Much has been written about today’s “typical” college student. Surveys show that many focus on the “college experience”, which is usually defined by unlimited personal freedoms with few consequences. The goal is to have fun and, at the end of four years, emerge with a “piece of paper” that will hopefully open doors for good job opportunities. The education they receive is largely focused on the acquisition of knowledge—facts and figures that can be reproduced on an exam. To move from knowledge to understanding requires a different type of learning environment.
The move from understanding to wisdom is an even higher bar. Unfortunately, the modern college experience tends to extend adolescence rather than provide a serious time of transition and preparation for an impactful adult life. As a result, the average college graduate succumbs to complacency and mediocrity versus standing apart with humility, excellence, integrity, and a strong work ethic. These qualities require great intentionality if they are to be honed and cultivated.
At Patrick Henry College, Academic Rigor is a key component of developing the whole person—one who sees his natural abilities as gifts from God and recognizes the responsibility to steward those gifts for the glory of God and the good of others. What is meant by Academic Rigor? Merriam-Webster defines “academic” as relating to the academy (education) or learning while “rigor” is defined as something that is hard, precise, and challenging.
Considering the two words together, an appropriate definition of Academic Rigor might look like this:
“An academic environment where students learn at a high level requiring strict precision and discipline. This environment is academically challenging and even uncomfortable at times.”
But why does this matter?
To illustrate, a Gallup poll conducted by Strada Center for Education overwhelmingly confirms that the primary motivation for the majority of students attending undergraduate institutions is to obtain a good job or improved career outcomes. Given that career and work opportunities are the primary reason to attend an institution of higher learning, we ask the question: what kind of institution is going to best prepare you to perform well and obtain improved opportunities in the future?
Will the college you attend prepare you to excel, lead, serve, and thrive? Will your chosen college sufficiently equip you for the complexities, challenges, workload, and difficulties of the future? Without rigor—without being pushed beyond what you believed to be the limits of your capability—what kind of growth will you experience? [We all know the answer: no pain, no gain. A muscle must be worked to grow. The same is true for our skill development and spiritual growth.]
In 2023, Intelligent.com published a survey comprised of 800 companies and found that 4 in 10 employers avoid hiring recent college graduates. Fifty-eight percent said recent college graduates were unprepared for the workforce and nearly half of employers had to fire a recent college graduate. This study underscores a major disconnect between the reason why students attend college (career opportunities) and the actual outcome of their education.
The remainder of the results from the Intelligent.com survey is shocking and should be cause for pause for any potential college student and the families who have worked hard to prepare for this important next step. The survey also reported that during job interviews, recent college graduates displayed significant shortcomings: 53% struggled with eye contact, 47% dressed inappropriately, 27% used inappropriate language, 21% refused to turn on the camera during virtual interviews, and 19% brought a parent to the interview!
The employers who hired and supervised recent college graduates also found the graduates could not handle their assignments or the workload required of the position. Sixty-one percent of employers shared that recent college graduates are frequently late to work, and 59% miss deadlines and are late for meetings.
In light of the above, consider what happens when an employer discovers a young man or woman who is intelligent, creative, disciplined, has an excellent work ethic, can think clearly, write persuasively, and speak articulately.
“You’re hired! When can you start?! Where can I find more like you?!”
We find that nearly all PHC graduates applying for jobs not only get hired quickly, but once employed, they tend to excel quickly by exceeding their employer’s expectations in terms of professionalism, problem-solving abilities, clear and concise communication (both oral and written), and their ability to positively influence others.
This is the result of preparing and training rigorously for your vocation and for life. You stand apart. Academic Rigor in higher education leads to vocational excellence. This is why we are committed to pursuing Academic Rigor in every Patrick Henry College program.
Ask yourself this question when looking at a college: “Is this education rigorous enough to enhance my personal development, knowledge & skill level, spiritual growth, and vocational opportunities?”
Academic Rigor does matter. It is more than just the curriculum. It includes the manner in which one is taught, the types and quality of assignments, the integration of disciplines, the skills gained in the process of learning, and the mentorship of others both inside and outside of the classroom.
Education is not simply attending a college or collecting facts and knowledge; it’s about expanding one’s abilities and competencies in the world God has created. Education is about thinking, problem-solving, maturing, and growing in graciousness, humility, the understanding of others, and the world around you. People can have an exhaustive collection of information, but if they are incapable of interfacing with the world around them, it is of no consequence. Education is about forming the whole person, preparing an individual to find God’s calling in the world, and having a positive impact on those with whom we serve, lead, and work.
Patrick Henry College is unique. We want you to learn and achieve at a level far beyond the average college student. We want you to learn to write, speak, and think with excellence, but also with humility and kindness. We want you to obtain the knowledge and advanced skills that will help you lead and shape the world around you for Christ and for liberty. Excellence matters because it matters to our Lord, and we are His witnesses.
If that is what you are looking for, consider Patrick Henry College. Academic Rigor is one of the three commitments PHC makes, along with a commitment to an Unwavering Biblical Worldview and a commitment to the founding principles that gave rise to our nation. The PHC academic experience consists of an integrated 63-credit classical core, a real-world apprenticeship requirement, a premier forensics program, and unique upper-level coursework in every major. Our students consistently rank among the nation’s highest in collegiate testing, as measured by the ETS Profile. PHC’s law school-bound students average in the 95th percentile on the LSAT law school entrance exam. Patrick Henry College consistently ranks in the top of the nation in moot court, mock trial, and debate.
For more information on Patrick Henry College’s philosophy of education, please click the link below. May God bless you with wisdom and discernment as you select a college and seek to live well.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
