University of Puget Sound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | pros ta akra (to the heights) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1888 |
| Type | Private |
| President | Ronald R. Thomas |
| Staff | 219 |
| Undergraduates | 2,576 |
| Postgraduates | 209 |
| Location | Tacoma, Washington, USA |
| Campus | Suburban, 97 acres |
| Endowment | $190.2 million |
| Colors | Maroon and White |
| Mascot | "Grizz" the Logger |
| Website | ups.edu |
The University of Puget Sound (often called UPS or just Puget Sound) is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States. It is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington.
It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of music, master of arts in teaching, master of education, master of occupational therapy, and doctor of physical therapy degrees. As of 2006, it has an undergraduate enrollment of 2,576 and a graduate enrollment of 209. The school draws students from 47 states and 13 countries. It offers 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 major fields. [1]
In the 1980s the university was widely known for its freewheeling social life, but throughout the 1990s, the focus increasingly shifted to academics. Now, Puget Sound is a nationally ranked institution enjoying top academic marks from third party evaluators and college guides. In 2006, US News & World Report ranked it 82nd (in a tie with three other colleges) in a list of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Contents |
[edit] History
The University of Puget Sound was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1888 in downtown Tacoma. The character of the school changed dramatically during the presidency of Edward H. Todd (1913-1942), who brought financial and academic stability. During his tenure, the campus moved in 1923 to its current location in the residential North End of Tacoma, with 5 buildings, setting a stylistic tone for the institution.
President Franklin S. Thompson (1942-1973) led a massive physical and institutional expansion: during this era all of the university's buildings save three were constructed. Phillip H. Phibbs presided from 1973 to 1992 and endeavored to change the tone of Puget Sound. In 1980, the university divested its attachment with the Methodist Church, and an independent board of trustees assumed full fiscal responsibility of the University. Also during this time, the university began to focus on undergraduate educational excellence, phasing out all off-campus programs except the law school, and most graduate programs. During this time the library collections were broadened and the faculty greatly expanded.
With the advent of President Susan R. Pierce (1992-2003), the law school was promptly sold to Seattle University, in a move that was calculated to focus the University's resources on its undergraduate campus. Also during her tenure, the Collins Memorial Library was renovated, and Wyatt Hall was constructed to house the growing class and office space needs of the Humanities. Trimble Residence Hall was also constructed, bringing on-campus student residency to 65%. Puget Sound's newest President is Ronald R. Thomas, affectionately called "Ron Thom" by many students, a scholar of Victorian Literature, and the former vice-President of Trinity College.
Currently the campus is undergoing a renovation of Thompson Hall, home of sciences studies. The two year plan includes the construction of a new wing (Harned Hall) on the northern side against Union Avenue, with extensive renovations to the current wings and courtyard to allow for upgraded labs and facilities. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2008. [1]
Harned Hall, named for alumnus and local real estate developer H.C. "Joe" Harned, was dedicated on September 29, 2006. The building has an 51,000 square feet and cost $25 million to build. It was designed to meet the US Green Building Council's LEED silver standards. Because of this, sustainable building materials were used in construction and the building adheres to strict environmental guidelines. The building will feature labs for biology, geology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, as well as a 10,000 square foot courtyard with a crystalline glass gazebo in the center, offering a café which serves fair trade coffee to the campus community. [1]
[edit] Campus
The University of Puget Sound campus is our most valuable and distinctive asset. It is our link to the past and our key to the future. Our responsibility is to invest in it wisely and care for it responsibly.
