Engaged Students

McMurry University strives to involve students in their own education, and this is accomplished in a variety of ways. In the social sciences, for example, the focus of many of the programs is on internships. In Psychology, students work with child protective services, pregnancy counseling programs, homeless shelters, and centers for women and children who have been abused. In Sociology, students intern at the police department and at shelters and centers for marginalized people. In Political Science, students intern at lawyers offices, judges’ chambers, politicians offices and with government officials. The focus in the social sciences is to take the theoretical in the classroom and combine it with the real world of social services and government.

The University believes in student research. Students work with professors in their labs to study and experiment. The faculty and the students combine their work to make for an exciting learning experience. One example to illustrate this is the Professor of Biology who studies staph infections. The students in his class are responsible for collecting and analyzing biological materials that they have to find on common items like cell phones and door handles. Students reach understanding of  classroom concepts by collecting and touching them.

The School of Business partners with businesses in the community to provide internships and our arts programs gives students plenty of opportunities to put on plays, hold recitals and participate in exhibitions. Every student is expected to have had the opportunity to put their education into into real world practice before they graduate.

Students have opportunities for travel experiences as a part of their academic experiences.  They have participated in archaeological digs in Jordan, traveled to the Parliament of World Religions in Sydney, Australia, participated in mission trips to China and Haiti, and visited financial institutions in London.

Great Teaching

Recently a McMurry student wrote a book about his life. In his book he detailed his rise from poverty and a crime ridden neighborhood to his being on the brink of graduation and entering the working world. He said that he could only have written and published this book because his professors taught him how to write coherent sentences. His professors taught him discipline. His professors taught him critical thinking that allowed him to analyze his life experiences and make sense of what has happened to him. That, in the end, is what McMurry teaching is all about. Professors are challenged to take students where they are when they arrive and develop their potential to their maximum. Professors work carefully with students to get to know them and develop their abilities. But the professors also challenge students to do their best and explore the ethical ramifications of their behavior.

The goal of the McMurry professor is to cultivate the student to achieve whatever it is that the student might want to do. Three books have been written by McMurry students in the last several years, as well as several award winning plays and critically reviewed research papers in the social and hard sciences. Caring and challenging teaching demands the best of student and helps them demand the best of themselves.

Vibrant Community

Students at McMurry University are surrounded by a vibrant community that offers them many unique opportunities to get involved and keep them engaged outside the classroom. There is a wide-range of social and service clubs, and special interest and academic organizations designed to immerse students into the campus environment, provide leadership opportunities and enhance classroom learning.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) sponsors hosts diverse events that educate and entertain students like guest speakers, movies, BBQ’s, hypnotists, and more. Students that live on campus have the opportunity to live, learn and grow in our residential communities. These communities host programs in the residence halls and around campus that help cultivate community. We have a Residence Life Hall Chaplain program that allows students to serve one another through leadership and service within the residence halls.

Students are also given the opportunity to grow spiritually at McMurry by participating in a variety of different Religious Life events. From our weekly Chapel service to one of our annual mission trips, students learn to serve and live in an authentic community with one another.

Successful Outcomes

The goal at McMurry is to cultivate successful students. Through classroom learning and student life activities, the university strives to develop the natural talents of each student so that when they graduate, they are primed for success. This is done first through classroom learning and outside workshops, lectures, and other activities that are a part of student life. Second, maximizing student success is accomplished through example. Each faculty and staff member knows that they are to model behavior for their students.  Courtesy, wisdom, and graciousness will be demonstrated when staff or faculty members meet with students, whether in the cafeteria, the hallway, the classroom, or the playing field. McMurry believes its faculty should model successful outcomes for students. Faculty have a calling and a passion for the university and want to share their passion with students.

Finally, after teaching students the basics and modeling behavior, students are allowed to experiment.  Whether it is classroom projects or internships, leadership posts in student organizations or athletic teams, or opportunities that exist in the Abilene community, students are encouraged to try new things.  The message to students is: “You know the lessons from class. You have seen people model behavior here on campus. Now go and try it yourself.” And McMurry students respond. They participate in fundraising projects to benefit the victims of a natural disaster. They compete in business start-up competitions. They attend conferences and workshops.  When a student fails, he is mentored by caring serving leaders, and when he succeeds, he receives a pat on the back. The goal of the university is that when students graduate, they are ready for the world beyond a college campus. They are ready for success.