Seeing the light : religious colleges in twenty-first-century America / Samuel Schuman. [print]

part I. Introduction 1. An agenda for the study of religious colleges and universities 2. Contexts historical and denominational 3. Three Roman Catholic colleges and universities [College of New Rochelle, Villanova University, Thomas Aquinas College] ; part II. Baptist schools 4. Pro ecclesia, pro texana: Baylor University, Waco, Texas 5. A civil college: Anderson University, Anderson, South Carolina part III. Denominational colleges 6. "At the front lines of the culture wars": New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho 7. "To clear some part of the human jungle": Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan 8. Swedes and the city: North Park University, Chicago, Illinois pt. IV. Nondenominational Christian colleges and universities 9. Friends and/or friendly?: George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon 10. An island of piety in a sea of riches: Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California 11. "Expect a miracle": Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma 12. A Christian walk up north: Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minnesota 13. "For Christ and his kingdom": Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois part V. Conclusions 14. What can we learn?

Samuel Schuman examines the place of religious colleges and universities, particularly evangelical Protestant institutions, in contemporary American higher education. Many faith-based schools are flourishing. They have rigorous academic standards, impressive student recruitment, ambitious philanthropic goals, and well-maintained campuses and facilities. Yet much of the U.S. higher-education community ignores them or accords them little respect. Seeing the Light considers, instead, what can be learned from the viability of these institutions. The book begins with a history of post secondary U.S. education from the perspective of the religious traditions from which it arose. After focusing briefly on nonevangelical institutions, Schuman next looks at three Roman Catholic institutions--the College of New Rochelle, Villanova University, and Thomas Aquinas College. He then profiles evangelical colleges and universities in detail, discovering the factors contributing to their success. These institutions range from nationally recognized to little known, from rich to poor, with both highly selective and open admission requirements. Interviews with key administrators, faculty, and students reveal the challenges, the successes, and the goals of these institutions. --From publisher's description.

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