University of Puget Sound facts for kids
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Former names
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The Puget Sound University (1888–1903) College of Puget Sound (1914–1960) |
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| Motto | προs τα ακρα (Greek) |
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Motto in English
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To the heights |
| Type | Private Liberal arts college |
| Established | March 17, 1888 |
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Religious affiliation
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United Methodist Church |
| Endowment | $378.6 million (2020) |
| President | Isiaah Crawford |
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Academic staff
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206 Full-time and 63 Part-time Fall 2021 |
| Students | 2,023 Fall 2023 |
| Undergraduates | 1,712 Fall 2023 |
| Postgraduates | 220 Fall 2023 |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Suburban, 97 acres (39 ha) |
| Colors | Maroon and White |
| Mascot | "Grizz" the Logger |
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The University of Puget Sound (also called Puget Sound) is a private college in Tacoma, Washington. It was started in 1888. This school offers many different college degrees. It also has five special programs for students who want to study more after college. These programs are in counseling, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health.
Puget Sound's sports teams are called the "Loggers." They play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III Northwest Conference. The University of Puget Sound is special because it is the only independent college in the Pacific Northwest that has both a School of Music and a School of Business and Leadership.
Contents
History of the University
The University of Puget Sound was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1888. It first opened in downtown Tacoma. The idea for a college in Tacoma came from Charles Henry Fowler. He had been the president of Northwestern University before. Fowler was in Tacoma for a church meeting when he shared his dream. He wanted a Christian school in the area.
Two cities wanted the school: Port Townsend and Tacoma. The committee chose Tacoma. The school officially started on March 17, 1888. Its first name was The Puget Sound University. In September 1890, Puget Sound opened its doors. It welcomed 88 students.
The school had a tough start with money. It often struggled to pay its teachers. It moved three times in 13 years. At one point, it even joined with Portland University. It reopened a year later in 1899 in Tacoma. In 1903, the school was "reborn." It got a new name: the University of Puget Sound.
Changes and Growth Over Time
The school changed a lot when Edward H. Todd was president (1913–1942). He worked hard to make the school financially stable. During his time, a "Million Dollar Campaign" raised over $1 million. This money helped build new buildings and improve the school. In 1924, the campus moved to its current spot in North Tacoma. Five new buildings were built, setting the style for the campus. In 1914, the school's name changed to the College of Puget Sound.
President R. Franklin Thompson (1942–1973) led a huge growth period. Almost all of the school's buildings were built during his time. In 1960, the school's name changed back to the University of Puget Sound. This is the name it still uses today.
Phillip M. Phibbs was president from 1973 to 1992. He worked to change the school's focus. In 1980, the school became independent from the Methodist Church. It started to focus more on its main college programs. It also improved its library and hired more teachers.
When Susan Resneck Pierce became president (1992–2003), the law school was sold. This helped the school focus all its efforts on its main campus. During her time, almost $100 million was spent on new buildings and renovations. Collins Memorial Library and four other buildings were updated. Wyatt Hall was built for the Humanities Department. Trimble Residence Hall was also built, allowing more students to live on campus.
Ronald R. Thomas was president from 2003 to 2016. He was a scholar of Victorian literature. In 2016, Isiaah Crawford became the new president.
Thompson Hall, where science classes are held, was greatly updated. A new part, Harned Hall, was finished in 2006. The whole science area was completed in 2008. It is now called "The Science Center at Puget Sound." It even has a coffee shop inside a cool glass structure.
In 2013, Puget Sound opened Thomas Hall. This is a dorm for older students. It has 11 "houses" linked to different study programs. It can house 135 students and has spaces for events and meetings.
University Presidents
Here are the leaders who have served as president of the University of Puget Sound:
- William D. Tyler (1888–1890)
- Fletcher B. Chereington (1890–1892)
- Crawford R. Thoburn (1892–1899)
- Wilmot Whitfield (1899–1901)
- Charles O. Boyer (acting president, 1901–1903)
- Edwin M. Randall Jr. (1903–1904)
- Joseph E. Williams (1904–1907)
- Lee L. Benbow (1907–1909)
- Julius Christian Zeller (1909–1913)
- Edward H. Todd (1913–1942)
- R. Franklin Thompson (1942–1973)
- Philip M. Phibbs (1973–1992)
- Susan Resneck Pierce (1992–2003)
- Ronald R. Thomas (2003–2016)
- Isiaah Crawford (2016-)
Campus Life and Buildings
The campus is in North Tacoma, Washington. It is in a neighborhood, close to local shops and restaurants.