- - UPS President Ronald R. Thomas
The campus is located in North Tacoma, Washington in a primarily residential setting. It remains only a few minutes walk from downtown Tacoma and the Sixth Avenue district. President Ron Thomas recently initiated a campus "Master Plan" in order to preserve and expand the campus aesthetically and fundamentally[2]. The plan will increase on-campus housing to 75% as well as allow for the construction of a number of new buildings. The master plan task force includes Ron Thomas, several vice presidents, professors, alumni, and trustees, as well as representatives from the community and the nearby business districts. The campus is made up of mainly brick buildings in the tudor gothic architecture style. Buildings are mostly arranged into quads. The three main quads are the North Quad and South Quad, which contain residence halls, and Karlen Quad, which is bordered by the Collins Memorial Library, the music building, and Jones Hall (an administration building). President Thomas recently wrote a piece explaining his opinion that new buildings should maintain the gothic style that the university is known for. [3]
[edit] Academic buildings
Harned Hall, named for alumnus and local real estate developer H.C. "Joe" Harned, was dedicated on September 29, 2006. The building has an area of 51,000 square feet and cost $25 million to build. It was designed to meet the US Green Building Council's LEED silver standards. Because of this, sustainable building materials were used in construction and the building adheres to strict environmental guidelines. The building features labs for biology, geology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, as well as a 10,000 square foot courtyard with a crystalline glass gazebo in the center, offering a café which serves fair trade coffee to the campus community. [1]
After Harned Hall was completed, the university continued to show its dedication to the sciences by beginning a $38 million renovation of Thompson Hall, the "old" science building. Harned and Thomspon Halls actually form a square with a courtyard in the middle that are collectively named the Science Center. Thompson Hall has an area of 121,000 square feet and was originally constructed in 1968. The renovation is scheduled to be completed in spring 2008.[4]
Wyatt Hall is the second newest building on campus, dedicated in 2003. It houses the English, History, Foreign Languages & Literature, Politics & Government, Honors, Classics, and Religion departments. Many of the classrooms in the building are seminar style, meaning a circle of tables that students sit at to encourage discussion between students and the profressor, rather than a lecture. The building features glass art by Dale Chihuly that represents the ivy leaves covering the campus buildings.
The Wheelock Student Center, affectionally known as the "SUB" (Student Union Building) is the main hub of life on campus. It features a rotunda used for lectures, KUPS, the campus radio station, the cafeteria and dining area, Diversions Cafe, a student-run coffee shop, and The Cellar, a student-run pizza parlor.
Other buildings include McIntyre Hall, home of the Business and Leadership Program and international political economy, Howarth Hall, home of the psychology and education departments, Jones Hall, home of communications, and the music building.
[edit] Residential buildings
The University offers many different housing options. Harrington, Schiff, Anderson/Langdon, Smith, and University halls make up what is called the "North Quad", and Todd/Phibbs, Regester, Seward, and Trimble make up the "South Quad". Theme Row, which runs to the south end of campus, contains around 20 different theme houses that students may apply to live in. Popular and long-running themes have included the Ben and Jerry's Book Club house, Pura Vida coffee house, the Persian house, the Knitting and Service Alliance (KASA) House, and the Independent Arts House. There are also non-theme university-owned houses available.
Currently around 65% of students live on campus, although the mission of the master plan calls for an increase to 75%. First year students are not required to live on campus, although 98% do, on average. [5]
[edit] Academics
The university offers more than 40 major programs in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as graduate programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and education. [1] The student to faculty ratio is 11 to 1, [6] and like most other liberal arts colleges, there are no teaching assistants. This allows professors to put classroom instruction before other research.
The University is consistently ranked among the top five small liberal arts colleges for the number of graduates who participate in Peace Corps. [7]
[edit] International programs
The university sponsors study abroad programs in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim, Scotland, Spain, Taiwan, and Wales. [8]
The program in the Pacific Rim, known as the Pacific Rim/Asia Study-Travel Program is unique to UPS. It has been held for thirty years on a three-year rotation. Students must have taken three courses in the Asian Studies program and complete a course of readings assigned by the director. [9]
[edit] Tuition and finances
University of Puget Sound's cost is on par with most of its peer institutions. Costs for the 2006-2007 school year were $29,870.00 for tuition, $7,670.00 for room and board, and $555.00 in various student fees, making the total cost $38,095.00. [10]
Although the college is viewed as expensive by most students, it has a reputation for being very generous with financial aid. 62% of Puget Sound students receive need-based financial aid. [6]. There are four scholarships attainable by incoming freshmen based on statistics alone:
- Wyatt Trustee Scholarship: $9,000/year
- Trustee Scholarship: $8,000/year
- President's Scholarship: $6,000/year
- Dean's Scholarship: $3,000/year
All of the above scholarships require no additional applications and are renewable provided a student maintains a 2.8 GPA and fails no more than 25% of his or her classes.
[edit] Athletics
The Puget Sound athletics teams are known as the "Loggers", with a grizzly bear, "Grizz", as their mascot. Originally only "Loggers" was used, until debate arose over the appropriateness of having a logger be the mascot at such an environmentally-oriented school. The school is now trying to shift mascot recognition over to "Grizz", who is viewed as more in line with the University's focus[11]. They participate in the NCAA's Division III Northwest Conference, competing with George Fox University, Lewis and Clark College, Linfield College, Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, Whitman College, Whitworth College, and Willamette University.
