Experiential Learning | High Point University

E periential Learning

Achieve your career goals with the Premier Life Skills experiences you’ll only find at HPU.

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”

– Vernon Law

Dear HPU Friend:

As The Premier Life Skills University, we believe in this simple idea: Experience is the best teacher.

To understand what I mean, simply consider these examples – all of which regularly take place on our campus.

It’s one thing to take a political science class on local government. It’s quite another thing to hand a hot meal and a patriotic T-shirt to a first responder to thank them for their service during a global pandemic.

It’s one thing to learn about educational disparities among inner-city youth in a social justice class. It’s quite another thing to work one-on-one with children in the community on a regular, impactful basis.

It’s one thing to take a class on building a business plan. It’s quite another thing to present your business plan to Netflix Co-Founder and serial entrepreneur Marc Randolph, then listen to his honest feedback and insights.

High Point University has dared to provide transformational education, where opportunities abound far beyond the classroom and lessons in higher learning become tutorials in higher living and making the world a better place.

Experience Is the Best Teacher

HPU’s learning model is distinctive.

A college education should focus on more than the attainment of a diploma. It should focus on professional development and personal transformation, too. We want to ensure HPU students are ready for life’s best opportunities. That is why we surround students with experiential learning.

The truth is, our families are eager to invest in an education that nurtures their student into a fruitful, principled individual who seeks to contribute positively wherever they are.

I witness it every day when I walk across campus to see HPU’s sculptures of historic figures as classical music plays across our Kester International Promenade or as I visit students in the Butterfly Café inside the Caine Conservatory, part of HPU’s $500 million investment in STEM programs.

HPU’s campus itself serves as a daily reminder to students that transformation is a way of life, not a singular event. Focused on rendering value and creating meaningful opportunities, HPU is preparing students for the world as it is going to be.

Major League Baseball player Vernon Law was right when he famously said:

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”

Heroes, Models and Mentors

We are blessed to have a unique campus community that not only educates our students inside the classroom but outside of it as well.

HPU students learn from world-class faculty who collectively bring stellar academics to the classroom. Our faculty do not merely “teach.” They are enablers of learning who serve as heroes, models and mentors for the next generation of leaders.

At HPU, freshmen can engage in undergraduate research, something most universities reserve for upperclassmen. Students also benefit from an extraordinary group of in-residence faculty who share valuable lessons with students. When students meet with these accomplished leaders, they begin to understand that they, too, can achieve success.

Our students volunteer nearly 500,000 hours every year with at least 40 local agencies, and they participate in dozens of service-learning courses that take them everywhere in the region.

Our faculty and staff tutor, volunteer, feed the hungry, help the poor, sit on local boards, live in nearby neighborhoods and contribute to the United Way of Greater High Point — a total of more than $3 million over the past 15 years. Yes, our entire HPU community serves as heroes, models and mentors for our students.

Internships, global education, undergraduate research and meaningful mentorship from faculty make students better equipped to connect with others of different backgrounds. Ultimately, real-world experience and practical advice help HPU students understand it’s not about what the world can give you. It’s what YOU can contribute to the world.

Students learn through these experiences what it truly means to be encouraged, coached and to grow holistically. As The Premier Life Skills University, our 99% success rate for graduates employed or continuing their education within 180 days of graduating is due, in part, to our focus on instilling a growth mindset and ensuring students are prepared to thrive amidst constant change.

I invite you to come see HPU’s unique experiential learning model for yourself.

Sincerely,

Nido R. Qubein President nqubein@highpoint.edu

Ultimately, real-world experience and practical advice help HPU students understand it’s not about what the world can give you. It’s what YOU can contribute to the world.”

Learn more about President Qubein’s distinguished leadership background.

– Albert Einstein

Theoretical Physicist

one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade

Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience. You need experience to gain wisdom.

E periential Learning:

A Foundational Pillar at HPU

Students Find the ‘Real’ in Life

Talk to any student or professor at High Point University, and you’ll notice that the word “real” comes up often.

For the past decade, HPU faculty have made sure at least a quarter of everything taught has an experiential component.

Why? Because professors want their students to stretch themselves, work in the community and find out firsthand what “real” means.

Students then discover for themselves that experience brings real-world context to classroom content. And with the university’s opportunities for internships, study abroad and research, they graduate prepared and ready to go.

Statistics back that up. 180 days after graduation, 99% of HPU graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school. That’s 14 points higher than the national average.

It happens, in part, because 25% of class time at HPU is devoted to experiential learning. Throughout these pages, you’ll discover how HPU weaves experiential learning into classroom curriculum and throughout our nationally ranked campus.

Going Global

Learn more about global programming at HPU!

Whether they want to spend a few weeks or months abroad, the Office of Global Education offers numerous programs, so students can pick the best option for them based on their academic, personal and professional goals. Through the 57 study abroad programs offered at HPU, students have opportunities to see the world while gaining the life skills experiences that will make an impact in their future careers. HPU’s Study Abroad programs deliver international academic experiences that enlighten, challenge and prepare students to lead lives of significance in complex, global communities. While any student can learn about another country, studying abroad provides deepened insight and meaning into a country’s culture, ways of thinking and lifestyle.

