Info for Parents

Dear Parent or Guardian,

I would like to thank you for supporting your son or daughter as they prepare to embark on a new journey of personal and professional development.

Founded by the Plowshares Collaborative of Earlham, Goshen and Manchester Colleges, the Institute launched its first off-campus study program in 2004.  One of the many benefits of a liberal arts education is the opportunity and freedom to explore and experiment with new ideas. Participating in the Institute’s semester, graduate, summer or alternative programming provides students with an opportunity to broaden their perspective on the world in which they live and to explore their role within it.

 

The Institute provides students with a medium through which they can channel their creative energy into effective methods of social change.  This is accomplished in the semester and graduate programs through three program components: academic coursework, internships, and community living. Projects the students carry out at their internships and the reflection and research completed during the courses support the development of a professional self-concept that translates values and theory into effective and ethical work.

According to research conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities in 2007, 63% of employers believe that too many recent college graduates do not have the skills necessary to succeed in the global economy.  More than 70% of employers want colleges to place more emphasis on science and technology, global learning, teamwork skills in diverse groups, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.  Participants in the semester program for undergraduates and graduates, who are awarded a Certificate in the Analysis, Ethics and Application of Peacebuilding, leave with four out of five of these skills that are transferrable to any working environment.

While with the Institute, your son or daughter will be provided with a unique opportunity to live in community at the Peace House (our student residence) with other civic-minded students from across the U.S.  Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the Peace House provides a safe environment to learn and form friendships. 

 

We are confident that working, studying, and living in Indianapolis as a participant in any one of our programs will be a transformative and rewarding experience for your son or daughter, and we look forward to working with him or her to explore their role in finding innovate ways to build peace within their community.
If my staff or I can be of any more assistance, please do not hesitate to call 317-631-7322, or email us.

 

Sincerely,
Kim Overdyck, Executive Director