[edit] Varsity sports
The University offers 21 different varsity sports teams: Men's Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Crew (competes in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference), Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's Football, Men's and Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Soccer, Women's Softball, Men's and Women's Swimming, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Track & Field, and Women's Volleyball.
[edit] Club sports
There are both men's and women's club soccer teams, as well as men's club lacrosse (which, due to Title IX restrictions, competes in the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League). The University also has a men's club Ultimate team, known as the "Postmen", and a women's club Ultimate team known as the "Clearcut".
[edit] Achievements
Several sports teams have achieved some degree of success in recent years. The men's basketball team has won three straight Northwest Conference championships since 2004, as well as having the highest winning percentage (.850) in the nation in 2006. In 2005, the Division III Loggers defeated the Division I Highlanders of the University of California, Riverside, making it their first Division I defeat since the 1970s. [12]
- In 2006, the UPS debate team won first place in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE), and also first place at the National Parliamentary Debate Association's Tournament (NPDA).
- The men's crew team has taken first in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference every year since 2001, until 2006, when they earned third place.
- The women's crew team has taken first four out of the last five years in the NCRC, as well as coming in second place in the nation in 2003 and fourth place in the nation in 2004 and 2005.
- The women's soccer team took second place in the nation in 2004 and ended the 2005 season ranked fifth nationally.
- The women's swim team has won the Northwest Conference championship for the last ten years. [13]
[edit] Student life
[edit] Traditions and events
Log Jam is a campus-wide celebration that ends the first week of fall classes. Tables are set around the perimeter of Todd Field and clubs and teams set up to recruit potential members. [6]
Foolish Pleasures is an annual student film festival showcasting films written, directed, acted, and produced by students. [6]
[edit] The Hatchet
The Hatchet is the official symbol of sports teams at the University of Puget Sound. It was first discovered in 1906 when students were digging up a barn at the old campus. They decided to carve their class year into it. This became a tradition of sorts, as the seniors would hand the hatchet to the juniors on senior recognition day. This turned into a competiton where each class would try to possess the hatchet for as long as possible. It disappeared for 15 years until it was anonymously mailed to former President Franklin Thompson. Thompson displayed it in a trophy case in Jones Hall, where it mysteriously disappeared again, only to resurface at a homecoming game in 1988. In 1998, the hatchet's return was negotiated through an intermediary, and it was permanently displayed in a display case in the Wheelock Student Center. It was stolen from the case shortly after. The whereabouts of the hatchet are currently unknown. [14]
On September 30, 2006 (homecoming) a student rappelled into the football field at halftime, brandishing "the hatchet". It was later revealed by the student newspaper The Trail that this hatchet is a replica of the actual hatchet, commissioned by the former student government administration. The replica hatchet was painstakenly carved to look exactly like the original, using over 150 photos as a guide. The replica hatchet now sits in the trophy case. [15]
[edit] Sustainability
The campus has a notable recent history of sustainability. On February 10, 2005, President Ronald R. Thomas signed the Talloires Declaration, committing the University to certain standards regarding sustainability. The Sustainability Advisory committee, consisting of two faculty chairs and a mix of faculty and student volunteers, organizes all sustainability efforts on campus. Several of these efforts have included:
Fair Trade Coffee: The student-run Diversions Café serves only organically-grown, fair trade coffee. In 2005, 8,975 pounds of coffee was consumed by students, faculty, and the campus community. University of Puget Sound was the first college in the Northwest to offer fair trade coffee exclusively. [6]
Sustainable Move-Out: Starting in 2005, the University organized a sustainable move-out program during finals week. Mixed-material recycling dumpsters were placed near all residence halls, allowing students to recycle rather than simply throwing all unwanted items away.
Sustainability Mugs: Upon entering the college in 2005, all students were presented with a "sustainability mug" imprinted with the UPS logo. Students were encouraged to re-use the mug to get coffee instead of using paper cups.
No-Waste Picnic: A 2005 picnic welcoming incoming freshmen and their families to the campus produced a surprising ONE bag of trash for over 1700 people. This was accomplished by using recyclable paper and plastic products.