Grace Todd, ’22, right, works alongside Dr. Pamela Lundin, assistant professor of chemistry, left, inside a chemistry lab in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. Todd, a biochemistry major, is now attending medical school and was accepted into six medical schools before graduating.

Cultivating Scholarly Researchers

HPU’s Research Rookies Program works to incorporate new students into the university’s culture of research and creative works early in their undergraduate careers. The program builds a community of undergraduate scholars and research-related skills to prepare students for faculty-collaborative learning in one’s field. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works also offers several summer research programs. Getting involved in research and creative works helps students build unique credentials to distinguish themselves from the 2 million other students they’ll graduate among!

Not All About Acting Theater

students in the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design dive into all aspects of production — not just acting. With much of class dedicated to hands-on learning, professors cultivate an appreciation and understanding of artistic expression, visual literacy and design. Whether students choose to focus on performance, design and tech, or collaborative theater, they’re all required to work in the scene shop, lighting shop and costume shop. Together, they have the knowledge and experience it takes to produce art with an impact.

Research Rookie Spotlight: Dr. Brad Barlow and HPU undergraduate students, pictured below, work with data received from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

TOP 30 PROGRAM | HPU Department of Theater and Dance

Compressing ime

By accelerating access to opportunities, HPU students go on to do more, achieve more and be more.

HPU’s educational model has a mission to help students create capacity in their lives. When they arrive, their learning experience is immersive and ever-changing. Their education is really a four-year career where they’re treated as professionals, leaders, scholars and executives.

Equipped with state-of-the-art resources and technology, the educational environment at HPU mimics the real world and compresses time for students.

Consider where this combination of mentorship and cutting-edge tech takes students.

It’s no surprise that when HPU students graduate, they’re ahead of their peers and prepared to achieve more in all aspects of their lives.

Here is a glimpse into the ways HPU compresses time for students:

Hands-On at High Point

Market Interior design and visual merchandising design majors gain professional experience each semester at the High Point Market — one of the largest home furnishings industry trade shows in the world. At the semiannual event, students network and learn from industry leaders around the globe. Not only is this hands-on experience impressive on a resume, but it has opened the door to impressive career opportunities for graduates!

HPU TV Studio

In the HPU TV Studio, equipped with cutting-edge technology in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, students learn by doing. They produce high-quality news shows while gaining behind-the-scenes and oncamera experience in a professional-grade news setting. And with caring professors and coursework focused on their future, students graduate with the portfolio, industry knowledge and interview skills to land their dream job in journalism.

Training

on the

Field HPU athletic training graduate students learn to treat athletes who go into cardiac arrest on the field through a hands-on simulation. In the learning exercise held in partnership with HPU’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Guilford County EMS, HPU students use a high-fidelity mannequin to simulate an actual cardiac arrest patient.

Entrepreneurship Center

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving at HPU. In the Entrepreneurship Center, students craft sound business plans, pitch to investors for startup funding, brainstorm with business owners and connect with their peers. Through Annual Business Plan and Elevator Pitch Competitions, along with many other experiential learning opportunities, HPU students and graduates have the skills to lead successful business ventures.

Treating People, Not Patients

Students in HPU’s health care programs prepare for the industry’s future through clinical experiences in the community. In their clinical rotations, students work hands-on with medical professionals and patients. Interacting with patients develops a better understanding of the importance of holistic care and strong patient-provider communication, a critical skill that can only be perfected by practice.

Conference-Room Confidence

Executive boardrooms and conference rooms can be found all around campus, allowing students to present themselves in a corporate setting. In these rooms, students will present, conduct practice interviews and even network with guest industry professionals over lunch. So, when HPU students walk into their job interviews, they’ll feel at home in that environment.

rofessional Development

Paving the Path for Career Success

The Office of Career and Professional Development helps students build a resume and LinkedIn profile, prepare for job interviews, network and find internships. HPU’s Internship Guarantee Program covers five categories: career exploration, professional development and branding, networking, research, and interviewing. The Office of Career and Professional Development encourages students to visit their team early and often to make the most of their professional development journey at HPU! Through career advising, employer engagement events and endless professional development opportunities — students have the chance to grow, so they’ll be ready for the working world of the future.

Career Exploration in the City

HPU students benefit from career connections and professional development opportunities across the country. During fall and spring breaks, HPU in the City takes students to New York City and Washington, D.C., for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work for major organizations such as Bloomberg, Google and the United Nations. Whether you’re interested in government, communication, sports media, business, fashion or more — HPU in the City offers experiences for students to network with professionals and learn more about their industry of interest.

