More Than Just Going to School

Concorde's prime mission with its students is cut and dried. It's to prepare as quickly and effectively as possible to be successful in the health care career of their choice. To provide a quality health care education. However, driving to campus, attending class and driving home can become repetitive and make the education process laborious and boring.

There needs to be more than just going to school. Concorde's Departments of Student Affairs at all of our 16 campuses recognize this. They make sure there's more going on than simply attending class after class in the name of health care education.

Creating a culture beyond health care education

"Campus guests often comment that the Memphis campus environment is warm and friendly, referring to the interaction with both staff and students," said Mary Fry, Director of Student Affairs at Concorde's campus in Memphis, TN "I recognize that as one of the perks in attending our college."

"Our campus culture is a key contributor. As Director of Student Affairs, I encourage students to explore the campus and become part of the campus culture as opposed to going straight to the classroom and straight out the door when class is over. A student will gain so much when they become engaged in the culture. They soon will feel a sense of family and belonging."

Fry said students gather outside the walls of the classroom, inside in the wide hallways or outside on the veranda. There are benches for students to sit, talk and have lunch. Quiet areas like the Learning Resource Center provide good study areas. There also is a Student Central board in the main hallway listing community activities.

"The one thing that remains the same is the welcoming atmosphere," Fry said. "Students will be greeted with a smile and welcomed to cover over and join us."

Fry added that student Lamplighters play a large part in creating and maintaining that family campus culture among other students.

Beyond health care education in Garden Grove

Concordes campus in Garden Grove, CA hosts activities for students to enjoy and engage in outside the classroom. Thus far this year, the campus has hosted activities ranging from providing students with healthy foods and information on how to eat healthy, Super Bowl jersey day, selling valentines to benefit the American Heart Association, a student appreciation day complete with donuts and cupcakes and baseball opening day celebration where students wore the jerseys of their favorite teams. The campus also provides free dental care to the community out of its Dental Hygiene clinic.

"Additionally, we have popcorn day every Thursday in the Student Affairs Department," said Lori Liebman, MBA, Director of Student Affairs at Concorde - Garden Grove. "It does seem as if there is a party going on all the time, but we are just trying to make a fearful situation more fun for students and let them know how much we appreciate their choice to get their education from Concorde."

Beyond health care education in San Bernardino

According to Suzie Boozell, Director of Student Affairs at Concorde's campus in San Bernardino, CA, the campus holds events for students on every holiday, including pancake breakfasts, donuts, nacho day and much more.

"For Easter, we rented a bunny costume and went class to class handing out candy and taking pictures with the students," Boozell said. "To celebrate Memorial Day, we decorated the lobby with festive decorations and had the students sign stars with their loved ones' names on them who have served our country, and we hung them on the walls."

"Our goal is to make their time here as fun as possible while still focusing on the end result of graduating and finding a job in their career field."