The following comes from an August 5 email sent by Thomas Aquinas College.
Thomas Aquinas College is one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company features the four-year, Catholic college in the 2014 edition of its annual guide, The Best 378 Colleges. Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges are profiled in the publication, The Princeton Review’s flagship college guide.
While these 378 schools are not ranked in any order, they are rated in eight categories on a scale of 60 to 99. Among the ratings for Thomas Aquinas College are perfect scores of 99 for both academics and financial aid, and a score of 97 for quality of life. The guide lists the College as one of the “Best Western” colleges, one of only 75 on its Best Value Colleges list, and one of only 10 on its Financial Aid Honor Roll.
“Thomas Aquinas College offers outstanding academics, which is the primary criteria for our choice of schools for the book,” says Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s Senior VP / Publisher and author of The Best 378 Colleges. “We base our selections primarily on data we obtain in our annual institutional data surveys. We also take into account input we get from our staff, our 35-member National College Counselor Advisory Board, our personal visits to schools, and the wide range of feedback we get from our surveys of students attending these schools.”
“We are delighted that The Princeton Review has once again featured Thomas Aquinas College in its annual guide,” says the College’s president, Dr. Michael F. McLean. “Of particular note are the perfect scores we received for our academic and financial aid programs. Our goal has always been to provide the best education at the most affordable price, and The Princeton Review profile offers some strong evidence of success in these regards.”
In its profile of Thomas Aquinas College, The Princeton Review quotes extensively from students at the College who were surveyed for the book. Among their comments:
· Thomas Aquinas College is a school that “takes learning seriously for its own sake, not just as preparation for a job.”
· The College has “a strong Catholic identity” and “a rigorous curriculum,” where “professors … lead you to truth without forcing it on you.”
· “You get all kinds of people here — but one thing they have in common is a desire to search for the truth.”
The guide also reports 62 ranking lists of “Top 20” colleges in various categories. The lists are based entirely on The Princeton Review’s survey of 126,000 students attending the colleges in the book and not on The Princeton Review’s opinion of the schools. The survey asks students to rate their own schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences at them. Topics range from assessments of their professors to opinions about their financial aid and campus food. Among the “Top 20” ranking lists on which Thomas Aquinas College appears are:
· #6 for Best Classroom Experience
· #2 for Most Religious Students
· #11 for Happiest Students
· #11 for Most Beautiful Campus
· #11 for Great Financial Aid
Thomas Aquinas College is a blessing to Southern California. It is located in Santa Paula, between Ventura and Camarillo. If you are ever nearby go visit the new Chapel shown in the article. It is a great example of what religious architecture should be like. The campus is simply stunning. Their chaplains are wonderful and very helpful to Catholics in the region. Congratulations on the important recognition!
It must be wonderful to be a student there. It would be great to hear first-hand stories about their experiences here.
Thomas Aquinas College is a place of joy, not merely for the fortunate students and wonderful people on the faculty and in administration of this outstanding college, but even for parents and visitors to the campus. For a sincere and faith-filled Catholic, Thomas Aquinas College is just about as close to heaven as you are going to get in Southern California, when you realize what they have done in their few but remarkable years of existence, and what they offer the young men and women of Catholic America and the world. Send your kids and leave your money to Thomas Aquinas College – the finest investment a caring Catholic can make in the future of the world.
Does the “Catholic” college use the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” as one of their required texts for freshman or sophomores?
You can find their complete syllabus of freshman through senior years here:
https://www.thomasaquinas.edu/a-liberating-education/syllabus
Thank you Kevin. Apparently they do NOT use the CCC as one of their required texts.
The CCC should be studied since it contains the Doctrine of the Faith, and can be used as a great reference throughout life.
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine,
attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture,
the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.
I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II. (page 5)
Without using the CCC, professors and others can teach error – accidentally or otherwise.
David, using the Catechism would contradict the instructional philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, which employs the Great Books directly instead of the secondary interperative material – aka textbooks – other colleges use.
Judging by the sneer of your ironizing quotation marks, you must be unfamiliar with this finest of +Catholic+ colleges. Please use Kevin Ryan’s link to the syllabus on its home page to better inform yourself about it.