Engineer Pioneers

Students in the Webb School of Engineering gain hands-on experience in every engineering class! From conducting personal interviews freshman year with people of differing views on engineering issues to the senior capstone design project, experiential learning is integrated throughout all aspects of the engineering program. Students also build personal relationships with professors committed to helping them grow.

Marketing and Business Insights

Students use real biosensors in the Beacon Lab to conduct marketing and business research. The biosensors measure brain activity, heart rate and more while the subject is looking at a piece of content. The information collected tells students how engaged someone is with the content and the emotions they are feeling. Access to this information and technology is one of the many factors that inspire innovation and understanding in students.

192 PRIME and Alo:

Two of the Nation’s Most Unique Learning Labs

While some universities provide an etiquette class during a student’s senior year, HPU provides students with four years of career preparation inside two different fine-dining restaurants. HPU uses 1924 PRIME and Alo as professional, real-world settings to teach the art of persuasion, effective communication and how to navigate common exchanges, such as an interview over a meal, which help HPU students stand out.

1924 PRIME, HPU’s flagship restaurant, and Alo, HPU’s newest boutique hotel restaurant, provide the perfect atmosphere for students to engage in a unique type of learning laboratory. At 1924 PRIME, students practice their interview skills in a setting where they can develop confidence while at the same time gaining familiarity with international cuisine and culture. In Alo, students practice interviewing, focus on continental dining style and learn to be comfortable with European dining etiquette and protocol. The caring, knowledgeable staff inside 1924 PRIME and Alo guide students through proper table etiquette.

While a weekly visit to 1924 PRIME or Alo is included in student dining plans, reservations are required — and no cell phones are allowed. During their experience, students learn the importance of fully engaging with others.

“I’ve never had any anxiety when having a seat at the table because HPU did such a stellar job integrating business and dining etiquette into our college experience. Visiting 1924 PRIME was something my friends and I looked forward to each week. Without knowing it, we were walking out with more than just full stomachs. We were walking out with knowledge of how to be comfortable and prepared in these business settings.”

—Taylor Helson, ’21, Assistant Merchandiser and Marketing Coordinator at Violino USA

“HPU helped prepare me for the third-round interview of my job at Marsh McLennan Agency through 1924 PRIME, one of HPU’s fine-dining learning labs on campus. 1924 PRIME taught me everything I needed to know about etiquette to ace the interview and land the job.”

—Annie Zupon, ’22, Senior Associate Advisor

“The interview process for my internship included a lunch component and multiple business lunches over the summer. Having the opportunity to eat in a fine-dining learning lab like 1924 PRIME allowed me to feel confident. I never had to second guess myself on what I should be doing while eating.”

—Tyler Maher, ’20, Senior Audit Associate at KPMG International Cooperative

“The countless opportunities at 1924 PRIME and Alo, HPU’s finedining learning labs, made me feel comfortable and relaxed in an otherwise high-pressure setting. I was able to differentiate myself from the other candidates by having the business acumen to understand the proper way to conduct myself over a meal.”

—Kate McCarthy, ’23, Client Services Development Program at Visa

“After securing my internship position, I was invited to meet with the executive team for dinner at an upscale restaurant. I felt very comfortable having dined at 1924 PRIME, where I learned the life skills required to give the best impression. High Point University prepared me to be confident in any setting.”

—Elijah Choice, ’22, Banker Associate at OneUnited Bank

‘Cuisine & Culture’ Series

Each month, 1924 PRIME and Alo are pleased to showcase the cuisine and culture of important international or regional destinations all around the world as part of the “Cuisine & Culture” series.

Success in Any Scenario

Imagine you just graduated and are interviewing for career opportunities. A prospective employer offers you an interview over lunch or dinner. What do you do if your university didn’t prepare you?

When HPU graduates enter the workforce, they not only know how to ace the interview, but they’re also comfortable and confident in various business settings. This prepares them for a lifetime of success. Just picture it: after you accept the job offer, your boss asks you to take an international client to dinner. Or you’re meeting colleagues after work to offer a major proposal.

Whatever the scenario, HPU students graduate ready.

‘Your Professional Brand’ Series

1924 PRIME and Alo host the life skills development program alongside the Office of Career and Professional Development, faculty and industry professionals. The series propels students forward on their professional journey. Sessions include:

• Crush the Dinner Interview: Tips and techniques to navigate the new interview location of choice for employers – the restaurant.

• Dress for Success: This series instructs students on what (and what not) to wear for a positive first impression and beyond.

• Leadership and Life Skills: Students discuss and discover the importance of motivation, personal initiative, coachability and other skills employers say they need most in new hires.

• The Pathway to Professionalism: Students are presented with effective strategies to grow their career to C-suite level.

A New York Times article titled “How to Hire the Right Person” highlights the fact that taking a candidate to lunch or dinner is one of the most revealing and important parts of the hiring process, according to employers.

at Marsh McLennan Agency

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade

That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.

ccess to Innovators

Companies invest millions of dollars each year to provide opportunities for employees to attend conferences and engage in professional development. But HPU has built this into the four-year academic journey, compressing time for graduates and helping them stand out from the competition in job and graduate school interviews.