The buildings on campus are mostly made of brick. They are built in a style called Tudor-Gothic. The buildings are often grouped into open areas called quads. The main quads are North Quad, South Quad (which have dorms), and Karlen Quad (which has the library and music building).
Learning Buildings
Harned Hall was opened in 2006. It is a large building, 51,000 square feet (4,700 m2), and cost $25 million to build. It was designed to be environmentally friendly. It has labs for biology, geology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics. It also has a large courtyard with a glass gazebo and a Foucault pendulum. You can even see a Gray whale skeleton named Willy inside!
After Harned Hall, Thompson Hall was updated. Together, Harned and Thompson Halls form the Science Center. Thompson Hall is 121,000 square feet (11,200 m2) and was built in 1968. Its renovation finished in 2008.
Wyatt Hall is one of the newer academic buildings, opened in 2003. It houses many departments like English, History, and Philosophy. Many classrooms here are designed for discussion, with students sitting in a circle. The building has beautiful glass art by Dale Chihuly.
The Wheelock Student Center, also known as the "SUB," is a main gathering spot. It has a large rotunda for events, the campus radio station (KUPS), the cafeteria, a student-run coffee shop (Diversions Cafe), a student-run pizza place (The Cellar), and the Logger Store for school gear.
Other important buildings include:
- McIntyre Hall: Home to the School of Business and Leadership.
- Howarth Hall: Houses the School of Education.
- Jones Hall: Home to theatre arts and some administrative offices.
- The Music Building: The only building on campus without a specific name.
- Kittredge Hall: Once the student union, now houses the art department and Kittredge Gallery.
Collins Memorial Library has over 400,000 books. It is a popular place for students to study. The library was named after Everill S. Collins. The current building was built in 1954, with a large addition in 1974. A big renovation in 2000 added new technology.
The William T. and Gail T. Weyerhaeuser Center for Health Sciences opened in 2010. This 42,500 square feet (3,950 m2) center supports health and behavioral sciences. It houses programs like exercise science, psychology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. It was also designed to be environmentally friendly.
Student Living Areas
There are many dorms on campus. Harrington, Schiff, Anderson/Langdon, Smith, and Oppenheimer halls are in the "North Quad." Todd/Phibbs, Regester, Seward, Trimble, and Thomas Hall are in the "South Quad." "Theme Row" has about 20 special houses where students can live based on shared interests. The Music House is the oldest, started in 1989.
About 65% of students live on campus. Students must live on campus for their first two years. The school has also upgraded its internet speed for students in the dorms.
Academics and Learning
The university offers over 50 different areas of study. These include traditional subjects like history and science, as well as special programs. It also has graduate programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and education. A new master of public health program recently started. There are 12 students for every teacher, which means students get a lot of attention.
University Rankings
| USNWR Liberal Arts College | 89 |
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| Washington Monthly Liberal Arts | 74 |
| Forbes | 205 |
In 2012, Puget Sound was named one of "40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges." This guide praised the college's interesting classes and close connection between students and teachers.
The university has often been ranked among the top small colleges for the number of graduates who join the Peace Corps. In 2007, it was ranked first. Puget Sound professors have also won "Washington State Professor of the Year" awards many times.
How to Get In
For students who started in fall 2018, the University of Puget Sound received 5,730 applications. It accepted 3,060 students (about 58%). Of those, 653 students chose to enroll. The average high school GPA for these students was 3.70.
Study Abroad Programs
The university offers programs to study in many countries. These include Argentina, Australia, China, England, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Spain.
A special program unique to Puget Sound is the Pacific Rim/Asia Study-Travel Program (PRAST), or PacRim. Every three years, a group of 15 to 25 students travels and studies in eight Asian countries for two semesters. Students must take special classes before joining. Over 40 years, students have visited places like Mongolia, People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
Sports and Athletics
The Puget Sound sports teams are called the "Loggers." Their mascot is "Grizz the Logger." The Loggers compete in the NCAA's Division III Northwest Conference. They play against other colleges like George Fox University and Linfield College.