Just to affirm David and his cult addiction to the CCC2nEdition, yes the Catholic Church was started not on Pentacost as many have believed for twothousand years, but only lately on the day the CCC was published. At that time tongues of fire came down from heaven and rested on the top of each copy of the CCC2ndEdition.
” The Church never takes faith for granted, but knows that this gift of God needs to be nourished and reinforced so that it can continue to guide her pilgrim way.”
and
” Read in this light, the prophetic text leads to one conclusion: we need knowledge, we need truth, because without these we cannot stand firm, we cannot move forward. Faith without truth does not save, it does not provide a sure footing.”
and
” These, then, are the four elements which comprise the storehouse of memory which the Church hands down: the profession of faith, the celebration of the sacraments, the path of the ten commandments, and prayer. The Church’s catechesis has traditionally been structured around these four elements;
this includes the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is a fundamental aid for that unitary act with which the Church communicates the entire content of her faith: all that she herself is, and all that she believes. “ – Pope Francis (Encyclical Letter LUMEN FIDEI, 2013)
Certainly many excellent catechisms have been written through the years, including the one you cite. Fortunately, since excellent Catholic educations were provided before its publication – even Thomas Aqunias himself was forced to matriculate without it – the possiblity of it being done now has been proven!
Did you review the curriculum of the college? You might enjoy reading the founding document of the school as well.
https://www.thomasaquinas.edu/about/founding-document
Brian S.
There have been only 2 (two) Catechisms of the Catholic Church.
1) The “Catechism of the Council of Trent” written 1566 AD;
and
2) The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” written in 1997, and printed in the USA in March 2000.
These contain the Deposit of the Faith as stated through Apostolic Authority and the Magisterium.
All other catechisms have been what are called “local”, not world-wide. (A few local catechisms contain some error.) There are many local catechisms in use today for those in the world who due to: young age, less spiritual maturity, or less literacy need them.
Since the CCC contains the Doctrine of the Faith, it includes all the important teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas plus much much more.
Even the 1st Edition doesn’t count? It’s a wonder anyone knew the Faith before 1566.
Brian, before 1566, the average person could not read.
The world population was significantly smaller.
The Faith was taught with beautiful pictures such as paintings and stained glass windows; and by FAITHFUL Bishops and Priests.
Teaching and spreading the Faith was much more difficult.
The invention of the printing press made accuracy and teaching easier.
(It is difficult for me to believe that you hate books, and do not believe that they should be used for teaching purposes. Don’t you like the Bible either; do you suggest that it not be read? )
So, Pat, you agree with me that the Faith could be, and was, taught without the CCC, 2nd Edition.
But what, in my posts supporting this college dedicated to the reading and understanding of the great books of Western civilization, could you possibly have concluded that I “hate books” or that I think they should not be “used for instruction”? Have you bothered to learn anything about this wonderful college? Apparently not.
Meanwhile, your conceit for progress is noted. Given the state of the modern world, a sensible person might question if the teaching of the truth has been made easier or more accurate, however.
Many Catholic adults today do not know their Faith accurately or in entirety.
This has been proven by the type of immoral politicians that they have elected in Federal, State and Local Governments.
The lack of appropriate catechesis in the past 40 to 50 years in the USA and the condition of society today speaks for itself.
The Magisterium recognized the world-wide problem and provided us with the CCC.
Regarding public statements of any Catholic University or College – actions speak louder than words.
Why would any Catholic College or Catholic University REFUSE to use the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” as only ONE of their REQUIRED text books ? ? ? – – – This is the question each parent and student must ask themselves.
The CCC is not only a teaching tool, but an excellent reference that can be used throughout one’s entire life. People can not pass on what they do not know.
Paul that is true too but what makes you think that the politicians do not know the faith…some admit that they know that abortion is against the faith but they still go on supporting it. The tragedy today is that many do know their faith but lack a relationship with Christ, so they discard what the church teaches so they can continue being in peace with secularism.
Fear the Lord needs to return.