High Point University’s All-Star In-Residence Lineup

Apple Computer Inc.

INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE

Steve Wozniak

Apple Computer Co-Founder

ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE

Marc Randolph

Netflix Co-Founder

SPORTS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Cynt Marshall

CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Former Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Russell Weiner

Domino’s CEO

EXECUTIVE COACH IN RESIDENCE

Dr. John C. Maxwell

Bestselling Author and Internationally Renowned Leadership Expert

JOURNALIST IN RESIDENCE

Byron Pitts

Co-Anchor of ABC’s “Nightline”

ACTOR IN RESIDENCE

Dean Cain

Famed Actor, Producer, Television Presenter and Former Football Player

TALENT ACQUISITION EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Dee Ann Turner

Former Vice President for Talent at Chick-fil-A

GLOBAL LEADER IN RESIDENCE

William “Bill” E. Kennard

Former U.S. Ambassador and Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

BROADCASTER IN RESIDENCE

Joe Michaels

22-year Former Director of NBC’s “TODAY” Show

CORPORATE EDUCATOR IN RESIDENCE

Scott McKain

Bestselling Author, Business Consultant and Trainer

SPORTS REPORTER IN RESIDENCE

Bob Ryan

Famed Sportswriter for The Boston Globe; known as “The Quintessential American Sportswriter”

HPU is continually finding innovative ways to equip students with the life skills and experiential learning they need to excel in a competitive workforce. That’s why you’ll find global industry leaders regularly engaging with and mentoring students on HPU’s campus as part of our Access to Innovators Program

This is only a glimpse of the industry titans HPU attracts to campus. Learn more about HPU’s evergrowing lineup of innovators.

SPORTS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Charlie Freeman

President of Business Operations with Orlando Magic

LEADERSHIP EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Mark Sanborn

Bestselling Author, Speaker and President of Leadership Development Idea Lab Sanborn & Associates

SALES PROFESSIONAL IN RESIDENCE

Larry Quinn

Director of HPU’s Professional Selling Program and Former National Sales Training Manager at Xerox

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Ben Owen III

American Studio Potter

DENTAL INNOVATOR IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Rick Workman

Founder of Heartland Dental

HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Ellen Zane

CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Willie Jolley

Hall of Fame Speaker and Bestselling Author

CLERGY IN RESIDENCE

Rev. Dr. J. Alexander

“Al” Ward

Former Senior Pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Marilyn Sherman

Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Chris Ullman

Founder of Ullman Communications LLC, a Strategic Advisory Firm

DESIGNER IN RESIDENCE

Gary Inman

President of Gary Inman Interior Design

HEALTH CARE EXPERT IN RESIDENCE

Sue Downes

CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr.

Men orship Matters

HPU students are regularly mentored by these global leaders. Their time with students on campus results in life-changing moments and long-lasting relationships. Hear from just a few students who have been impacted:

Having Mr. Wozniak on campus shows us what we can become, and no other university provides students the opportunity to engage with leaders at this level. We were able to ask questions and hear more about the steps he took to get to where he is. It’s inspiring.”

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and HPU’s Innovator in Residence, works with students across all majors to generate ideas and be inventive in their problem-solving.

– Class of 2023 engineering student Aidan Kelley, who worked with Wozniak during his freshman year

It is an honor to have the privilege of not only hearing Marc Randolph speak at our school but to also pitch my business ventures to him and get feedback on my ideas. The in-residence innovators, like Marc Randolph, are one of many extraordinary aspects of High Point University and one of the key reasons I chose this school.”

Getting feedback from Byron has given me the opportunity to expand on the knowledge I already had and grow as a journalist and broadcaster. My parents and I have seen his stories on TV, and now I have a connection with him. At HPU, I can see how he works as a journalist, and how he works to find his stories and tell them to a national audience.”

Cynt Marshall invited me and a few other students to her Dallas office for a day. It was a whirlwind! She let us sit in on all of her meetings. It showed me various aspects of the sports industry. I connected with her general counsel, and that experience convinced me that I wanted to be a lawyer. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity at any other university.”

– Class of 2021 sport management and political science major Grace George, who is now in law school

Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence, regularly meets with students to hear and offer feedback on their business plans.

– Class of 2021 business administration major Mack Bonvallet, who presented his business, Ohana Lock, to Randolph

Byron Pitts, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence, works closely with students inside HPU’s Nido R. Qubein School of Communication on the art of storytelling.

– Class of 2022 journalism major Thomas Hart, who interviewed Pitts on the university’s Access to Innovators podcast

Dallas Mavericks CEO and HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence Cynt Marshall works with students on identifying their values and growing their leadership skills.

Cha pion Connections

How Students Connect With Global Leaders on HPU’s

Campus

At HPU, students have unprecedented access to industry innovators. When they visit campus, it’s not to swoop in, give a speech and leave.

