursework planning, even offering their own personal time when needed. Because classes at Millsaps are so small, professors and students really get to know each other. I felt totally immersed in a positive learning atmosphere as I was gently nudged and guided toward reaching my full academic potential. For two summers, I interned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for different politicians. In order to make that possible, my adviser, Dr. Pat Taylor, helped me get the recommendations I needed – because he cared about me as a student, as an advisee, and as a friend. After graduation, I got a job at the Mississippi Republican Party, which I fully believe Millsaps College helped me get, albeit indirectly. My comprehensive exams at Millsaps prepared me for tough job interviews, in addition to the more obvious purpose of reviewing what I’d learned. I owe my success to Millsaps, and I’m proud to join the ranks of the College’s successful alums all over the world.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR

President

We invite you to make Millsaps College your college home. There’s no limit to what you can achieve guided by professors who are nationally acclaimed scholars, but whose first love is teaching. You will be joined by students who are enthusiastic about learning and getting the most out of their college experience. At Millsaps, that means not only brilliant classroom instruction, but also hands on experience through internships with leaders in business and politics, being mentored for medical school by practicing physicians or professors of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical School across the street from our campus, or conducting cutting-edge archeological research about the Mayan civilization at Millsaps’ very own biocultural reserve in the Yucatán peninsula. Our students are down-to-earth and easy going, yet passionate about growing as scholars and leaders. As Baron’s Best Buys in Education points out, we are a “college for high school graduates serious about learning and about having a full social life.” You’ll crack your share of books here, but the focus is really on the bigger picture. More important than any collection of facts, you’ll learn how to think - a prerequisite for any meaningful career and certainly for a meaningful life. Millsaps offers the very best in liberal arts and business education as preparation for a good and worthy life of learning, leadership, and service. Our graduates are leaders in their respective professions and communities, have a high sense of honor and integrity, and are committed to helping change the world for the better. If you are looking for an intellectually stimulating and caring community among people who love what they are doing and who have high aspirations for themselves and the world in which we live, please visit Millsaps College. I hope to see you when you’re here. Best wishes,

Rob Pearigen, President

Thalia Mara Hall is the official U.S. home of the

Land an internship with

International Ballet

a state senator or the

Competition—but you can enjoy musicals and blues singers there, too.

governor’s office at Mississippi’s new State Capitol Building, just 10 minutes from campus.

Join the fun during Jackson’s famous Mal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which draws over 50,000 people to the streets downtown every March.

WHERE’S THE FUN?

Jackson

As the state capital, Jackson combines small-town charm with city amenities. From the leaps of the International Ballet Competition to the beats of music festivals, there is plenty of culture and entertainment to be found. The reservoir offers boating, fishing, and countless picnic spots. The Natchez Trace provides easy access to wooded trails, bicycling, or just a lazy Sunday drive. And the restaurants, hangouts, galleries, and shops of the quirky Fondren district are just around the corner from campus.