Goshen College is the place “where everything connects,” and through these connections many opportunities arise for students. 

Collaboration with other institutions can give academic and global experiences to students at GC, and in turn to others at other universities. Two of the programs available are through the global studies department and the physics department. 

The physics department works with Notre Dame, Case Western University and Valparaiso University. They provide a 3-2 program, three years at GC, then two years at one of the respective universities. 

Being a small liberal arts school, GC does not have programs for  specific engineering career paths like civil, mechanical or electrical, but can provide the foundational math and physics skills that can be applied at schools elsewhere. 

Paul Meyer Reimer, professor of physics, explained the advantages of the program.

“Our partners tell us that it is very good to be able to communicate with people, to be able to write well. They are very appreciative of Goshen grads and their abilities to communicate and have a broader view of the world.” 

Being able to attend a liberal arts college then getting an engineering degree can combine the advantages of a liberal arts perspective and engineering rigor.  

The connections with these schools come from relationships that current and former faculty have. 

Meyer Reimer said, “I was a postdoc at Notre Dame. Professor Bob Buschert [former Goshen professor of physics] was on the faculty at Purdue and we had interactions with Notre Dame. … Case Western, was [connected by] another professor Carl Helrich who graduated from there — so when he came to Goshen he said, ‘How about I have a program with my alma mater.’” 

These connections have lasted around two decades with the latest addition being Valparaiso in 2023. To attend Notre Dame, a student needs a 3.6 GPA. Case Western and Valparasio require a 3.0 GPA.

Another strong connection can be found through Global Engagement and the Study Service Term as they work with other Mennonite universities. Through a network called the Consortium, which includes Bluffton University, Eastern Mennonite University and GC. 

Jerrell Ross Richer, co-director of global engagement, spoke on the relationship with these institutions. 

“We have a program where a student from Goshen College could go, for example, and participate in a program at EMU. Right now we have two students who are at an EMU program in Washington D.C. and it’s called the Washington Community Scholars Center.”

Washington scholars is a full semester program. EMU students take part in GC programs as well, participating in SST, several of whom are in Tanzania. 

With this relationship students are able to expand their opportunities. Ross Richer says, “I think it’s fun for our students to have a chance to interact with students from other universities in our programs. And definitely what they are offering in Washington for our two students this semester is something we could offer … but through the consortium it becomes a possibility.” 

Currently there are students from EMU participating in SST in Tanzania.