[edit] The Rail
"The Rail" represents the single largest underground tradition at UPS. Occurring every year on the weekend closest to Halloween, it is a moving celebration that travels across the north end of Tacoma surrounding the campus.
In recent years the university has hired off-duty Tacoma Police officers to patrol the neighborhoods surrounding campus to prevent problems with intoxicated students causing disturbances or destroying property. The police presence on the streets has stymied the chaotic nature of The Rail to a large extent.
[edit] Fraternities and sororities
UPS is home to four fraternities and four sororities. 23% of students are involved in Greek life. [16] Represented fraternities include Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Nu. Represented sororities include Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Pi Beta Phi.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Marion Higgins (1897), supercentenarian who died at age 112[17]
- Gretchen Fraser ('41), gold medalist, slalom, 1948 Winter Olympics [18]
- Jack Fabulich ('51), former Port of Tacoma Commissioner [19][20]
- Bill Baarsma ('64), mayor of Tacoma, 2002-present [21]
- Jeff Smith ('67), TV Chef, "The Frugal Gourmet" [22]
- George Obiozor ('69), Nigerian Ambassador to the US [23]
- Mike Price ('69), head football coach at the University of Texas-El Paso [24]
- David Brame ('80), former police chief of Tacoma, 2001-2003 [25]
- Deanna Oppenheimer ('80), UK Banking Chief Operating Officer, Barclays, London [26]
- Rick Brooks ('82), president and CEO of Zumiez [27]
- Scott Griffin (MBA '82), CIO of Boeing [28][29]
- Justin Jaschke ('84), founder and former CEO of Verio [30]
- Elizabeth Cousens ('87), Rhodes Scholar and Vice President, International Peace Academy [31]
- Jori Chisholm ('97), Champion bagpiper [32][33]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Dedication of new science building, Harned hall, set for September 2006
- ^ UPS Master Plan
- ^ Thomas, Ronald R. UPS Master Plan: Sacred Spaces
- ^ Office of University Relations. The Science Center at Puget Sound
- ^ This is a well-known CVP statistic.
- ^ a b c d e P.S. Facts
- ^ http://www.peacecorps.gov/news/resources/stats/pdf/schools2006.pdf
- ^ University of Puget Sound, List of Study Abroad Programs
- ^ University of Puget Sound, The Pacific Rim/Asia Study-Travel Program
- ^ University of Puget Sound Student Financial Services, Costs, Tuition and Fees
- ^ University of Puget Sound - Unveiling Grizz
- ^ http://www.ups.edu/mbasketball.xml
- ^ University of Puget Sound Women's Swimming
- ^ ASUPS, The Tradition of the UPS Hatchet
- ^ The Trail, October 6, 2006
- ^ http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/admissions.asp?listing=1023493<id=1&intbucketid=
- ^ Thurber, Jon. "Obituaries; Marion B. Higgins, 112", Los Angeles Times, March 4, 2006.
- ^ OTPT UPS Athletes Hall of Fame
- ^ http://www.portoftacoma.com/aboutus.cfm?sub=25&lsub=25
- ^ http://www.ups.edu/documents/OpenLine102805.pdf (Former football player Jack Fabulich '51...)
- ^ http://www.billbaarsma.com/biography.htm
- ^ http://www.nndb.com/people/046/000044911/
- ^ http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/obiozor.shtml
- ^ http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=2299334&nav=AbC3R2RL
- ^ http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/projects/david_brame/timeline/v-lite/story/4121646p-3888032c.html
- ^ http://www.newsroom.barclays.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=426&NewsAreaID=2
- ^ http://www.nwen.org/venturer/0404/community1.htm
- ^ http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=13300BUSYO15
- ^ "Class Notes." Arches Summer 2006: 34.
- ^ http://www.millenniapartners.com/OurTeam/TeamView.asp?TeamMemberID=45
- ^ http://www.ipacademy.org/AboutIPA/PeopleIPA/Bios/AbouPeopCouPrint.htm
- ^ http://www.bagpipelessons.com/bio.html
- ^ http://www2.ups.edu/arches/2006Winter/alumniChisholm.html
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound
- UPS Livejournal Community
- KUPS Radio Station
- Blog of the UPS Department of Politics and Government
- UPS Greek Alumni Association
| Northwest Conference |
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| George Fox • Lewis & Clark • Linfield • Pacific • Pacific Lutheran • Puget Sound • Whitman • Whitworth • Willamette |
