At Hesston College,
Belonging begins in our dorms.

Hesston dorms are made up of mods with a sophomore resident assistant who becomes your friend, confidant, and big brother or sister who is always there when you need them. Roommates are matched based on interests and personality to help build relationships. Everyone gets to know everyone. In no time at all, you’ll find you can’t walk through campus without waving hello or stopping to chat.

Belonging extends to coursework with our First-Year Experience.

FYE (First-Year Experience) is a freshman fall semester course, centered around a best-selling book, that is designed to encourage interaction between classmates through group activities, events, discussions, author visits and presentations. This course provides you with a cohort of students in your major that you will connect with almost daily.

Belonging continues with activities where everyone finds their fit.

Whatever your interest — sports, music, drama, service, hobbies, etc. — there are tons of activities to choose from at Hesston. You are sure to find at least one that suits you (and probably more!).

Choose a college that’s more than just a place to go to class.

Choose a college that understands the need to belong.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
You will know that you matter the minute you come for a campus visit.

Make a campus visit to Hesston College and you’ll be impressed by the natural beauty of our campus. But the true beauty of this place is experienced when you walk through the door of Hesston College Admissions. You’ll be greeted by name with a smile and an enthusiastic, “We’re glad you’re here!” because we are! You’ll meet with an admissions counselor who can answer any and all questions, be introduced to faculty and get an in-depth campus tour with a student tour guide. You’ll see everything! We can even arrange for an overnight visit if you want to experience Hesston ’round the clock.

You’ll experience that you matter at Opening Weekend and beyond.

Hesston College Opening Weekend is aimed at making sure that you get off to a great start in college and have a successful year! The entire Hesston campus community comes together on Opening Weekend to usher in the new academic year with an opening convocation, campus picnic, orientation sessions, games and the ever-popular Mod Olympics.

You’ll understand that you matter by Hesston’s low student to faculty ratio.

At Hesston College, our faculty to student ratio is one of the lowest in the country at 9 students to every one faculty member. Here, there are no scary, gigantic lecture halls with hundreds of students taught by a teaching or graduate assistant. Our classes are taught by our faculty and our classrooms are small and encourage interaction. You will get to know your instructors and they will know you.

Choose a college that values you as an individual.

Choose a college where every student matters.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
building a firm foundation in faith begins with our faith philosophy.

The Hesston College mission calls us to “integrate thought, life and faith for service to others in the church and the world.” With this mission in mind, we promote a vibrant spiritual life on campus because we are a Christ-centered community and offer students multiple options for deepening their faith in ways that are meaningful to them. While Hesston is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, our small student body represents more than 25 different religious backgrounds.

Firm foundation in faith is re-enforced with courses, worship and mentoring.

Building a firm foundation in faith is integrated right into our classrooms and curriculum. Here you will find yourself in classes and in a community that will encourage you to think deeply about your life of faith. Students and faculty work at incorporating ethics into classroom coursework. In addition, every student takes our Biblical Literature course and learns the entire biblical narrative through this rigorous and inspiring class. For an even greater immersion in faith, you can major in Bible and Ministry. As a Bible and Ministry major you will take part in in-depth inductive Bible studies, do research in the different biblical genres and tackle hard questions about peace, justice and ethics.

In addition to faith formation integrated into the classroom and curriculum, it is encouraged more casually through small groups led by ministry assistants, Bible studies formed by students, and campus worship teams. These small groups gather for fellowship, sharing, Bible study, singing and prayer. Chapel meets twice a week as a time for the entire campus community to come together for worship, celebration of faith and often include speakers and dramatic, musical and multi-media presentations.

Choose a college that values you as an individual.

Choose a college where every student matters.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
You’ll find a safe place where you are treated with respect, love and support you as you transition from home to college life.

Everyone encounters times in life when we need some extra support, an objective listening ear, a perspective different from our own or help navigating a difficult situation. Resident assistants, campus pastors, Hesston College Counseling Services and other helpful mentors are here to help in those tough times.

