Academics
“Keeping education in its purest form alive and well in the heart of the Northwest,†The Evergreen State College offers “a unique approach†to academics. The school provides an “interactive environment—with a diverse, enriching learning method,†which allows students “to focus on [their] passions and explore them in detail.†Everyone creates their own educational paths and directs the pace of their own learning. As a few students say admiringly, “I feel a sense of freedom with the academics at Evergreen.†“I have more power as a student.†Greatly appreciated is the flexibility found within the curriculum. “I was excited about building my own major.†“No self-motivated student will leave Evergreen unsatisfied.†Students work collaboratively here and support one another in their endeavors. “It’s not about grades or competition; it’s about self-improvement and personal fulfillment.†Evaluations are used to view student progress, with “interdisciplinary education over declared majors†being the focus. “Your classes are all interconnected, so it’s easy to link what you’re doing into a defined path.†“My transcript says more about me than A’s, B’s, and C’s possibly could.†“The philosophy...definitely lowers the stress I experience around academics.†Professors assist students in innumerable ways and are “very intimately involved in the education of their students.†“At Evergreen, in order to have a great experience, you need to be able to talk to your professors and engage with them.†“I have not met a professor yet who was not willing to rework their mode of teaching to better serve the class.†The educational atmosphere is highly interactive. Almost every student “actively engages the material with field work, undergraduate research, and extended trips.†“Class time is spent doing workshops, seminars, or a led discussion where everyone participates.†“Even the science programs involve large portions of discussion and peer collaboration.†As one undergraduate describes slyly, “My professors have been A++, if Evergreen assigned grades.â€