The full-time faculty numbers 228, 98% of whom hold a Ph.D . or other terminal degree in their field. About 52% of the student body has studied abroad, in over 35 countries.
Trinity was recognized by the Princeton Review in their 2009 edition of The Best 368 Colleges , its annual college guide, and has featured in the guide since its first publication. In its "America's Best Colleges" ranking, US News and World Report placed Trinity first among universities granting primarily bachelor's and select master's degrees in the western United States for 19 straight years.
[ edit ]Student body
Trinity's 2,693 students come from 48 states plus 66 countries. Minority enrollment is 23 percent for all undergraduate and graduate students. For the class of 2011 admissions received over 4,500 applicants, a 16% increase over last year. The acceptance rate in 2008 was 58.2%. [ 11 ]
Approximately 83% of the student body receives financial aid. [ 12 ]
[ edit ]Student life
[ edit ]Student organizations
Trinity hosts several local social fraternities and sororities .Fraternities include Iota Chi Rho, Bengal Lancers, Chi Delta Tau, Kappa Kappa Delta, Omega Phi, and Phi Sigma Chi. Sororities include Alpha Chi Lambda, Chi Beta Epsilon, Gamma Chi Delta, Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Theta Tau, SPURS, and Zeta Chi.
One fraternity, Alpha Theta Chi, dissolved their charter and left the university voluntarily due to judicial violations during the 2007-2008 academic year. Two other fraternities, the Triniteers and Alpha Delta Epsilon had charters revoked for hazing violations, and do not exist officially.
In the fall of 2008, Trinity's first colony of a national Greek organization, Pi Kappa Alpha , often shortened to Pikes, was officially recognized by the school. Pi Kappa Alpha would receive its charter in late 2009, making it the only national Greek fraternity or sorority on campus, and, with its 81 members, the largest. The move led to controversy amongst the local greek organizations, who did not support the inclusion of a national fraternity. Subsequently, a shake-up in the administration occurred following the new charter, and individuals were removed. [ 13 ]
Additionally, the school hosts chapters of several academic honor organizations, including Blue Key, Mortar Board , and Phi Beta Kappa . The school also has a couple of national co-ed organizations, Alpha Kappa Psi (Nu Pi Chapter), a national co-ed business fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega (Delta Pi Chapter) a national co-ed service fraternity, and Phi Alpha Delta , an international co-ed Pre-Law fraternity.
Service opportunities can be found through the largest single student organization, the Trinity University Voluntary Action Community, or TUVAC, which provides opportunities for students to give back to the surrounding community. The national co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega is also represented. Student government takes the form of the Association of Student Representatives which oversees the Trinity University Honor Council, TIGER Council, the Trinity Multicultural Network, and a Student Conduct Board. The Trinity University Student Ambassadors maintain Trinity traditions and encourage philanthropic activity among students, alumni, and friends of the University.
In addition, a number of interest groups attract students. Religious organizations include The Well, InterVarsity , the Fellowship of Christian Athletes , Jewish Student Association, Catholic Student Group, the Muslim Student Association, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and Students Creating Awareness of the Sikh Faith. Cultural and ethnic groups include the Asian Sub-Continental Association, African Student Association, Black Student Union, Chinese Culture Club, Filipino Student Association, International Club, Latino Exchange, the Hindu Student Union, the GaelicCultural Society, Sexual Diversity Alliance, and the Vietnamese Student Association. Political interests can be pursued in College Republicans, College Democrats, and the Coalition for Peace and Justice.
Trinity's radio station, KRTU 91.7 FM [7] , broadcasts jazz during the day, the only station in San Antonio to do so.At night, students, and a good deal of the station's community volunteers play indie rock . TigerTV serves as the campus TV station. In addition to movies, the channel broadcasts three main shows: Studio 21, Newswave, and the Not So Late Show. The Not So Late Show also includes a show titled The Floor. Both the campus radio station and television station have undergone renovations with funding from AT&T , bringing them in line with the best studios in the country. The Trinitonian [8] has been the weekly campus newspaper for 103 years, and has a print circulation of 2,500.
Intramural sports are also popular at Trinity. Students may participate in swimming, flag football, racquetball, table tennis, cross country, indoor and outdoor soccer, the home run derby, track and field, wrestling, tennis, volleyball, basketball, checkers, chess and spades.
[ edit ]Traditions
Organized traditions at Trinity over the years have included students climbing Murchison Tower at the beginning and end of their time at Trinity, the Last Great Reception, the Golf Cart Parade during the homecoming football game, TigerFest, the Ring Ceremony, Spotlight, the talent show, and Christmas Vespers, a candlelit Christmas concert. Traditions that students perpetuate through word of mouth include being thrown into the Miller fountain on one's birthday and sorority candelights to announce engagements. Another recent tradition, reserved solely for first-years, is "Calvert Ghosts" in which the residents of Calvert Hall cover themselves in nothing but flour and streak through the first-year quad on Halloween Night. Originally this tradition was specifically for the third floor of the residence hall, which was traditionally male. However, for the 2003-2004 school year, residential changes led to a reversal of the floor's gender assignment. In response, students from other floors (and residence halls) cobbled together a traditionally male ancillary streaking expedition, though some females joined in as well. Tempered by this hardship, the tradition continues in a co-ed incarnation that is less Calvert-centric, welcoming students from all floors of Calvert, as well as from neighboring halls.
Throughout the years, various traditions have fallen to the wayside. These include the Sperm and Ova dance (done during the homecoming football game), Senior Disorientation (a full year celebration for graduating seniors), The Rites of Spring (a springtime celebration on Prassel Lawn), and Primal Scream (an organized stress release prior to finals), and Spontaneous Erections (constructions made from random objects that showed up overnight on the Esplanade).To take their place, new student traditions have been introduced, including a procession to Laurie Auditorium from the Esplanade prior to the first year convocation, and from Laurie Auditorium to the Esplanade following graduation ceremonies. Other new traditions include the Chocolate Festival, Trinity Idol, and "This is my story," a variety show that demonstrates the diversity of life experiences of Trinity students.
[ edit ]Athletics
The Trinity Tigers is the nickname for the sports teams of Trinity University. They participate in the NCAA 's Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. [ 14 ] The school mascot is LeeRoy, a Bengal Tiger . In the 1950s, LeeRoy was an actual tiger who was brought to sporting events, [ 15 ] but today LeeRoy is portrayed by a student wearing a tiger suit.
Trinity has historically had a strong tennis program. Under the tutelage of Coach Clarence Mabry, Trinity player Chuck McKinley won the Wimbledon singles championship in 1963 and was rated the number one men's singles player in the world. [ 16 ] With partner Dennis Ralston, McKinley won the US men's doubles championship in 1961, 1963, and 1964.[ 17 ] McKinley and Ralston also played all of the matches while winning the Davis Cup for the US in 1963. All of these accomplishments occurred while McKinley was a Trinity undergraduate. In 1972 Trinity won the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship. [ 18 ] The tiger captain that year, Dick Stockton, won the NCAA men's singles championship. The women's team won the USTA collegiate national championshipin 1968, 1969, 1973, 1975, and 1976. [ citation needed ] As recently as 2000, the men's and women's programs each won NCAA Division III national championships. [ citation needed ] Trinity also has won national championships in women'sbasketball (Spring 2003) and men's soccer (Fall 2003). [ citation needed ] Club sports include men's and women's Tennis,Lacrosse , Water Polo , Fencing , and Trap and Skeet . [