My wife and I visited the campus last fall and spent some time in prayer at the glorious chapel…it was so visually stirring and contemplative…we could have stayed for hours…we hope to attend mass some day, when traveling through this glorious rugged part of Ventura county. I have contemplated moving to Fillmore or Santa Paula, although my wife like’s living in San Gabriel, I may yet get us up to Ojai or Santa Paula.
What a gorgeous chapel!
Thank God they didn’t ‘renovate’ it by removing anything beautiful, which is what far too many parishes and universities did to make it more ‘modern.’
The chapel was only completed in 2009, so renovation won’t be an issue for a while.
Approaching the college from the west in the late afternoon, one sees the amazing brightness of the tower. Traditional church architecture tends to do this, symbolizing the Light of the World. Quite a contrast to the bomb shelter architecture of the cathedral in L.A., and the giant office window, which is now a cathedral, in Orange County.
Architecture, Schmarchitecture. Check out the curriculum. It’s a college after all, not a retreat center.
I certainly recommend a review of the curriculum. Did you do so, Hymie?
Beauty, however, is also important, and most so in our everyday lives. What we value, we adorn, and the visible evidence that provides of our esteem reinforces it to ourselves, as well as a demonstration to others.
” The Church never takes faith for granted, but knows that this gift of God needs to be nourished and reinforced so that it can continue to guide her pilgrim way.”
and
” Read in this light, the prophetic text leads to one conclusion: we need knowledge, we need truth, because without these we cannot stand firm, we cannot move forward. Faith without truth does not save, it does not provide a sure footing.”
and
” These, then, are the four elements which comprise the storehouse of memory which the Church hands down: the profession of faith, the celebration of the sacraments, the path of the ten commandments, and prayer. The Church’s catechesis has traditionally been structured around these four elements;
this includes the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
which is a fundamental aid for that unitary act with which the Church communicates the entire content of her faith:
all that she herself is, and all that she believes. “ – Pope Francis (Encyclical Letter LUMEN FIDEI, 2013)
I was present at the mass shown in the illustration. The was a wonderful Solemn Mass for an Una Voce Ventura conference. If you would like to see more pictures of the fabulous TAC chapel go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/UnaVoceVentura/UVVConferenceAtThomasAquinasCollege11091002
When my wife and I went into the glorious chapel…we thought we were back in Rome! Mahony and his merry band of modernist architects could have made the “new” basilica look like this many years ago when they were designing and erecting it… nooooooo!…They wanted the L.A. Cathedral to look like a monolithic, structure of granite, that was reminiscent of a furniture warehouse!…do they call this edifying?…it appeals to a “modernist” like Mahony, because statuary, and traditional, holy looking chapel’s… like the awe-inspiring Catholic example in Santa Paula at St. Thomas Aquinas. Of course this would mean Mahony would have to focus more on THE FAITH… and not illegal immigration and promoting gay rights advocacy in the Church, and all the other secular and modernist mumbo-jumbo, which seems to take up most of his day! Think Mahony!…think McFly!
This is apparently a great school, academically and what seems to be a fun place to matriculate. I doubt, though I have not researched thoroughly, that you will find any college that uses the Catechism as a basic text or teaches a required class entitled Catechism. The Catechism is a reference book about the teachings of our faith. At the college level I would expect that certain great books would be required reading, then discussed in class from the point of view of our Catholic faith. That brings people to God through belief rather than rote learning. A good college, even a good Catholic college, would not tell a student what to believe, but would bring people to that believe through reading, discussion, tutoring and cultural surroundings and the demonstrated faith of others. St. Francis told his friars to preach the gosple every day, and to use words if they had to.
We should all encourage every Seminary, Convent, Catholic College, Catholic University, and schools that teach “Religions of the World” to use the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” as one of their required texts.
Truth (accuracy) is important, and the CCC contains the Doctrine of our Faith.
We should want everyone to use the most complete and accurate books available. Why should we encourage anything less?
“….the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates , lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
I taught in St. Sebastian school in Santa Paula in the 1960’s after leaving the Welk band. Haven’t returned since, and would appreciate any info re that school. When I was there, sixteen non-Catholic churches vied for membership by offering “green stamps” to those attending. It was amazing to see such a school named for the Angelic Doctor in that same area.