Landscaped Academic Priorities: Nature, the Arts, and STEM at Santa Clara University

Education in the arts and humanities is fundamental in teaching students how to think with both mind and heart. The intention of theatre (and nature) strives to encourage thought by engaging emotional responses from audience members. Nature on campus seems to be under the umbrella of art because of its design to evoke a sense of beauty and awe. Jesuit values in education promote studies in both the humanities and the sciences - leaning heavily into the ideology of the Renaissance era: cura personalis - care for the whole person - and unity of the mind and heart. STEM classes engage the mind; theatre and nature engage the heart. Yet, the locations of artistic buildings (theatre, dance, studio art, and art history classes) are on the fringe of the Santa Clara University (SCU) campus with plenty of natural courtyards and gardens. STEM buildings compose the center of campus with little association and fewer in number nature-inspired courtyards. The landscape - described by building design, association with perceived types of nature-based courtyards, and location on campus - hints at the centering of Jesuit education at SCU toward the sciences despite its claim of cura personalis and educating the whole person in mind and heart.