Ottawa’s Surprise campus will accept residential, commuter and international students, as well as continuing to offer classes for adults and corporations. University President Kevin Eichner said the campus will offer some different appraches to the traditional college experience, including:

FlexTerm academic calendar: Courses are offered in formats that run for four weeks, eight weeks, or in more traditional semester-length time frames. With this format, students will typically take just two courses at a time for an eight-week span, allowing them the benefit of concentration over fragmentation (when trying to balance four or five courses in a traditional semester system). This calendar encourages students to tailor their educational experience and investment to go deeper into their studies while also interspersing their classroom learning with internships, service learning, international and cross-cultural study programs. It also allows students to accelerate toward graduation in less than four years and even to combine master’s degree studies within their educational plan, enabling OUAZ graduates to enter the job market with a combination of degrees.

Personal Growth Days: No classes are held on Wednesdays so students may take part in chapel, attend the numerous personal and professional skills development conferences and workshops offered throughout the year, take part in volunteer or service activities, and share a meal together with faculty and staff. The Gathering is offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday and provides chapel services as well as spiritual programs for those of different faiths.

OUAZ’s Adawe Center: This pairs a life coach with each student upon registration who will remain with the student throughout their enrollment at the university, helping them identify and pursue their degree and life paths, and preparing them to pursue their desired vocation upon graduation.

Founders and Pioneer Scholarships: Targeted for well-qualified and motivated students who will serve with OUAZ to shape student culture at the new campus. A limited number of these scholars can begin serving the institution this spring by working with prospective students and their families.

Information Courtesy Ottawa University and the City Of Surprise.