Here are merely a few examples of how innovators connect with HPU students in ways that are unheard of on other college campuses:

1

Developing Your Business Plan

The first CEO of Netflix has helped dozens of HPU student entrepreneurs launch their successful and innovative startup companies. Students receive real feedback and action steps from in-residence faculty like Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence.

2 Food and Fellowship

If you watched Bob Ryan on ESPN or read his prolific sports reporting for The Boston Globe, you might find yourself in awe when you have lunch with him at HPU’s sports grill, The Point. That happens regularly when Ryan, HPU’s Sports Reporter in Residence, visits campus. It’s common for other leaders to have lunch with students and provide mentorship over meals during their visits to campus, too.

3

How to Land That Job

This straightforward Q&A session provides real-talk about how students can land the job of their dreams, and it’s always on the agenda for every inresidence faculty member. With corporate stars like former VP of Talent at Chick-fil-A and HPU’s Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence Dee Ann Turner on the roster, the session gives students takeaways to immediately implement in their job search process.

Career Connections

The connections students make with these global leaders last beyond graduation and throughout their professional careers.

When Jake Wilkins, ’20, met HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence and Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall his junior year, she connected him with contacts that opened doors to a summer marketing internship with the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Texas.

Many students land impressive internships that can be partially credited to the guidance and connections from HPU’s in-residence leaders. And while those internships make for impressive resume boosters and set students ahead of competing graduates — their connections and mentorship are lasting.

Two full years after Wilkins’ internship in Dallas ended, his industry connection with Marshall came full circle in 2021 when he returned home to the Dallas Mavericks full-time as a marketing coordinator in the Community Relations and Mavs Foundation Department.

4

Go-Getting Internships

Picture this: You meet the Co-Anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence Byron Pitts on campus and exchange phone numbers. You meet up when Pitts is on campus. Then he helps guide you through internship applications for ABC and you land a 10-week internship in New York City with “Nightline.” It’s not a dream – it’s real life for HPU students thanks to the opportunities the Access to Innovators Program provides.

5

24/7 Access to Practitioners

Joe Michaels and Larry Quinn teach and mentor on campus daily. For more than 20 years, Michaels directed NBC’s “TODAY” show. Now, he coaches communication majors inside HPU’s state-of-the-art TV Studio. Quinn has been a top executive in sales and marketing for companies like Xerox, and he leads HPU’s Professional Selling Program and Sales Center. You can find many more practitioners throughout HPU’s faculty, bringing students 24/7 access to decades of real-world experience.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is:

‘What are you doing for others?’

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. American Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist

one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade

S rvice Learning Creates Servant Leaders

Service Learning provides real-world context to classroom concepts. And with nearly half a million hours of service each year, HPU sets a standard that inspires every student to serve.

Service Learning is more than volunteering.

HPU’s Service Learning Program engages students in experiential and interdisciplinary learning environments that promote their understanding of and commitment to responsible civic leadership.

With more than two dozen service-learning courses each year, students take part in numerous service projects that align with the learning outcomes of their classes.

Students serve by becoming engaged in local politics, contributing to community development, serving at local nonprofits and supporting social enterprise opportunities. HPU students have worked with a variety of organizations including Business High Point - Chamber of Commerce, YWCA, High Point Arts Council, Open Door Ministries, Guilford County Schools, High Point Museum, YMCA and the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club.

At HPU, students are taught how to become responsible citizens and contributing members of society.

And it starts as soon as students step foot on campus their freshman year. Upon preparing for move-in, students are instructed to bring a copy of their favorite children’s book to donate to a local elementary school. Then, students participate in HPU’s Welcome Week Bike Build, where they work with a team of other students to build a bike and surprise a child in the local community with it. This sets a standard of service that students will continue to embrace throughout their journey at HPU.

Watch this news segment on HPU’s 2022 Freshman Bike Build!

The HPU family dedicates nearly 500,000 HOURS OF ANNUAL SERVICE to the local community and beyond.

According to the national valuation of service hours, that translates into an impact of almost $15 million each year.

Lear ing by Serving

Through service-learning courses, clubs, events and projects, students go on to lead lives not only of success but of significance.

HPU students have access to numerous opportunities to learn while contributing to their community. Apart from service-learning courses, HPU students enjoy 200-plus clubs and organizations — many of which provide opportunities for students to raise funds for food, health care and educational needs.

Here are just a few of the experiential service opportunities that instill the importance of giving back in students:

Sharing Science: HPU’s

Mobile Lab HPU’s Mobile Lab is a science lab on wheels and is staffed by HPU undergraduate science faculty and students. Integrated into the HPU undergraduate science curriculum, it allows students to create experimental modules on campus and increase accessibility to experimental sciences in the community. Student-driven experiments are conducted together with High Point community partners in the lab.

History Comes Alive with History Detectives

Students

in the History Detectives class discover how historians work to find and uncover historical facts. The class works collaboratively to research, interpret and present their findings on a historical problem that has affected the community. “I think this has been a model of how service learning can benefit both the students and the community with which they work,” says Paul Ringel, associate professor of history.

Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic

Located in High Point, the state-of-the-art Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic serves members of the High Point community who have unmet physical therapy needs. It aims to improve the health and quality of life of the underserved by providing exceptional, free physical therapy services to people who are underinsured or not insured.

Martin Luther King

Jr. Day Each year, faculty, staff and students spend MLK Jr. Day partnering with the community to complete more than 40 service projects. Service projects often include packaging meals, planting community gardens, painting buildings, hosting a teach-in and more. The projects take place on HPU’s campus and at partner organizations throughout the city of High Point.

Veterans Day High Point University honors hundreds of men and women who have served the nation during its Annual Veterans Day Celebration

The event includes a complimentary breakfast for 1,500 veterans and their family members, a patriotic salute and recognizes students leading initiatives to support veterans. Keeping with its yearly tradition, the university also pledges 100 American flags to local nonprofits, schools and government buildings. At HPU, students are actively engaged to make a difference in the lives of veterans and display their appreciation.

Longitudinal Patient

Experience HPU pharmacy graduates treat people, not patients. In the Longitudinal Patient Experience course, each HPU pharmacy student is partnered with a local resident in the community for five semesters. In the course, pharmacy students experience connecting and caring for an individual over an extended period of time. The strong interpersonal skills it takes to make a good pharmacist are being taught to HPU students by experience.

Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s useum

The Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum serves the community by providing a place of wonder, discovery and inspiration for children. Designed for children of all ages, they explore surroundings that they may not have experienced or have yet to interact with – through play and experiential learning. The facility features two stories and 75,000 square feet of activities, making it one of the largest children’s museums in the state.

The children’s museum provides an integral link in service to High Point University, which shares its resources as a conduit for internships, volunteers and experiential learning for early education instruction. The museum offers a unique mix of discovery, play and excitement through learning lab exhibits. And it’s located just two blocks from campus.

Here are just a few of the fun-focused educational environments children will experience:

The Mars Academy

High Point’s First STEAM Lab Powered by

HPU

Standing for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, this is a flexible space where children create, invent and build. Here children practice programming robots, designing and testing fast cars, and building objects to fly in the Launch Tube.

Outdoor Adventure Zone

Children can search for real fossils in the Dino Dig; play and learn in the open-air amphitheater; or explore the butterfly and pollinator gardens.

Cadets are introduced to life aboard a space vessel, imagining themselves in the module with their crew as they measure their Mars weight, report to Mission Control and practice their flight skills.

Art Studio

Each week staff and volunteers will offer a new project for visitors that sparks creativity, imagination and fun. Young artists learn techniques such as collage, watercolor, building with reusable materials and more.

One-Of-A-Kind Exhibit Steve Spangler, HPU’s STEM Educator in Residence, unveiled a life-size version of his Energy Stick science toy that no other museum in the world has. The Energy Stick demonstrates the flow of electrons that travel across a person’s body, completes a circuit, and then triggers the stick to light up and make a sound. This one-of-a-kind exhibit provides yet another experiential learning opportunity for early education instruction introducing young minds to the concept of simple circuits.

HPU Bonner Leaders

The Bonner Leader Program is a national service program only found on select college campuses. They are servant leaders who connect HPU students to nonprofits and social innovation projects in the Greater High Point area. They help other students learn to serve well. At the Qubein Children’s Museum, HPU’s Bonner Leaders work with staff to contribute to valuable programming and serve children in the community through exciting, educational experiences.

LEGO Showcase

HPU’s Stout School of Education faculty and students host a LEGO learning lab. This free event for the community shifts the focus of learning from being contained within classroom walls to being a lifelong exploration in a fun, interactive environment. Engineering competitions, machine building, robotics and storytelling with LEGOs are just a few of the STEM activities children enjoy. In addition to strengthening STEM lessons, the activities promote teamwork and communication among children. And with the HPU LEGO Maker Lab inside the museum, children can learn with LEGOs year-round.

There’s more to life than being a passenger.

– Amelia Earhart American Aviation Pioneer and Author one of 50 inspiring historical leaders displayed along the Kester International Promenade

PU’s Intentional Campus:

This 520-acre classroom is designed to foster student success.

Spend no more than 15 minutes on campus, and it’s clear that HPU is committed to experiential learning.

Modern science and engineering facilities are housed on HPU’s $500 million Innovation Corridor, while communication, business, education and other academic facilities are located along HPU’s Kester International Promenade.

These facilities have grand lobbies that mimic Fortune 500 companies or glass walls similar to Silicon Valley headquarters.

Why?

Because HPU knows that students rise to the level of their environment. Every corner of HPU’s campus is intentionally designed to provide opportunities to grow, connect, collaborate and inspire.

HPU’s campus is truly a 520-acre classroom. When our students land an internship or job interview, their level of awareness, maturity, professionalism and ability to succeed has been accelerated thanks, in part, to their campus environment.

