Trinity was founded in 1869 by Presbyterians in Tehuacana, Texas.  It moved to Waxahachie, Texas in 1902, to San Antonio in 1942, and to its permanent skyline campus in 1952.  Although governed by an independent Board of Trustees, Trinity maintains a covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church USA.


STUDENTS

Nationally recognized as a selective admissions institution, Trinity students come from every region of the country and many foreign countries. They are exceptionally bright, highly motivated, and eager to involve themselves in the abundant mix of cultural, social, and extracurricular activities available on the Trinity campus. The University annually enrolls approximately 2,622 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students.


The average SAT score for a first year or entering student is 1278; 74% ranked in top 20% of their high school class..

In 2000-2001, total undergraduate enrollment was 2,622 with students coming from all 50 states, including D.C. and the Virgin Islands, and 25 foreign countries. Seventy-one percent call Texas home. Fifty-two percent of the undergraduates were female and more than 19% were minorities.

Recent Trinity students have won Rhodes, Mellon, Goldwater, Truman, NSF, Minority Leaders Fellowships, Fulbright, and other scholarships and fellowships for graduate study.

In addition to being academically talented Trinity students bring other exceptional talents, interests, and abilities as well as a desire to contribute to the campus community. They are eager to assume leadership roles in the more than 100 student organizations and also are known for their sense of social responsibility, evidenced by the large percentage who share their time and talents through the Trinity University Voluntary Action Center (TUVAC) and other service-oriented organizations.

Although primarily undergraduate, Trinity offers masters degrees in professional programs of accounting, education and health care administration. This year, 234 students are enrolled in these programs; 64% are female and 82.5% listed Texas as their home address. Two of the masters' programs, the Master of Arts in Teaching and the Master of Science in Accounting, are five year programs which generally matriculate Trinity undergraduates.


FACULTY

Trinity University is a community of scholars and educators who share a passion for the pursuit of knowledge and the expansion of its frontiers. Our 205 faculty members, drawn from the finest graduate schools, are dedicated teachers, active scholars, and accessible to students outside the classroom.

Trinity professors, 98% of whom hold the doctoral or equivalent degree, share a dual commitment to teaching and research. They are drawn to Trinity by the exceptional caliber of students, the numerous opportunities and spacious facilities for research, and the strong campus community. Eighteen endowed Distinguished Professorships are held by internationally known scholars who further enrich the academic environment. A student/faculty ratio of 11:1 and small classes allow professors to get to know their students well and they give generously of their time outside of class as advisors and mentors. Most students report that these close personal relationships with caring, responsive faculty are among the most treasured aspects of their Trinity experience.

The University is divided into three academic divisions, each headed by a dean who reports to the vice president of Academic Affairs. The Division of Behavioral and Administrative Studies consists of the departments of Business Administration, Economics, Education, Health Care Administration, Physical Education and Athletics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, the Urban Studies program (major), the American Intercultural Studies program (minor), the Cognitive Science program, and the Prelaw Committee. The Division of Humanities and Arts consists of the departments of Art, Art History, Classical Studies, Communication, English, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Speech and Drama, and interdisciplinary programs in International Studies (major), Comparative Literature (minor), Communication Management (minor), Linguistics (minor), Medieval Studies (minor), and Women's Studies (minor). The Division of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering consists of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physics, the interdisciplinary program in Environmental Studies (minor), the Health Professions Advisory Committee, and the Animal Care Facility.

A strong advising program matches a faculty advisor with every student. Together they develop an academic plan, choose courses, and select a major. One feature of Trinity's curriculum is an opportunity for students to participate in research projects with faculty mentors, and it is not uncommon for students to present their findings at professional conferences or to have them published in professional journals.

Approximately 78% of the faculty at Trinity University are tenured. The faculty oversees and assesses the common curriculum as well as the academic departments and disciplines.


