The Professor’s Road Trip – Gonzaga University

The drive north “flew by” for the Professor and before he knew it, he’d arrived at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. This private, Roman Catholic Liberal Arts school gets most of its national exposure during March Madness when the “Zags” take on other college basketball powerhouses. In fact, this Division I school isn’t just strong in NCAA, it also has a strong intramural sports base. 72% of Gonzaga’s student population participates in some form of intramural or club sports. The Princeton Review has it ranked as number 6 for “Everyone Plays Intramural Sports.”

But athletic prowess isn’t the only competition in which the Bulldogs excel. The Zags are also a powerhouse in National Collegiate College Policy Debate. 

Father Joseph Cataldo, SJ, an Italian-born priest and missionary, founded the university in 1887 because he felt there was a need for a Pacific Northwest Catholic school for local Native Americans. Since then, Gonzaga has grown to a population of 7,700 students and 364 full-time faculty.

On average, class size is small – only 23 students with a student to faculty ratio of 11:1. How’s that for access to your professor?!  Gonzaga is listed #2 in the West for its average freshman retention rate and graduation rate, and listed #3 for best value in the region.

The school is divided up into six different colleges based on your area of focus including:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business Administration
• School of Education
• School of Engineering & Applied Science
• School of Law
• School of Professional Studies

For more information on Gonzaga, visit their website at www.gonzaga.edu. The Professor is going to “Pack” his car and head east. Stay tuned to where he’ll land next. Do owls like cheese?