Founded in 1857, Sewanee: The University of the South is a private liberal arts college nestled atop the scenic Cumberland Plateau in Sewanee, Tennessee. The institution spans a vast 13,000-acre campus, making it one of the largest in the United States by land area. Despite its expansive grounds, Sewanee maintains an intimate atmosphere, with an enrollment that typically hovers around 1,700 undergraduate students, fostering a tight-knit community feel. Reflecting its Episcopal heritage, Sewanee upholds a tradition of spiritual and intellectual exploration within its picturesque gothic architecture.
Distinctive among its peers, Sewanee offers a unique blend of rigorous academics and robust outdoor programming, thanks to its unparalleled access to the surrounding natural environment. One of its notable features is the Sewanee Semester, a program that allows students to deeply immerse themselves in one particular area of study for an entire semester, often leading to undergraduate research opportunities and close collaboration with faculty. Additionally, the university is the custodian of the 13,000-acre Domain, a living laboratory for environmental studies and research, and its School of Theology is nationally recognized, drawing students from across the country to its ecclesiastical programs.
Sewanee boasts a myriad of positive aspects. The university's strong emphasis on writing is evident in its comprehensive Writing Across the Curriculum program, which ensures that students are proficient writers by the time they graduate. Sewanee graduates have a history of excellence, with a significant number of alumni being awarded prestigious Rhodes, Fulbright, and Watson fellowships. The university's outreach programs, like the South Cumberland Learning & Service Initiative, exemplify its commitment to community engagement, providing valuable services to the local region and offering students hands-on experience with social enterprise and community development.
However, Sewanee faces challenges similar to many liberal arts institutions striving to evolve within a rapidly changing higher education landscape. Its rural location, while scenic and advantageous for environmental studies, can sometimes limit students' access to the diverse internships and cultural experiences found in urban centers. Additionally, as with many private universities, Sewanee contends with the need to ensure affordability for a diverse student body, when the cost of tuition and fees often runs high. These challenges require the university to continuously innovate and seek a balance between maintaining its traditions and adapting to new educational and societal demands.
