There are 168 hours in a week. At Westmont College, a top-ranked Christian liberal arts institution, students spend an average of 16 to 20 hours in the classroom. So, what do they do with the 152-plus hours outside of the classroom? Westmont is focused on shaping character attributes and learning outside of the classroom with just as much intentionality. Chapel three times a week, late-night conversations in residence halls, shared meals with faculty and friendships across campus all contribute to what Westmont calls whole-person, Christ-centered education. It’s not just what you study — it’s who you study with that makes all the difference. That vision has guided the college since Ruth Kerr founded it in 1937 in the hills above Santa Barbara. What began as a bible institute soon grew into a liberal arts college. By the mid-1940s, it had relocated to Montecito and expanded its campus. For nearly nine decades, Westmont has held the conviction that education should not end with the classroom lecture. Today, the college offers 26 majors across various disciplines, ranging from anthropology and sociology to the natural sciences and engineering. It also provides a distinctive accelerated nursing program in downtown Santa Barbara, blending academic rigor with moral and spiritual formation. “We want our students to think across disciplines while shaping the outlook needed for a flourishing life,” says Gayle D. Beebe, president. “In classrooms and residence halls, they learn to listen across differences, engage contrary views and find common ground. Amid today’s diverse and often conflicting viewpoints, these habits of citizenship are as vital as any skill.” Relationships and whole person formation remain central to this approach. Many begin in undergraduate years, but the lessons and experiences last a lifetime. Diversity deepens those connections, with nearly half of the new students from multicultural backgrounds and a growing international student community. Faculty mentors and peers become lasting learning sources, forming a community that reflects a global perspective rooted in Christian faith. Liberal Arts for Leadership Formation Turning “thinking across disciplines” into reality happens in unexpected ways at Westmont because tomorrow’s leaders face challenges with no boundaries. Climate change needs scientists who understand policy. Artificial intelligence requires engineers who grasp ethics. Global markets demand executives who can navigate cultural complexity. Yet most colleges still train for narrow specialties. At Westmont, the intersections are visible every day. A biology major leads chapel worship, connecting molecular complexity with divine design. Business students partner with art majors to launch social enterprises. Engineering students rethink artificial intelligence through required philosophy courses. The curriculum is designed for crossings, not silos. “When I was studying with Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, he told me, ‘The liberal arts are the best way to prepare to lead, because they teach you how to reach into any area of human knowledge and find solutions.’ That insight captures exactly what we want our students to experience,” says Beebe.