CURRICULUM

The Trinity curriculum establishes for undergraduates a foundation for understanding the varied domains of human knowledge and experience. The curriculum also develops the skills necessary for active participation in the academic life of the University and of the larger community. Paramount are the abilities to think in disciplined, critical, creative ways, and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Seeking to be faithful to its academic ideals and Judeo-Christian heritage, Trinity dedicates itself to the open pursuit of truth and knowledge. A Trinity education nurtures the development of intellectual insight, moral direction, and tolerance for diverse opinions through the involvement of faculty, staff, and students. Academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences and preprofessional and professional fields are consciously intertwined to provide mutually reinforcing intellectual experiences for students and faculty.

The Common Curriculum is the heart of Trinity's rigorous academic program. The Common Curriculum establishes a basis for understanding the various domains of knowledge and experience which include the First Year Seminar, the Writing Workshop, and a selection of courses designed to fulfill six fundamental understandings: Intellectual Heritage of Western Culture, World Culture, The Role of Values, The World Through Science, The Human Social Context, and Aesthetic Experience and Artistic Creativity. Additional requirements include demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language, mathematics, and computer skills plus participation in a lifetime sport or fitness activity.

The First Year Seminar serves to induct students into an intellectual discussion of substantive issues, and to enhance their speaking, writing and bibliographic skills. The Writing Workshop addresses the refinement and enhancement of skills in critical reading, analysis, judgment, and written composition, making students proficient in the use of these essential tools early in their academic careers.

Trinity offers undergraduate programs with majors in 26 departments and programs. Nine interdisciplinary minors are also offered. In addition to strength in the liberal arts and sciences, these majors include excellent professional programs in communication, education, business administration, and engineering science. Degrees offered include the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees. Two five-year programs lead to a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree in education or accounting.

An Honors Program allows students to demonstrate their capacity for analysis, synthesis, and creativity through completion of a senior honors thesis. Academic distinction is recognized through Trinity's Phi Beta Kappa chapter and more than 15 academic honor societies.


FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Trinity University has benefited from strong fiscal management and dramatic growth of its endowment over the last twenty years. Currently valued at approximately $657 million, Trinity's endowment ranks 72nd among all reporting institutions in the NACUBO endowment study, and 40th in endowment per FTE student. The University's endowment produces substantial revenues in support of the budget and creates stability for the institution's future.

During the past ten years, the University's budget has grown at a controlled rate of approximately five percent a year, while the endowment has nearly doubled. Tuition has grown at a rate of approximately four percent a year, a rate that tends to be at or below most of Trinity's peer institutions.

The growth in Trinity's expenditure budget by program and the growth in endowment funds provide evidence of sufficiency of financial resources. Budget figures show increased funding each year for instruction and academic support. Instruction and academic support per FTE student has also increased in recent years. More comprehensive budgetary measures also show growth from 1985-86 to 1999-00: educational and general budget, from $31.0 million to $64 million; total operating budget, from $36.8 million to $74.3 million.

The University is committed to assisting students whose families need financial help in attending Trinity. University funds allocated for financial aid have risen from less than $1 million in 1985-1986 to $12 million in 1999-00. This item is the fastest growing expenditure in the Trinity budget. In addition to offering need-base aid, Trinity awards merit scholarships to students of exceptional ability and achievement.


PHYSICAL PLANT

The physical development of the Trinity campus over the last fifty years is a fascinating story of vision and good planning. On the site of an abandoned quarry on the near north side of San Antonio, Trinity planned and then developed one of America's most attractive college campuses. Today the Trinity campus encompasses 117 acres and boasts handsome, red brick buildings, accented by native live oaks, well-kept grounds, and sparkling fountains. Set up on a hill, the campus offers a commanding view of historic downtown San Antonio.

Our physical resources, such as the superb Coates Library, the magnificent Bell Athletic Center, and sophisticated laboratories and classrooms, engage our students in learning experiences not normally available to undergraduates at other liberal arts colleges or large research institutions.

