Academics
Carrying on Catholic traditions and teachings for 60 years, Sacred Heart University is beloved by students for its high levels of engagement with students, the community, and with hands-on work in the classroom. For instance, in biology and anatomy labs, one student had to “train [a fish] in order to apply what I was learning in class,” and exercise science labs feature advanced equipment like BioDex (a robotic measuring instrument that measures muscle strength) and Bod Pods (to measure body fat and lean body mass) “that allow you a unique lab experience.” Students praise the experience: “I’ve learned multiple clinical skills…that I know I will use during my career.” They also get a kick out of the experiential learning emphasized in study abroad programs: “Rather than sitting in a classroom and learning about ancient burial tombs, we actually took a scenic walking trip up the green hills of Ireland and saw the tombs in person.”
Many students have favorable opinions regarding the faculty at Sacred Heart. Professors are “very passionate about teaching and always want their students to succeed.” And they earn kudos for compassion. As one student attests, “My questions are always answered and my professors are very understanding when I have personal situations in my own life.”
Student Body
At Sacred Heart, “Everyone here welcomes you like family!” This sentiment stems from a variety of students who attribute it to a close-knit “community of peers” and a willingness to be “very accepting...even if there are differences.” They also chalk it up to an overall outgoing demeanor and suggest that the school’s medium size might actually drive students to participate in order to have “a big campus community” because when you “get involved and meet people [it makes] it seem bigger.” Other words frequently used to describe the student body include its “positive attitude” and good manners—“We are a door-holding campus”—and motivation to get involved in “loving and helpful” ways. As one student describes it, “I believe that no institution has students that love their school more than we do,” a sentiment that’s seemingly only grown in response to the pandemic. “Students have been even more kind and understanding of each other. It is a great community!”
Campus Life
Students at Sacred Heart continually mention opportunity, whether that’s being active in recreational or intramural sports, getting involved in the mentorship of younger students and high-schoolers through programs like Best Buddies or buildOn, or pursuing additional academic interests like the new neuroscience club or SHU Innovate, which helps students discover technology and its social and ethical implications. It’s rare to find a program that students aren’t enthusiastic about, no matter how specific: “I am on the Irish Dance Ensemble, one of the greatest teams I’ve been a part of.” And of course, there’s a strong ministry outreach, described by some as “the soul and heart of campus,” which “makes every single person feel welcome.” In short, “SHU is fun. Class, work, fraternity. I love it here.”
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