1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

More than 300 students welcomed as Class of 2022 arrives at Transylvania University

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University will welcome students from across Kentucky, the nation and the world when more than 300 new Pioneers move in Friday. Kentucky students make up a majority of the incoming class, with nearly 80 percent coming from the Commonwealth. Students from Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan make up another 13 percent of the first-year class, with 10 other states also represented. They are joined by international students from Albania, Australia and Estonia.  Almost 18 percent of first-year students are first-generation college students. Twenty percent of the incoming Class of 2022 are students of color, making this class the most diverse ever to enroll at Transylvania. This is the result of a sustained effort by the university to diversify its student body and foster an inclusive campus environment. “We’re excited to welcome our new class and guide them through the transformative education for which Transylvania is well known. They will be introduced to new ideas and perspectives that will give them the freedom to choose their most desired paths which, after all, lies at the heart of our liberal arts mission,” President Seamus Carey said. “The college years are an opportunity for dialogue and interpersonal interactions that help our students lead more fulfilling lives and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the modern workplace.” The Class of 2022 has already demonstrated its success in academics. At Transylvania, they’ll have the choice of 46 majors and pre-professional

Transylvania hosts national seminar on liberal arts, digital technology

LEXINGTON, Ky.—A seminar to foster national dialogue about the role of the liberal arts in the digital age kicked off today at Transylvania University. The Transylvania Seminar, Liberal Education: Approaching the Digital drew professors from schools across the country including Vassar, Rhodes and Bard colleges. It builds on Transylvania’s commitment to prepare students to face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century with a grounding in liberal arts values.  “The seminar aims to contribute to a national conversation on the idea of liberal education and the mission of the liberal arts college amidst the extraordinary possibilities, as well as the potential challenges, created by digital technologies,” said Laura Bryan, Transylvania’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university. Tying into the seminar, Transylvania launched a Digital Liberal Arts initiative last year to teach students how digital technologies affect the world of today and tomorrow. The university also recently added a digital arts and media major and hired a digital content and technology integration specialist. The seminar, which runs through Saturday, features a plenary with Kathleen Fitzpatrick, director of digital humanities and professor of English at Michigan State University. She is the author of “Planned Obsolescence: Publishing, Technology and Future of the Academy” and “The Anxiety of Obsolescence: The American Novel in the Age of Television.” Along with her talk, the seminar is raising questions about how liberal education is changing—and what is its relevance—in the digital age.

Princeton Review lists Transylvania among nation’s top schools

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Princeton Review has once again included Transylvania University in a book featuring the top 15 percent of the nation’s colleges. “The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition,” which came out today, highlights Transylvania for its value, quality of education, location and how it prepares students for success after graduation. “We picked the 384 ‘best’ colleges for our book primarily for their outstanding academics; we highly recommend each one,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and the book’s lead author. “However, we know applicants need far more than an academic rating or ranking to find the college that will be best for them.” In the section on Transylvania, many students pointed out how well the university prepares them for postgraduate studies. In fact, graduates have a 96 percent acceptance rate to medical school and a 100 percent acceptance rate to law school. In addition to the overall list of 384 schools, which is alphabetical as opposed to a ranking, the Princeton Review spotlights how colleges excel in specific areas. Additionally, the university’s inclusion in this year’s Colleges That Pay You Back category showcases not only its affordability, but also career outcomes for graduates. Transylvania is a top-20 school in the College City Gets High Marks category. Being in Lexington gives Transylvania students a variety of opportunities, including “widely available” internships, according to the Princeton Review. Students also noted the benefits of living so close to downtown, including “a ton of