1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Transylvania to open two new residence halls this week

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University will open two new residence halls this week, capping off extensive residential life construction and renovation projects. In addition to the four-story, state-of-the-art Bassett and Pioneer halls, the university recently turned a large area in front of the new facilities into green space and opened a nearby pavilion and basketball and sand volleyball courts. “These improvements to our campus enhance the value of a Transylvania education,” President Seamus Carey said. “The new buildings are not only attractive living spaces, but they also provide a college experience that integrates living and learning. I’m especially excited about the classroom and collaborative learning areas in the new residence halls.” The new facilities, which will each house around 140 students, reflect the university’s traditional architecture. They are coed and feature lounges, laundry facilities and community kitchens. Each room has Tempur-Pedic mattresses and ceiling fans. The first two floors of Pioneer Hall will be home to members of Transylvania’s four fraternities. And Bassett Hall will offer suite-style living for upper-class students. Bassett is named after James E. “Ted” Bassett III, a lifetime member of Transylvania’s Board of Trustees. He contributed the project’s initial leadership gift. These additions complement a similar residence hall, Dalton-Voigt, which opened in fall of 2015 and houses sorority members on the first two floors. Nearby Thomson Hall opened in 2008. Most residents of Bassett and Pioneer halls will begin moving in Friday as they return for the beginning

Kiplinger ranks Transylvania among top liberal arts schools for value

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has ranked Transylvania University as one of the nation’s best values for a liberal arts education. The magazine’s Best College Values of 2017 weighs both academic excellence and cost criteria—such as sticker price, financial aid and debt. This ranking, which was released Thursday, comes on the heels of several other recognitions for Transylvania, including a top-10 spot in USA Today/College Factual’s Best Colleges for the Money and Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck in the South. “Any way you look at it, Transylvania offers a top-notch liberal arts education at an affordable price,” said Holly Sheilley, vice president for enrollment and student life. “We understand the challenges families face in paying for college, so we strive to give them the best possible return on investment.” In fact, Transylvania costs about $10,000 less than the average top-100 liberal arts college. Additionally, the average financial aid package for incoming students was $26,643 last year, and 98 percent of all students received aid that they didn’t have to pay back. This kind of assistance is why Transylvania ranks 60th among the nation’s liberal arts schools in Kiplinger’s Best College Values of 2017. “There’s no way around it: College is expensive, and it’s going to stay that way for a long time. So, with our rankings…our goal is to help students and their parents understand what’s really worth the price,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Scholarship winning Transylvania student to study in Rwanda

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Riley Bresnahan, a junior from DeLand, Fla., received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She will study with the School for International Training’s Post-Genocide Restoration and Peacebuilding program in Rwanda during the winter 2017 term. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The program offers grants for U.S. undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange better prepares students to thrive in the global economy and interdependent world. Students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to better understand other cultures, countries, languages and economies—making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.  “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates,” said Congressman Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee. “Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of

Transylvania Greek chapters receive national awards

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Several Transylvania University sororities and fraternities have received awards at recent leadership conferences and conventions. These Greek organizations continue a tradition of excellence and campus and community involvement that stretches back to 1888. Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter President Lesley Goodaker and New Member Educator Alexis Enix represented Tau Omega at the 2016 Leadership Institute. Throughout the weekend, the chapter received recognition for: Fundraising for Foundation Support, Total Honor Roll, Strike Out Arthritis Event, Initiation Honor Roll, Quota Honor Roll, Academic Honor Roll and Ruby Level SOE. Additionally, the chapter received the Outstanding Leaders Council and Collegiate Philos awards. These awards are given to the top-performing chapters across Canada and the United States for leadership and operations as well as exceptional panhellenic relationships on campus. Chi Omega The Chi Chapter of Chi Omega was honored this past summer at its convention with the National Chapter of Excellence award. This award is given to the top-performing chapters across the nation based on considerations such as recruitment, operations, programming, retention, scholarship and leadership. Delta Delta Delta At their Collegiate Leadership Conference last spring, the Delta Delta Delta members were awarded the Tri Delta Service Award for their outstanding service to the community. Phi Mu The Delta Theta Chapter of Phi Mu was awarded two awards at their National Convention over the summer. They won the Collegiate Academic Award in recognition of their outstanding scholastic achievement. They also were awarded the COB

Central Music Academy moving to Transylvania

LEXINGTON, Ky.— The Central Music Academy—a non-profit organization that provides free music education for low-income youths—is moving to a house on Transylvania University’s campus. The move to 338 North Upper Street will provide CMA students with a safe, centralized location to receive instruction. The organization strengthens the Lexington community one child at a time by building personal capacity, discipline, self-esteem and musical skills in high-risk youth. Lessons will begin there on Jan. 8. Providing a space for them is one of many ways Transylvania partners with the Lexington community—such as the Unlearn Fear + Hate art project and the university’s Pioneer Pathways program, which includes college and career readiness workshops and mentoring for high school students. The Central Music Academy is the only school in central Kentucky that provides free, weekly, half-hour private music lessons—on any instrument, genre or skill level—to a diverse group of children who qualify for free or reduced school lunches. Since CMA was founded in 2004, it has given more than 30,000 free private lessons to more than 900 children. These students have successfully auditioned into the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras; Lexington’s School for the Performing Arts; and all-district and all-state band, choir and orchestra. “The house will be the perfect spot for CMA, and we are so grateful to the Transylvania University faculty, staff, students and community for allowing us to use the space,” said program director Erin Walker Bliss. Transylvania, located in the heart