The following pages provide a glimpse of real-world learning labs that live on HPU’s campus.

Culp Planetarium

The Wanek School of Natural Sciences is home to the Culp Planetarium, one of the nation’s brightest planetariums. The three-story, 6,000-square-foot learning lab includes 125 seats and a 50-foot dome with a 4K projection screen and a state-of-the-art surround sound system. The facility is equipped with programming to teach astronomy, earth science, anatomy and a variety of STEM lessons for HPU students, as well as elementary, middle and high school-age groups in the community. But the immersive, experiential opportunities in the Culp Planetarium extend far beyond just STEM — performing arts students integrate the facility and technology into unique productions, too.

Caine Conservatory

The Caine Conservatory offers students a special space to conduct research, enjoy a meal at the Butterfly Café and be inspired by beautiful plant life. “It’s an oasis on campus that also serves as a space for hands-on education,” says Jason Lattier, director of the Caine Conservatory.

A Ca pus That Coaches

Here are just a few ways High Point University’s campus has been cultivated into an environment that coaches. Schedule your visit to experience the entire campus, ranked among the Top 20 Most Beautiful in the Nation by The Princeton Review.

Schedule your personalized tour of HPU’s nationally ranked campus!

Patriotic Pride HPU is a God, family and country institution. Students are surrounded with reminders that while no nation is perfect, the United States is full of opportunities for anyone willing to work hard, help others and commit to purposeful living. It’s why American flags and patriotic imagery are featured throughout campus. The Kester International Promenade on campus is lined with flags representing all of the home countries of HPU students.

Sculptures of Historical Leaders

Classical music flows up and down the inspiring Kester International Promenade, where you’ll also find quotes from and sculptures of history’s most notable leaders — like the ones you’ve seen of Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Amelia Earhart featured on previous pages here. It’s because HPU President Nido Qubein believes that who you spend time with is who you become. By surrounding students with reminders of people who have positively impacted the world, students learn the “art of the possible.”

Study Spots All Around Campus

Libraries and comfortable study spaces are found throughout campus, so students always have access to a quiet study spot. Inside Cottrell Hall, you’ll find the airplane fuselage. It’s the perfect spot to meet for a study group or to practice your networking skills — so you’ll be ready to network in any setting!

Transformation Is in Our DNA!

A visual reminder of this is found in the lobby of Congdon Hall, home to the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, where a floor-to-ceiling DNA sculpture lights up. The 40-foot double helix sculpture of Z-DNA is a transient configuration that is symbolic of students’ journeys to becoming health care professionals and serves as a reminder of the innovative lab spaces and technology all around.

Nido and Mariana Qubein rena and Conference Center

A Hub of Experiential Learning

The Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center is HPU’s newest learning lab. It’s home to HPU Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, as well as a venue for major events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, academic symposia and recreational activities.

But more importantly, the 350,000-square-foot space is an educational facility where students “learn and grow, nourish their mind, nurture their soul and believe in the art of the possible,” according to HPU President Nido Qubein.

The opportunities for students in event management, hospitality, sport management, media production and more to gain hands-on experience in the Qubein Arena and Conference Center are endless.

Experience With an Edge

Designed to inspire greatness, the wood panels in the arena’s ceiling are reminiscent of what you’ll find at Madison Square Garden, and the architects who designed the arena also created the home court for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

To outsiders, they view the arena as “the place to be.” But for students, it’s “the place to become.”

With a wide variety of internships and experiential learning opportunities available, students play a huge part in helping run the arena. And they have fun while acquiring the life skills crucial to helping them succeed in business and in life. Media production students operate video and production equipment to broadcast major concerts, basketball games and community events on the state’s largest collegiate Jumbotron and other screens. These experiential opportunities are big — but they’re not out of the ordinary at HPU.

Take it from Class of 2022 media production and entrepreneurship graduate Emmy Beck-Aden who, with seven other students, broadcast the Train concert for thousands in attendance during Fall Family Weekend.

“This is a purposeful, intentional and caring place. The faculty and staff always go out of their way to provide students opportunities beyond the classroom. It’s what you can put on a resume and what can give you an edge wherever you go,” says Beck-Aden.

Read more and watch a quick video about this premier life skills experience!

This is a purposeful, intentional and caring place.”

Grammy Award-winning band Train took the stage at the Qubein Arena while HPU students broadcast the concert.

Emmy Beck-Aden

Emmy Beck-Aden, ’22, Production Coordinator at CNBC

Premier Life Skills xperiences

The conference center can hold as many as 2,500 people, be subdivided into nearly a dozen breakout rooms and become a place that can captivate any audience with an audiovisual system that includes 54 speakers and that’s 43 feet wide. But it’s more than just a beautiful room. It’s a place of connection for so many. Students will find an invaluable mentor when they conduct research with a faculty member and present their findings during a symposium inside the conference center. They’ll intern in the building, gain work experience in their major and attend a career fair where they’ll impress recruiters, land a job and see a dream become real.