You’ll experience a safe place that takes campus safety and security seriously.

Hesston College students are taught how to stay safe through training provided by our Student Development Office and Crisis Management Team. Campus safety practices are evaluated and updated regularly. Students are drilled on emergency preparedness from day one at orientation, with their mods in residence halls, and at college forums.

Hesston students ranked campus safety and security #1 in relation to their level of satisfaction and Hesston College campus crime statistics back up their confidence.

You’ll find a safe, healthy place that provides everything needed for a growing body and mind.

At Hesston College, choice is on the menu served with a heaping side dish of healthy. Our Dining Services professionals strive to provide delicious, healthy food choices to tempt every palate — offering dishes ranging from oven-roasted chicken to Caesar salad.

To support your healthy body, Hesston College has a weight room and other athletic facilities for varsity athletics, intramurals, clubs and student use. In addition, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, a college owned facility a block from campus, includes trails and a half-mile paved path that students use for walking, jogging and running, as well as a pond that students frequent for fishing and wildlife watching.

Choose a college where you feel supported physically, mentally and spiritually

Choose a college that is a safe, healthy place where you are free to learn and grow as a person.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
Academic support begins with individualized advising and an early alert system.

At Hesston College, each student is assigned one faculty member to whom you can go for course selection, understanding degree requirements, grades and transfer information. Your academic advisor is interested in your academic success and is an expert in the field of study instead of a staff person. You may go to your advisor’s office anytime you have a question or concern about your classes or plan of study. First year students connect with their academic advisor weekly for the first eight weeks of the semester. And our student to faculty ratio is 9:1, guaranteeing you ready access to all your instructors.

Hesston also provides a Student Success Team consisting of faculty and staff from financial aid, residence life and academics. This group monitors academic success and supports students in academic, financial or personal crisis by helping them create plans of improvement and accountability.

Academic Support is reinforced with well-established academic resources.

Whether a National Merit Scholar, typical student or a student with additional learning needs, Hesston College students have an entire network of support at their disposal.

The Academic Center for Career Exploration and Student Success (ACCESS Lab) serves as a flexible study place for students to connect with faculty, gather with peers to work alone or in groups, meet with a tutor and seek academic direction or have a paper edited by a student Writing Fellow. The ACCESS Lab is also a campus computer lab, open daily until midnight, with staff members on hand to consult with students regarding time management and study strategies.

Additional academic support and resources:

• JumpStart is a three-day orientation program designed for students who need additional preparation for college.
• Group study sessions meet regularly for designated courses to review and practice course concepts.
• First-year Seminar is a one-credit course linked to a general education course taken in the first semester.
• Writing Fellows are students who are trained to work with their peers in all stages of the writing process for assignments in any class.
• Peer tutors are pairs or small groups of students who meet one to three times per week to review course material, complete assignments or prepare for class.

Academic Support is proven based on our assessment scores.

In Hesston College’s 2012 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) assessment, the college was a top scorer nationally for “Support for Learners.” Hesston has also scored well on the Individual Development and Educational Assessment (IDEA) with more than three-fourths of Hesston classes ranking in the top half of all classes taught nationwide, preparing our students well for transfer.

Choose a college that’s there to catch you BEFORE you fall.

Choose a college where your academic success is our proudest moment.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
a global perspective begins with our diverse student population.

Two of the most surprising aspects of a Hesston College experience are the diverse backgrounds that our students represent and our impressive number of international students. Our student population includes representation from 11 countries, 30 states and 25 religious affiliations– a very healthy dichotomy of people that greatly contribute to the quality of a Hesston education.

Global perspective extends to the classroom with the integration of world cultures into our coursework and extra-curriculars.

The task of a liberal arts education is to prepare students for purposeful participation within a rapidly changing diverse world. To that end, Hesston College students take courses steeped in global and cultural understanding and appreciation such as Literature of Race, Ethnicity and Gender; History of World Civilization; Cultural Anthropology; African-American History; Religions of the World; Peacemaking and Justice, among others. In addition to specific coursework focused on global issues and history, discussion of current events, multiculturalism and social justice are woven into many Hesston College courses.

