University of Redlands
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- I'm a leader in GIS mapping software and environmental studies.
- Treating everything from speech impediments to cleft palates at the Truesdail School of Communicative Disorders.
- My educational justice graduate program. Unfortunately, it isn't some kind of schoolyard superhero training…think more along the lines of ensuring fair treatment of all students regardless of race, gender, or disability. That's still pretty cool, super-powered or not.
- Giving my students the freedom to study nearly anything they want at the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. Do you want to major in underwater basket weaving? Or perhaps the philosophy of death? Hey, you can do both.
- Studying abroad is super easy—we even have a campus in Salzburg, Austria.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Flip-flops. SoCal is hot, so it's best to dress appropriately and join the ranks of foot thwacking.
- Camping gear. I'm surrounded by beautiful mountains and deserts for weekend adventures.
- Bathing suit. I've got a great pool at the Thompson Aquatic Center. Also, the beach is just a quick car ride away.
- Picnic blanket. For anything from study sessions to actual picnicking.
- Sunglasses. Yes, you can even wear them at night without people looking at you weirdly.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
Even though I do well and rank highly among my peer schools in this region, I'd never dream of bragging about my glorious accomplishments. But in case you happen to want to know, I'm ranked fifteenth in the nation and am considered an A+ school. I'm also an official "Top Producer" of Fullbright scholars.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I'm probably out partying one way or another. I might be...
- out at Frat Row
- at a show in LA
- dancing around a campfire in Joshua Tree National Park
- drinking cheap beer and shooting pool at a pub in town, like The Royal Falconer. Which is pretty much as awesome as it sounds.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Commons is where the main grub is, so naturally, my students flock to its alluring offerings.
- The Plaza Cafe is great for a quick snack or chill sesh. When you eat there, you also help support local farms since the chefs are required to buy at least 20% of their ingredients locally.
- The big front porches on some of the res houses are total hot spots for folks who want to get together and chitchat.
- The Hunsaker Center, a beautiful, newly renovated dining hall.
- Downtown Redlands is a bowlful of fun with a side of shenanigans. My personal favorite place here is the Pink Flamingo, a dive bar called "The Dirty Bird" by locals (you'll see why when you visit).
- The ultimate college meal can be had at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place downtown called Cuca's. Trust me, just try it. You're welcome.
Quirks:
- Students can take classes from regular CAS professors or Johnston Center classes, which are often taught by other Johnston students. You can take anything from Indonesian Self-Defense, to Women in Comedy courses.
- Everybody gets the benefit of traditional and experimental education. Students actually have the option to create their own majors. In the Johnston center, you get to make contracts with your professors, and receive narratives about your performance rather than letter grades.
- I have three semesters—two regular and one mini-mester in May called May Term, where students take just one class and do it quick and hyper-focused.
- There are orange groves on campus so you can pick a fresh orange on your way to class.
Famous Alumni:
- Warren Christopher, lawyer, diplomat, and politician
- Jack Spicer, poet
- Juanita Millendar-McDonald, politician and a California House Representative
- Skip Ewing, country singer and songwriter
- David Boies (not Bowie), lawyer