University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington
Private Liberal Arts College
This was my second visit to UPS, a true liberal arts gem located in Tacoma Washington, and both times I found it welcoming, engaging and full of positive energy. The campus is surrounded by a neighborhood of adorable houses, easy walks to restaurants, shopping and the water front and has the feel of a traditional red brick campus. There is an annual Porch fest where local bands, with permission from homeowners, perform on the porches of these charming houses. UPS community reaches into Tacoma.All courses at Reed are taught by professors. Reed has been designated a Research College, under the new Carnegie classification, spending well more than the $2.5 million/year in research. Academics are rigorous at Reed, and students are often found clustered in a professor’s office working together to understand the material. The material, however, isn't simply presented to be learned. Collaborative conversations create the direction of learning in the classrooms.
Freshmen begin their experience at UPS with a 10 day Passage Program, where they arrive prior to the start of the semester to gain insights as to how to succeed in college as well as have opportunities to backpack, kayak, create art, explore the Tacoma food scene and several other multi-day experiences. This helps new students begin to build a community with other freshmen as well as professors on campus.
Core requirements are present at UPS, but have been revised.. The result is that more students are double majoring and adding minors to their academic plan. First years are required to take a Freshman Socratic Seminar class with reading and discussion taking the main stage. UPS wants students to take risks, dare to say things that might be wrong and learn to grow. To encourage a safe space for this, the Seminar is a pass/fail course.
Students are required to live on campus for the first two years and may have a car, but don’t need one. Parking is free! Public transport in and around Tacoma is amazing. Take a train to Seattle or Portland. A $3.50 bus fare will get you easily to SeaTac. Living off campus after sophomore year won’t break the bank. Rents range from $550-$650 when you share a house with 4 roommates.
