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BY PATRICIA SPAKES This coming September will mark another “first” for the University of Washington Tacoma. We will welcome about 150 new first-year college students to campus, transitioning to a full, four-year university. Up to this time, UWT has served upper-division and transfer students, enrolling large numbers of nontraditional students. Adding freshmen and sophomores expands the role UWT plays in providing the South Sound with educational opportunities. College-bound students in the area now can gain a world-class public education close to home. Community-college transfer students will receive increased access and expanded opportunities for co-enrollment. And having a four-year university with an expanding array of undergraduate and graduate programs will make an increasingly positive impact on the region’s economy. When the Legislature last year approved adding first- and second-year students to UWT, a new option became available to high school graduates choosing a college to enter in fall of 2006. The university moved quickly to plan a new curriculum and prepare the campus for the arrival of these students. Applications are arriving, and more students are learning about this new way to earn a four-year UW degree in Tacoma. Faculty and staff are eager to welcome prospective students. Those who visit campus, check out financial aid and scholarship options and apply seem excited. They recognize the benefits of attending a campus that offers an urban setting, a small-campus atmosphere and the opportunity to study in classes led by world-class faculty who provide personalized attention. This is our strategy for attracting new freshmen and sophomores as well as the upper-division students we’ve been serving. Courses built on the latest knowledge: We were given a rare opportunity to create an entirely new, innovative curriculum that is based on the best teaching methods and instructional strategies known in higher education. UW degree, UW faculty in Tacoma: UWT students earn the same diploma as those at UW Seattle, and UW Tacoma faculty are of the same exceptional quality. Attracted by the opportunity to join an exciting, new university that is creating leading degree programs, faculty candidates apply from all across the nation and beyond. We hire the most talented new and experienced faculty available. Once hired, UWT faculty meet the same high standards of performance as other faculty of the UW. Personalized attention: There is no greater academic advantage than working closely with university faculty in the classroom, research projects, internships and community service projects. In our new curriculum, two faculty members will team-teach every core course. Each course meets the requirements of two traditional subjects, but the content is integrated in innovative ways. And the entire core curriculum is centered around a theme. This year’s theme is “Living in a Global Society.” This interdisciplinary approach integrates knowledge from different areas of study and brings subjects to life. Students get deeply engaged with faculty in the learning process – both inside and outside of the classroom. Cost: As a campus serving students who commute, UWT offers opportunities to save on the high cost of a college education. Thanks to the generous support of our community, many scholarship opportunities are available. There has been tremendous interest in our new program. Hundreds of students have already applied and are being considered for both admission and scholarships. Assistance in filing for financial aid is also available. We expect many more applications by our priority date, Wednesday, but we will continue to admit students as long as space is available. While we are excited about our new class of first-year students, we have not forgotten our commitment to increasing access for community-college transfer students. It is now possible for some students enrolled at a local community college to take a few specialized courses at UWT. When the Legislature made UWT a four-year institution, it also expanded the number of enrollments available for upper-division, transfer students. UW Tacoma will continue its commitment to serving as a primary destination for the region’s transfer students. At UWT, we have built a educational program that will be engaging, enlightening and motivating. The community, the region and the world is our classroom – providing opportunities to learn within our region about everything from architecture, art and history, to business, health care and social problems – all while exploring the connections to the world at large. Our students help strengthen the community by engaging with faculty in research and projects that solve real community problems. Our students study in a revitalized historic district with coffeehouses and great restaurants and shops at the center of a city buzzing with the energy of revitalization. Best of all, evidence shows that our graduates will remain in the South Puget Sound, contributing to the work force, raising the standard of living and becoming community leaders. It all makes me wish I could start college over again and take advantage of this great opportunity. The University of Washington Tacoma has truly become a place where talented students can find their future. |
University
of Washington Tacoma Last update: 8/22/08 nps |