Founded
Rivendell was founded in January 2008.Type
Rivendell is a new kind of private, biblically-centered, liberal arts institution that is leading the way in IN-COMM™ education, where learning takes place withIN COMMunity and students are apprenticed in the fundamentals of learning and living. Our 18-month IN-COMM™ program is specifically designed to serve as the first 2 years of college in order to prepare high school graduates to excel in later studies. We offer an Associate of Arts degree that exceeds the General Education Requirements for most colleges and grants 72 credit hours of collegiate studies.History
Rivendell Sanctuary's IN-COMM™ education is more than an idea or wishful thinking. It's the outgrowth of actual programs and experimentation conducted over a five-year period. The majority of students participating in our beta programs were men and women younger than thirty years old whom society would likely have labeled as “ordinary” students. They were students who had great ability but were bored, uninspired and consequently under-achieving. However, when experiencing the IN-COMM™ philosophy, students, almost without fail, experienced extraordinary transformation.For example, we assessed our students by administering Princeton’s Master of Divinity graduate level exam as a surprise test given on the last day of class. Without any warning or preparation time, an astounding 100 percent passed the exam on their first attempt, with the majority scoring above 80 percent. These were undergraduate students taking an Ivy-League graduate exam! Not bad for a group of so-called “average” students!
A large percentage of the student body that participated in our beta IN-COMM™ programs—many of whom had little thought to continue with a college education—went on to excel in their collegiate studies. At the moment, many of those so-called “average” students are pursuing their master’s degrees, including one at Harvard University.
These experiences profoundly impacted the lives of all Rivendell senior management. We believe that the methods we are using are far superior to traditional university models and will yield much better academic results. Because of the success of the beta programs, we felt it was time to construct a higher-learning institution built upon the principles that worked so well.
Why do you call yourselves 'Rivendell Sanctuary'?
Rivendell is a sanctuary in Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings. There, young Frodo, mortally wounded by devilish poison, found healing, understanding, his life's purpose and enduring fellowship with mentors and comrades.Rivendell Sanctuary is intended to be a safe haven of higher education. An educational community where High School graduates -- bright as well as bored, confused, and abused -- come for two years to pursue an Associate of Arts degree with a biblical perspective on all of life and reality. Students will discover meaning and mission for their individual lives and forge deep bonds with friends, mentors, a local church and God.
We are pioneering a new brand of higher education in partnership with local churches; therefore, we are a college that does not like calling itself a college. Come, discover the secrets of Rivendell Sanctuary; find your potential through a unique education that prepares you not merely to make a living but also change your world.
Why only 18 months?
Rivendell Sanctuary parts from the traditional university schedule in which nine months of study is interrupted by a three-month summer break. The reason for this is that we employ a Christ-centered apprenticeship model aimed at personal transformation. The transformation of one's thoughts, habits, actions and frame-of-reference requires daily practice, focused mentorship, as well as concentrated and sustained time. We feel that a lengthy three-month break is counter-productive to what we are striving to accomplish. Therefore, students at Rivendell attend class for 18 consecutive months with a two week break between each of our 4 semesters. This format enables students to complete their first two-years of collegiate studies (72 credit hours) in 1.5 years.Why a 2-year equivalent institution rather than a 4-year institution?
Rivendell Sanctuary champions a biblically centered liberal arts education, in which we see great value and importance for the future of a free and civil society. On the contrary, traditional liberal arts education is being de-emphasized in favor of trendier specialized vocational training. “Prepare for a job!” is the predominant war cry proclaimed by parents, students, academia and employers alike, and this is perceived to be the wiser and more practical course.Being a two-year rather than a four-year institution enables Rivendell to fill this void, yet still accommodate parents and students who want a vocational degree. How?
First, Rivendell attracts students who desire a liberal arts education. Second, most vocational degree tracks require students to invest a significant amount of time in the humanities and the arts, commonly called “college generals or Gen Ed’s.” Often this equates to nearly two years of their undergraduate instruction. Rivendell can address these academic requirements in a superior fashion while at the same time developing the Godly character and people skills necessary for a student's lasting vocational success.
Once a student completes Rivendell’s 18 month program, he/she is qualified to transfer to another college or university in order to pursue any degree of his/her liking, whether that means continuing in the liberal arts or shifting to a specialized vocation degree such as law, healthcare, information technology, journalism, education or any other field. Therefore, attending Rivendell does not interfere with a student's desire for a vocational degree from a prestigious university.
For these reasons, we are convinced that being a two-year rather than a four-year liberal arts institution gives Rivendell Sanctuary the best chance to succeed in achieving our primary objectives in today’s educational marketplace.