Hesston College has also provided opportunities for students to travel abroad, including a study tour in China, an education class trip to Puerto Rico, nursing trips to India and Russia and the International Chorale trip that travels to Europe for three weeks every other May.

Global perspective continues with activities celebrating the richness of world cultures.

Hesston College students participate annually in the Cultures Fair, a campus global and cultural diversity event. International students and students from non-dominant North American cultures display information about their countries, customs and culture. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to sample ethnic foods and enjoy live performances of global music and dances.

Choose a college that celebrates diversity.

Choose a college where global perspective enhances campus life.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
Leadership potential is cultivated in our classrooms and coursework.

Because our campus community is small and close-knit, there are immediate opportunities for leadership everywhere. With just over 400 students, you will find leadership positions available in your classrooms, extracurriculars, and in your dorm. Our faculty and staff understand the importance of teaching and growing leadership skills and will challenge you through group projects, presentations and other opportunities to explore and develop your leadership style.

Some additional course-related opportunities are:

• Orchestra or choir soloist
• Lead role in a play
• Service-learning participant
• Yearbook assistant
• Lab assistant
• Student assistant to faculty and staff
• Peer tutor/educator
• FYE Scholar

Leadership potential is enhanced through extra-curriculars and campus committees.

In addition to a myriad of opportunities in the classroom and through coursework, you will find leadership positions available in every student club, organization, activity and team. We develop leaders.

• Resident Assistant
• Ministry Assistant
• Athletic team captain
• Student Ambassador
• Chapel Planning Committee
• Inclusion & Diversity Council member
• Club organizer
• Pep band student director
• Bible study leader
• Campus Worship leader

Leadership potential is furthered through professional opportunities.

At Hesston College, we also understand that in order for our students to be future leaders in their professions, they need a jump-start on their careers. At Hesston College, you can gain real-world professional experience in your field during your first two years of college. What other program can offer you that?

Some examples of professional opportunities available to Hesston College students include paid and unpaid internships, field experience and cooperative education.

Choose a college where leadership opportunities are abundant and encouraged.

Choose a college that recognizes your leadership potential.

Choose Hesston College.

 

At Hesston College,
We believe that the first two years of college aren’t just something “to get through.”

While most colleges consider the first two years of core academics, often called general education, as something that you “just have to get through,” at Hesston College those two years are our primary focus. We have national benchmark scores in those areas that position us among the best in the nation. So ask yourself, why would I go to a college that only sees the first two years as hurdles or speed bumps and not opportunities?

We believe that majors are like shoes…

Sometimes you have to try on a number of pairs to find the right fit.

Not only do we specialize in the first two years of college and offer more than 50 programs of study, we have amazing services in place for deciding students that will help them discover a major that fits the perfect intersection of their passions and natural gifts. Enrolling in general education and exploratory courses at Hesston College will introduce you to a variety of majors that you may not have previously considered or even heard of. Career Development is a course that allows you to look at your strengths and interests, gather information on potential majors and make connections with other students who are facing the same types of decisions. Career advisors will continue the journey with you until you have decided what your next step will be, whether it is a specific major, a service experience or the workplace.

We believe that a good start leads to a great finish.

We don’t just say “Start Here, Go Everywhere.” We mean it. Hesston College provides an outstanding start for all of our students and our students gain real-world experience as freshmen and sophomores through internships, volunteering, field experience and paid professional work. Our students then transfer to small private colleges and major public universities with equal success and thrive once they are there. Our alumni go on to complete bachelor’s degrees at schools like The University of Kansas, Wichita State University, Purdue University, Harvard University, Colorado School of Mines and Duke University. The sky is the limit (literally) if you select our aviation program.

Take a look at a list of schools to which Hesston students have transferred.

Choose a college that values the first two years as important.

Choose a college where keeping options open is empowering.

Choose Hesston College.