Hillsdale at the Summit
'Intellectual boot camp' bears ties to Hillsdale College
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
It's a two-week intellectual boot camp, said Michael Bauman, Hillsdale College director of Christian studies. And he would know: Bauman has worked with Summit Ministries since 1996, and now enters his 13th year of lecturing for the Colorado-based organization.
At one point, approximately 10 percent of the Hillsdale's student body had graduated from Summit.
"Hillsdale attracts a large number of our students," said Summit founder and director David Noebel, adding that both institutions' philosophy and worldview play a large part in that.
Noebel, by now a close friend, said Bauman treats students as though they were indeed entering an intellectual war zone, with his organization as their training ground. That means helping students discover their own worldviews and preparing them for others they'll encounter on college campuses, Noebel said.
Summit rates colleges by the likelihood of a Christian student losing his faith while attending, Noebel said. He said percentages range from 20 percent to 90 percent.
Summit Ministries itself is not openly religious, but emphasizes Christianity.
Freshman and Summit graduate Kyle Forti said this approach caused him to question his own beliefs.
"You filter through the lens of what is true and what is logical," he said.
To help him filter what he learns at Hillsdale, Forti said he brought along his 400 to 500 pages of notes from Summit.
Though there are several variations of the Summit experience, including a two-week summer program and fall and spring semester programs, each is designed with the same idea in mind: to discuss relevant issues from each of the dominant belief systems.
Bauman said the education process covers "the whole gambit."
Noebel and Bauman
In 1995, Noebel traveled to Hillsdale upon the urging of several Summit graduates in attendance there. During this visit, Noebel first encountered Bauman.
After the two hit it off, Noebel invited Bauman to lecture at Summit. Bauman agreed. Thirteen years later, their relationship has grown to an intimate friendship of mutual respect.
Bauman said his friend "Doc" constantly reads.
"He knows everything," Bauman said. Leaning forward in his chair, an admiring smile tugging at his lips, he adds:
"I mean - he's good."
With student needs continually in mind, Noebel makes himself available to those with questions.
"I've personally emailed him lots of questions and he's gotten back with me," Forti said.
Forti said Noebel instilled a passion in him for testing everything beyond "a shallow give and take."
Noebel reciprocates Bauman's respect.
"One of your best professors is one of our best teachers," he said.
Hillsdale and Summit
Bauman said there is a "natural commerce" between Summit and Hillsdale, and called them "unintentional partners."
"The Hillsdale stance and the Summit stance are very similar," he said, later adding, "A lot of the students that go there fit comfortably here."
Sophomore Stephen Sutherland, who said he relearned about Hillsdale while at Summit, said the education he received at Summit made a smooth transition into Hillsdale, helping him reach a level of maturity required by campus life.
Despite this close relationship between Summit and Hillsdale, Bauman said he rarely promotes Hillsdale while at Summit and vice versa.
Sutherland concludes that the two meet eye-to-eye in their regard for the liberal arts.
However, he also recognized distinct differences in focus, with Summit more explicitly Christian and Hillsdale sometimes caught up in social issues.
Noebel agreed that Summit faculty have sometimes been frustrated with the school.
Consequential Ideas
Every day of the two-week program Forti attended in the summer of 2006, Noebel told the students, "ideas have consequences."
When Forti came to campus and visited the Heritage Room for the first time, he found these very words written at its threshold.
In this foundational belief Hillsdale and Summit pursue a common goal.
In Kyle Forti's words:
"At the fundamental level, finding why you believe what you believe."
At one point, approximately 10 percent of the Hillsdale's student body had graduated from Summit.
"Hillsdale attracts a large number of our students," said Summit founder and director David Noebel, adding that both institutions' philosophy and worldview play a large part in that.
Noebel, by now a close friend, said Bauman treats students as though they were indeed entering an intellectual war zone, with his organization as their training ground. That means helping students discover their own worldviews and preparing them for others they'll encounter on college campuses, Noebel said.
Summit rates colleges by the likelihood of a Christian student losing his faith while attending, Noebel said. He said percentages range from 20 percent to 90 percent.
Summit Ministries itself is not openly religious, but emphasizes Christianity.
Freshman and Summit graduate Kyle Forti said this approach caused him to question his own beliefs.
"You filter through the lens of what is true and what is logical," he said.
To help him filter what he learns at Hillsdale, Forti said he brought along his 400 to 500 pages of notes from Summit.
Though there are several variations of the Summit experience, including a two-week summer program and fall and spring semester programs, each is designed with the same idea in mind: to discuss relevant issues from each of the dominant belief systems.
Bauman said the education process covers "the whole gambit."
Noebel and Bauman
In 1995, Noebel traveled to Hillsdale upon the urging of several Summit graduates in attendance there. During this visit, Noebel first encountered Bauman.
After the two hit it off, Noebel invited Bauman to lecture at Summit. Bauman agreed. Thirteen years later, their relationship has grown to an intimate friendship of mutual respect.
Bauman said his friend "Doc" constantly reads.
"He knows everything," Bauman said. Leaning forward in his chair, an admiring smile tugging at his lips, he adds:
"I mean - he's good."
With student needs continually in mind, Noebel makes himself available to those with questions.
"I've personally emailed him lots of questions and he's gotten back with me," Forti said.
Forti said Noebel instilled a passion in him for testing everything beyond "a shallow give and take."
Noebel reciprocates Bauman's respect.
"One of your best professors is one of our best teachers," he said.
Hillsdale and Summit
Bauman said there is a "natural commerce" between Summit and Hillsdale, and called them "unintentional partners."
"The Hillsdale stance and the Summit stance are very similar," he said, later adding, "A lot of the students that go there fit comfortably here."
Sophomore Stephen Sutherland, who said he relearned about Hillsdale while at Summit, said the education he received at Summit made a smooth transition into Hillsdale, helping him reach a level of maturity required by campus life.
Despite this close relationship between Summit and Hillsdale, Bauman said he rarely promotes Hillsdale while at Summit and vice versa.
Sutherland concludes that the two meet eye-to-eye in their regard for the liberal arts.
However, he also recognized distinct differences in focus, with Summit more explicitly Christian and Hillsdale sometimes caught up in social issues.
Noebel agreed that Summit faculty have sometimes been frustrated with the school.
Consequential Ideas
Every day of the two-week program Forti attended in the summer of 2006, Noebel told the students, "ideas have consequences."
When Forti came to campus and visited the Heritage Room for the first time, he found these very words written at its threshold.
In this foundational belief Hillsdale and Summit pursue a common goal.
In Kyle Forti's words:
"At the fundamental level, finding why you believe what you believe."
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