Student Life
University life has been structured for our students to enjoy maximum growth. As a result most of the activities that cause problems and suffering at other educational institutions such as crime are virtually non-existent on our campus. The use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products are not permitted on campus.
What is it like to live in Fairfield, Iowa? Fairfield is known as a safe and friendly place to live. Fairfield is a small town of 12,000 people in southeast Iowa in the middle of the United States. In the summer, temperatures are normally in the range of 80–95° F. during the days and 65–75° F. at night. In the winter, temperatures normally range from 20° F. to 50° F. during the days and colder at nights. It is important to bring well-insulated clothing for winter months.
What is the typical day of a student? A typical day could be:
- Transcendental Meditation — Students gather together for group practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique at about 7:30 a.m. each morning.
- Breakfast — The dining hall is open for breakfast from 8:30 to 10:00. Enjoy freshly baked bread, muffins and scones, a variety of hot and cold cereals, jams and nut butters, milk, soy milk, yogurt, and fresh fruit.
- Morning class — Starts at 10:00 a.m. and breaks for lunch about noon.
- Lunch — The dining hall opens again for lunch from 11:45 to 1:15. This is the main meal of the day, with a delicious rotating menu of popular dishes that are freshly prepared from organic ingredients.
- Afternoon class — Starts at about 1:00 and ends at 3:00.
- After class — Students are encouraged to exercise at this time, taking advantage of our popular Fit for Life program. Students also use this time for doing college work-study or homework.
- Transcendental Meditation — Students may choose an earlier option at 3:30 or a later one at 5:30.
- Dinner — The dining hall is open from 6:30 to 8:15 and serves a variety of freshly prepared organic dishes.
- Evening — Students typically do homework in the evening, though some complete homework earlier and may use the evenings for exercise.
- 9:30 recommended bedtime. A typical homework assignment can be comfortably completed by this time.
What is available for entertainment? The town has a movie theater and there are many cultural events every weekend. Within one hour’s drive there are several larger cities. Students frequently visit Iowa City which is about 55 miles north of Fairfield.
What kind of meals are offered at the campus dining? The University dining hall offers fresh, organic, vegetarian foods. No meat, chicken, or fish is served on campus.
What happens if the student is not a vegetarian? Near the campus are several international restaurants, including Chinese, Indian, and Thai. Students may, at their own expense, eat off-campus. After six weeks on campus, students may qualify for the Alternative Meal Plan (AMP) that gives students more flexibility in eating some meals off campus. Because the features and availability of AMP is subject to change, you will receive information on this program after you arrive on campus. Also, you should know that due to fire regulations, there are no accommodations for students to cook in the dormitories.