Community Voice Special Edition - The Sofia Experience

Through the Eyes of Students: The Sofia Experience

"Sofia students care about creating community and spreading the enterprise of a holistic, diverse and empathic environment that reverberates throughout the local and global community." Paul Chang, MATP

How students feel...

"The ability to understand the world through a different perspective than what I'm used to is very enticing." Paul Sudir

"We're not just learning theoretically about mental health, but we're asked time and time again to look at ourselves to adjust things, to change, to grow, and heal past our wounds and reach our best potential." Bryan Giese-Gardner, a second-year MACP

"I really enjoy the peaceful environment in this community. I'm very interested in communicating with the psychology students here. I think the main point to learn in the field of transformative psychology is to find inner peace. If you can find that inner peace, you can do everything." Jingwen Hu, MATPC

Dear Sofia Community,

In the first weeks of December, residential students at Sofia University were interviewed about their experience at the school and were given a chance to speak about their level of engagement to the Sofia community. The students spoke openly and wholeheartedly.

Some returning students reported that they felt the growing pains of a university that underwent significant transformation over the past several years, while some incoming and new students sensed a time of rebuilding, re-appr opriating, and re-envisioning of the original transpersonal pillars that were the foundations of this exceptional avant-garde institution. The students were asked 3 questions:

1) What is the best part of your Sofia experience thus far? (Strengths of the school)

2.) What is one thing you would like to see change or see more of? (Gift for improvement)

3.) How engaged do you feel to the Sofia community, and is information about the events reaching you effectively?

Students were able to respond more than once to each question. 25 residential students were polled, and each category of responses offered valuable information about where the school and its student body are headed.

Although this survey represents only a small percentage of Sofia students, and may not represent your viewpoints, we think hearing the voices of our students is powerful. We appreciate everyone who shared their ideas for this survey.

Paul Chang, MATP - Writer

Kimberly Christensen - Editor

Sofia University

Communications and Marketing Dept.

The vast majority of students agree that the best part of the Sofia experience relates to the school's incredibly diverse student body and how it fosters an environment with myriad of perspectives, ideas, and opportunities for transformation and growth.

40 years after the school's original conception as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Sofia University aims to expand its vision and impact as a relevant and dynamic force locally in the heart of Silicon Valley and globally through its online programs and international engagement in transpersonal communities.

The school's main strengths still resonate with its founders' original tenets and the vision of creating an institution for transformative education and practice. Many students found the experiential embodiment style of learning one of the unique experiences at Sofia as well as "the spiritual heritage of the school".

With the entrance of President Liz Li in 2014, Sofia has also developed graduate degree programs in computer science, transformative education, and even business administration, with certificates in engineering, technologies and management, and even Unmanned Aircraft Systems Computing. Student responses showed appreciation for the new direction providing "cutting-edge information", and the "Transformative Technology Lab".

All this progress and change comes with a new ebullience for the spirit of the Sofia community. It is apparent that the school is creating new paths to scale, thrive, and increase its relevance in a highly competitive and innovative milieu. But what are the real-time effects of all this growth and integration? And what are some ways that the school can harness the students' ideas to better serve them?

The main observation is that administrative organization, student support, and clearer communication are areas that the school can still improve upon.

The natural process of growth and new direction came with an initial state of hesitancy and perhaps even confusion about the continued development and vision. These corollary aspects of expansion take time to settle, re-organize, and develop into a fluid system that better serves both the students and the community they are inevitably connected to.

In the midst of it all, however, Sofia has made invaluable progress towards continued growth and increasing its relevancy. The school has made key changes in their administration and offers a variety of options to support the increased diversity in student interests, career paths, and strengths.

Student comments on the gifts for improvement included improving the quality of teaching in mixed-major classes, improving the functionality and aesthetics of the website, and more diversity in teaching staff.

Eric Newman, first-year MATP student, offered "I would like to see more on-campus classes. With this kind of material, you really have to embody it." Another Ph.D. student reported, "I just don't feel like there is a clear path for me, in terms of who to call for help. I also feel that there are a lot of changes that aren't communicated to me."

The third and final question asked the students how connected they feel with the Sofia community as a whole. The general sentiment, consistent across the vast majority of students, is that students are eager to connect and engage with more Sofia events and opportunities to build community.

The results indicate that about half the students are at least moderately engaged with the Sofia community and school events. Most of the students that are not engaged share that lack of time or living too far away from the school are the main reasons they are not involved.

As Sofia University continues to understand its students' needs, it will continue growing in vitality and reputation. The more transparently the administrators can offer support and leadership, the faster they can scale the school's budding new life force. Like any institution of great caliber, the hurdles that the school faces will serve as a tool to foster true transformative leaders; and, if navigated properly, those challenges will eventually act as the catalyst that drives this institution towards excellence

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