Christian Brothers University (CBU)

Students of the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee say the school “provides a complete education for the future� by “stressing the importance of service to the community at large� and providing “approachable, available professors� who “are dedicated to helping us learn and succeed in the ‘real world.’� “Small class sizes allow� students to “really know your professors, [and] allow for more opportunities to get involved academically and professionally.� Students praise their professors, saying they “love the level of engagement in the classroom. . . . Each of them know the students well and the material even better. They give a whole new life to the otherwise tedious work and lecture.� And while their “classes may be challenging,� students say that they get out what they put in. Faculty here “are all very willing to provide help if needed,� and “all professors are fair in their grading.� Many students found their education “very applicable to real-life situations.� However, some complain that their professors have been in academia too long and have lost focus on business or career realities and therefore “don’t really make their lessons interesting or relevant to what’s going on today.� Because of this, “in some of the courses,� one business major told us, “I feel like I have to teach myself.� Others complain that the science equipment has spent a bit too much time on campus as well: “The school could improve by providing more up to date equipment, especially in the science lab where equipment from over thirty years ago is still used when it needs to be replaced.�

Students tell us that most of their peers “are very open-minded and accepting, which allows them to fit in easily in nearly any situation.� Everyone agrees that CBU students are “studious during the week, but still can socialize during the weekend and can commit themselves to extra-curricular activities such as community work, Greek life, or intramurals.� Beyond those extra-curriculars, “there are very few campus interactions between students enrolled in different majors� because “each School has their own building� where the majority of its classes are held. In the end students say “we all fit in with our own cliques of friends, but rally together as one when the time comes to show just how great CBU is.�

Students who are involved in campus activities say they “love on campus life� because “there are always activities being organized by the various on campus groups and organizations� and the school maintains “a fun and safe environment for everyone.� Others are more likely to “keep [their] nose to the grindstone to get in and get out like most students.� Generally CBU students “tend to get involved in one organization very extensively, and this defines what kind of activities they do for fun.� Most students agree that commuters don’t take as active a role in campus activities at CBU. When asked about campus life, one commuter students simply told us, “I’m a commuter student,� while other commuters explained that “there is nothing to do for commuters here at Christian Brothers� because campus events cater to those who “live in on-campus housing.� Some students look elsewhere for social opportunities: “I take full advantage of the educational opportunities that CBU offers and spend my recreational time at the University of Memphis campus. This decision has somewhat provided me with a ‘best of both worlds’ situation.