And to event management graduate Nicole Butterworth, ’22, it’s a confidence booster. She had the opportunity to speak at the grand opening of the conference center — an opportunity that set her up for success in the real world.

“This place is more than just beautiful. It’s a confidence booster. I’ve never spoken in front of that many people before. At High Point University, I’ve learned that it’s important to put myself out there. Every time I do, I learn so much about myself and what I want to do. Our university prepares you for the real world, and I’m ready,” says Butterworth.

Nicole Butterworth

Together, Alo and the Kahn Hotel demonstrate what High Point University provides every student: A holistic education that goes beyond the classroom and prepares them for an ever-changing world.

Kahn Hotel

Adjoined to the Qubein Arena and Conference Center, the Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel offers more than simply elegance and comfort. It is really one big classroom. Students in hospitality management will learn firsthand what it takes to run a hotel. The Kahn Hotel is a learning lab integrated into the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication’s curriculum. This academic configuration sets HPU apart and gives hospitality management majors vital experience to succeed in their careers.

Connected to the hotel is Alo, HPU’s second fine-dining learning lab. Alo educates HPU students and helps them understand through experience the very definition of Alo — a verb that means to develop, foster and nourish.

Organized by the Office of Career and Professional Development, students network with recruiters from national and local organizations such as Coca-Cola Consolidated and Volvo at the Career and Internship Expo. Held twice a year in the conference center, every student has the chance to practice networking, tailoring their resume and professionalism.

Career and Internship Expo

Every single time I’ve come to the Career Expo, HPU never ceases to amaze me by the variety of companies they bring in. It is almost like a learning lab for students to get more experience speaking with employers and to see what they may be interested in pursuing.”

– Raya Riley, ’25, Criminal Justice Major

The Team Store and Panther Boutique

Operated by students, The Team Store and Panther Boutique is another area inside of the Qubein Center where students can find hands-on experience, and the ultimate design was greatly influenced by student designers. Students gain experience in customer service, product design and event management.

ocused on Outcomes

Thanks to HPU’s commitment to experiential learning, HPU students and graduates land impressive internships, jobs and graduate school placements. That’s why 99% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within 180 days of earning their degree – 14 points higher than the national average.

Here’s what just a few students had to say about how HPU helped them get to where they are now:

“HPU helped me through their direct focus on career and professional development. I attended many LinkedIn and mock interview sessions hosted by the Office of Career and Professional Development, which significantly helped me with my skills in obtaining an internship. HPU also helped me through its wide offering of alumni and family mentors.”

– Tyler Thomas, ’22, Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Plano, Texas

“HPU’s inspiring environment helped position me with like-minded individuals who also strive for success. Group and individual projects helped me build my communication and interpersonal skills as well. When it comes to the values and virtues at HPU that have made the most impact on me, the values of integrity and honesty are the most important to me.”

– Morgan Smith, ’23, Partner Marketing Specialist at Cisco Technologies

“Prior to HPU, I knew about life skills, but I’d never really thought about life skills in a business setting and how useful they can be. HPU really helped me figure out what my skills were and how to really hone in on specific ones.”

– Madison Ryan, ’21, Senior Guest Relations Coordinator at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium

“HPU provided me with the resources that I needed to become a wellrounded young professional, an independent thinker and a worldly contributor. From the professional development skills I learned from the Office of Career and Professional Development to the knowledge I acquired in class, I graduated from High Point University with a broad depth of knowledge and background that made me stand out from other graduates.”

– Mitch Rissmiller, ’19, Producer for TODAY All Day/Digital at NBCUniversal in New York, New York

“HPU has provided me with incredible life and interpersonal skills that helped me set myself apart in the workplace and to recruiters. The values modeled on campus and within student life inspired me to go after my dreams and made me believe that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. And the curriculum and organizations I’ve been a part of have provided me with real-world experiences that I can talk about during interviews.”

“HPU helped me prepare for my future goals by providing me with great opportunities, such as the ability to network with companies and leaders, access to Success Coaches and classes taught by professors with real-world experience. I also used the Office of Career and Professional Development for help with my resumé and advice on how to find the best job for me.”

“HPU’s hands-on, experiential learning allowed me to pursue topics I love outside the typical classroom setting. Unique programs such as the Willed Body Program gave me the opportunity to shadow as a lab assistant and gain hands-on experience that helped nurture and encourage my future goals and love for forensic science.”

High Point University graduates are finding success in industries and organizations around the globe. Read what more HPU grads have to say about how their university set them up for success, and see where they are now!

– Lexi Silverio, ’23, Master of Science in Forensic Medicine Candidate at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland

– Tiffany Selberg, ’22, Strategic Sales Coordinator at TikTok

– Austin Vohra, ’23, Project Controls Specialist at Duke Energy in Orlando, Florida

I hear and I forget, I see and I may remember, I do and I understand.

– Chinese Proverb