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On the 17c������� admissions website there is a series of 11 images that answer the question “Why 17c�������?”

Here’s Answer No. 1: “Because our faculty are brilliant but approachable—you’re going to love learning from them.”

It makes sense that the faculty are mentioned in the first answer. What’s the purpose of going to college, anyway? If your professors aren’t great teachers, at the cutting edge of their areas of expertise and networked in their specialties, why pay tuition (even if it is less) for something less?

If you’re a person of faith, the approachable concept is additionally appealing because these mentors will be your professional and spiritual guides for the next four years. What progress will you make if your goal is to be a Christ-centered professional without four years of classroom discipleship?

I’ve had countless conversations with prospective families as their sons and daughters ponder what college or university to call their intellectual home.

To me, this central question is at the heart of the college search process: What is the quality of the professor and student relationship at this school? At 17c�������, I observe the real-life ramifications of the prof and student partnership. And I can’t imagine a place where the lifelong faith and learning results are better.

Need proof?

Astronomy professor Larry Molnar and student Daniel Van Noord have made predictions about the stars that has gotten the attention of National Geographic and other science publications and organizations.

Biology professor Amy Wilstermann and student Sara Conrad are beginning to correct the lack of teaching materials about cancer targeted for children.

Theater professor Debra Freeberg has enlisted a dozen students to help produce her anti-bullying musical “You Can Make a Difference,” which has been making an impact in schools throughout west Michigan and landed the play and the students on a national stage, guests of a worldwide anti-bullying association.

Students Michael Lentz and Eckhart Chan recently worked with communications professor William Romanowski on the revised edition of his heralded book Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture. The students provided most of the material for the online interactive study guide hosted by the publisher.

Ashley Zuverink partnered with social work professor Kristen Alford on tracking the disparities in health care information and access in four Grand Rapids neighborhoods, noting that lack of insurance and language barriers are significant hurdles in urban settings.

Political science professor Kevin den Dulk has been investigating and writing on the politics of clean water—both in the United States and all over the world—and students Emily Lawson and Abigail Schutte worked with him in the research on that front-page justice issue.

The list could go on for many more pages.And not only is this collaborative research happening at the undergraduate—rather than graduate—level, these faculty mentors are persons of faith, dedicated to this work because they understand it as God’s call, not as a way to gain academic advancement or notoriety.

So, while the admissions office helpfully lists 11 reasons one might conclude that 17c������� is

their undergraduate choice, you could stop at the first answer.

As one of my sons said to me recently, “It was sure great to talk with [17c�������] Professor [Larry] Herzberg the other day. He’s always full of encouragement and great advice.”

My son graduated from 17c������� eight years ago.