• A four-year, private, liberal arts college, offering more than 40 majors in 22 academic departments.

• Founded in 1871 by The German Evangelical Church, a forerunner of the United Church of Christ.

• Located in a suburban setting 16 miles from downtown Chicago, in an area rich with opportunities for professional experience.

• A beautiful, well-maintained campus, established as an arboretum.

• Brings together a varied and interesting student body, both traditional college age students and those already in the workplace, resident and commuter, full-time and part-time.

• All students take a broad, challenging general education program in addition to a major of their choice.

• The emphasis is on small classes, interaction with faculty, and active learning, with nearly all classes of less than 30 students.

• Has maintained its church affiliation, with a concern for individual integrity, humane values, and service to others, in an open, inclusive community.

• The most distinct strength of Elmhurst is the seamless way liberal arts education is integrated with preparation for professional life. The goal is that graduates become "true professionals" in the best sense of the term.

The Center for Professional Excellence is a student-centered, educational unit bringing together the special opportunities and resources needed to help each student in becoming a "true professional."

The true professional combines:
 

• Expertise in a chosen field
• Strong personal values such as integrity, social responsibility, and ethics
• Wide ranging skills, such as critical thinking, effective oral and written communication
• Entrepreneurial energy
• Breadth of perspective
• Conceptual framework of knowledge
• Personal and professional interest in life-long learning