Varsity Sports Teams
The university has 23 different varsity sports teams. These include:
- Men's Baseball
- Men's and Women's Basketball
- Men's and Women's Crew
- 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 Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
- Women's Volleyball
Club Sports Teams
Puget Sound also has club sports. These include men's and women's club soccer, and men's club lacrosse. There are also club Ultimate teams: the "Postmen" for men and "Clear Cut" for women.
The men's rugby club is very successful. They have done well in regional and national competitions. They have a big rivalry with Seattle University's rugby club.
The Puget Sound Loggers hockey team started in 2005. They are an ACHA Division II team. They play their home games at Sprinker Ice Arena.
Recent Achievements
In a football game on October 21, 2023, linebacker Lily Godwin made history. She became the first woman to record an unassisted tackle in NCAA history.
Several sports teams have had great success:
- The men's basketball team won three Northwest Conference championships in a row (2004, 2005, 2006). In 2005, they even beat a Division I team.
- The women's Cross-Country team won national championships from 1992 to 1995.
- The women's soccer team placed second in the nation in 2004.
- The women's swim team won the Northwest Conference championship for 11 years in a row (1997-2007).
- The women's basketball team reached the Division III Elite 8 in 2007.
- The women's crew team has competed in the Division III Rowing Championship every year since 2003.
Student Life and Fun
Traditions and Events
Repertory Dance Group (RDG) is a student-run dance show held at the end of each semester. Students organize, choreograph, and perform all the dances. It has been a tradition for almost 30 years.
In 2013, Puget Sound celebrated its 125th anniversary. The mayor of Tacoma even declared March 17, 2013, "University of Puget Sound Day."
LogJam! is a campus celebration at the start of the fall semester. Clubs and teams set up tables to find new members.
Foolish Pleasures is an annual student film festival. Students write, direct, act in, and produce all the films.
The Hatchet
The Hatchet is a special symbol for the University of Puget Sound sports teams. It was found in 1906. Students started carving their class year into it. This became a tradition where seniors would pass the hatchet to juniors. It turned into a competition to see which class could keep the hatchet the longest.
The original hatchet disappeared for 15 years. It was mailed back to a former president, then disappeared again. It reappeared at a homecoming game in 1988. In 1998, it was returned and put on display in the Wheelock Student Center. But it was stolen again in 1999.
On September 30, 2006, a student showed a hatchet at a football game. It was later revealed to be a copy. The real hatchet was finally returned to President Ronald Thomas in 2008 by two former students. It was then displayed at Homecoming.
Being Green (Sustainability)
The campus has worked hard to be environmentally friendly. In 2005, President Ronald R. Thomas signed the Talloires Declaration. This committed the school to certain environmental standards. The Sustainability Advisory Committee helps organize these efforts, which include:
- Fair trade coffee: The student-run Diversions Café only serves coffee that is grown organically and traded fairly.
- Sustainable Move-Out: During finals week, students can recycle unwanted items instead of throwing them away.
- Sustainability Mugs: New students get a reusable mug to encourage them to use fewer paper cups.
- No-Waste Picnic: A picnic for new students in 2005 produced almost no trash by using recyclable items.
In 2007, President Thomas also signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. This means the school is working to reduce its impact on the climate.
Student Groups (Fraternities and Sororities)
The University of Puget Sound has four fraternities and five sororities. About 20% of male students and 29% of female students are part of these groups.
- Fraternities: Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Beta Theta Pi.
- Sororities: Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Delta Delta.
Students cannot join these groups until their second semester. This is called "deferred recruitment." The university is also one of only five independent colleges in the Northwest to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. This is a very respected academic honor society.
Campus Media
KUPS 90.1FM (The Sound) is a student-run radio station. It started in 1968 and broadcasts 24 hours a day. KUPS has won many awards, including being named one of the best college radio stations by The Princeton Review and MTV.
The Trail is the student newspaper. It is run by students and provides news, entertainment, and discussions for the campus and local community.
"Crosscurrents" is the school's literary and arts magazine. It publishes student artwork, stories, and poems. It also features a guest artist or writer in each issue.
"Elements" is the student-run science magazine. It publishes articles about science, research, math, and technology, along with student artwork.
"Black Ice" is a student magazine by the Black Student Union. It focuses on issues important to students of color.
Famous Alumni
Many people who went to the University of Puget Sound have gone on to do amazing things. You can find a full list of them here: List of University of Puget Sound alumni.
