Academics
Pacific University is a rapidly growing liberal arts college 鈥渘estled in an extremely small and quiet town鈥 in Oregon. Facilities are generally 鈥渘ew and up-to-date.鈥 Classes are small. 鈥淭he science programs are top notch鈥 and 鈥渁 very good optometry program also draws students.鈥 Some arts and humanities programs are 鈥渓acking,鈥 though. 鈥淚t is frustrating being involved in a major that isn鈥檛 a science major,鈥 admits a sophomore. 鈥淭he adjunct professors seem to be a little more lost鈥 but the 鈥渁pproachable, flexible鈥 full-time faculty is 鈥渢he number one strength of Pacific, hands down.鈥 鈥淚鈥檝e had nothing but positive experiences with my professors,鈥 reflects a biology major. 鈥淔or the students who are committed and really want to learn, professors will bend over backwards to help them.鈥 Some students tell us the administrators are 鈥渧ery student oriented.鈥 Others gripe that getting into classes can be a challenge and call the administration 鈥淧acific graduates who couldn鈥檛 get jobs elsewhere.鈥
Student Body
The 鈥渓aidback,鈥 mostly 鈥渦pper middle-class鈥 students here tend to come 鈥渇rom Oregon and the surrounding states,鈥 or from Hawaii. Some caution that 鈥淭he two groups do not mix well at all.鈥 In the cafeteria, 鈥渢he left side is full of Hawaiian students and the right side is for the white students.鈥 This unique divide notwithstanding, 鈥淧acific is made up of a wide range of personality types.鈥 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 odd in an interesting way.鈥 鈥淭here are some jocks.鈥 There are 鈥渉ippie-like students.鈥 There is the contingent that is 鈥渟tudious and extremely busy鈥 and 鈥渢here are the slackers.鈥 鈥淭here are people who don鈥檛 party at all and there are those who go to parties every weekend.鈥 鈥淵ou鈥檒l never feel like a freak or an outcast,鈥 promises a first-year student. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what your beliefs and opinions are; you are accepted as you are.鈥 Politically, this campus tilts left, though students with 鈥渢he chutzpah to attempt activism鈥 contend that their peers 鈥渁re very apathetic.鈥 Students without self-professed chutzpah say they don鈥檛 see much point in 鈥渋neffective protests.鈥
Campus Life
The food at Pacific gets a lot of complaints. 鈥淪ome dishes are done very well. Others look like something you鈥檇 plaster a wall with.鈥 Also, though some of the athletic programs are pretty good, 鈥渟chool spirit is a little bit lacking鈥 as well. Otherwise, students here rave about their 鈥渃omfy and beautiful environment.鈥 For fun, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a lot of just hanging out.鈥 The Hawaiian Club throws 鈥渁n amazing luau each year鈥 and 鈥渢here generally is a party every weekend,鈥 but 鈥渕ost social gatherings are small.鈥 Forest Grove鈥檚 location 鈥渕akes it hard to find things to do off campus,鈥 says one student, 鈥渂ut forces me to find things to do within my residence halls with my friends鈥攖hat can lead to some crazy nights with board games. Every once and awhile there鈥檚 a party, but it's usually busted.鈥 鈥淧ortland is close, though, and so is the beach.鈥 鈥淗iking, kayaking, climbing,鈥 鈥渟nowboarding on Mount Hood,鈥 and outdoor activities galore are within easy reach. 鈥淚t鈥檚 best to bring a car,鈥 advises a sophomore.
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