Trinity University provides exceptional facilities for learning. Each residence hall room offers individual connection to the campus network and Internet. Electronic classrooms further enhance the learning environment and permit access to multimedia resources.

The Coates Library, among the leading undergraduate libraries in the country, contains more than 871,000 volumes, vast resources in micro format, and has an acquisitions budget of more than $1 million annually. Students access these resources easily through TROILUS, the on-line catalog with terminals in the library and with network access.

A $3.7 million expansion of the Coates Library in 1998 created a new first floor with a revamped Instructional Media Services (IMS) facility housing $400,000 in the latest technological equipment. The focal point of IMS is the Multimedia Development Center with state-of-the-art computer workstations, scanners, color printers, audio and video digitizers, film recorders, and synthesizers offering students and faculty the flexibility to develop multimedia presentations, reports, and projects. Users can connect to the Internet, download video clips, images, sounds, and documents from all over the world, modify these resources and incorporate them into their research and instructional materials. The remainder of the new floor includes a 24 workstation computer lab, a video conference/integrated learning center (equipped with satellite down-link and two-way video conference facilities) and some of the library's holdings.

Modern, spacious science laboratories are equipped with sophisticated instrumentation and provide hands-on experience generally found only at the graduate level. The Richardson Communication Center offers two television studios with control rooms, remote and cable news feed and production services, electronic editing suites, and a live news room with regional news services. KRTU, the campus radio station, broadcasts daily to classical music and jazz aficionados throughout the city.

The three-building Ruth Taylor complex houses studios, practice rooms, and performance facilities for the fine arts. These include painting and sculpture studios, three theaters, and an auditorium for music.

The University learned during the last two decades that the task of building a college campus is never complete. The decision to become a primarily residential campus and the aggressive plans for improvements of the library, academic and athletic programs had a significant impact on the physical facilities of the institution. The University has spent more than $40 million in the past ten years on capital renovations, new construction, acquisition of property for additions to the campus, and improvement of recreational facilities.


CAMPUS LIFE

Trinity University is a residential community where all first year students, sophomores, juniors and many seniors live on campus. Time management is a skill that Trinity students learn quickly as they strive to balance the rich mix of extracurricular activities with heavy academic demands. Instrumental and choral ensembles, debate, and drama productions are among the many options open to all students regardless of major.

Several endowed lecture series present noted figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, John Major, Simon Peres, Gen. Colin Powell, William Styron, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Moyers and Margaret Atwood. Phi Beta Kappa and other honor societies are among more than 100 clubs and organizations that include local fraternities and sororities, service organizations, and a wide variety of special interest groups. Many Trinity students share their time through the Trinity University Voluntary Action Center. An interdenominational chapel program and student religious groups provide opportunities for spiritual growth. Numerous plays, concerts, films, special events, and exhibits enhance the campus cultural environment. Thanks to the mild South Texas climate, outdoor activity is possible all year long.

In addition to popular intramural sports and outdoor recreation programs, Trinity fields 18 intercollegiate teams--nine each for men and women. Tiger teams compete in NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Trinity has captured seven consecutive SCAC President's Trophies, awarded annually to the school with the best overall conference record.


ALUMNI

Of the 1999 graduating class, 34% directly entered graduate school, attending 41 institutions in 15 states, Washington D.C. and two foreign countries. Ultimately, more than 50% will enter graduate or professional schools within five years.

Trinity University has approximately 20,500 alumni of which the University regularly communicates with approximately 17,000. The Trinity University Alumni Association is governed by a board consisting of thirty-six members elected at large, a representative from two of Trinity's graduate programs, and the presidents of ten alumni chapters. Trinity has active alumni chapters in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles. In addition to the chapter infrastructure, there is a nationwide network of alumni residing in more than twenty cities who assist with student recruitment, career advising, and the development of alumni events and activities in their areas. Approximately sixty class agents correspond with their classmates once a year to encourage interest and involvement with the University. Alumni Weekend is a popular annual event that attracts more than 600 Trinity alumni back to campus each fall.