Vanderbilt University, USA

Established in 1873 and ranked 17th among America’s best colleges by the US News & World Report, Vanderbilt enjoys an international reputation for its study and research programs

A full-fledged private varsity in Nashville, Tennessee, the folk and country music capital of the US, Vanderbilt University (estb.1873) enjoys a national and international reputation for its excellent study and research programmes. The US News & World Report 2011 ranked Vanderbilt 17th among America’s best colleges — for the third year in a row in 2011 — while The Times Higher Education ranks it No. 51 in its World University Rankings 2011.

Vanderbilt’s ten faculties offer multidisciplinary undergraduate progra-mmes in the liberal arts, sciences, engineering, music, education and human development, as well as a full range of postgraduate and professional degrees. Currently the varsity’s 12,714 students are tutored by a full-time faculty of 3,309 and part-time faculty of 424.

“Vanderbilt is one of the most dynamic, exhilarating and relevant higher learning institutions in the nation. A key reason for our upward trajectory is rejection of inertia, our constant search for innovation, and our ability to rapidly and strategically turn hurdles into opportunities,” says Nicholas Zeppos, chancellor of the university, which is named after shipping and rail magnate ‘Commodore’ Cornelius Vanderbilt, who endowed the college with $1 million in 1873.

Its numerous faculties apart, several research centres and institutes are affiliated with the university, including the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies; Freedom Forum First Amendment Center; Dyer Observatory, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the only Level I trauma centre in Tennessee. With the exception of its off-campus observatory and satellite medical clinics, all the university’s facilities are situated within its 330-acre campus in Nashville. Notable alumni include former US vice president Albert Gore Jr, five Nobel Prize laureates (inclu-ding Mohammed Yunus of the Grameen Bank), and several Pulitzer Prize winners.

Nashville. The administrative capital of the state of Tennessee, Nashville (pop.570,000) is globally acclaimed as the Music City of the US, specially for America’s unique genre of country music. Nashville is also an epicentre of a vibrant entertainment industry and hosts the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Nashville Opera, Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Nashville Ballet. Nashville’s popular tourist sites involve country music, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Belcourt Theatre, and Ryman Auditorium.

But music is not Nashville’s sole claim to fame. It features in the list of the 15 best American cities for work and family of Fortune magazine, and was inden-tified by Forbes as one of the 25 cities most likely to offer the country’s highest employment opportunities over the next five years. Major industries include tourism, printing and publishing, technology manufacturing, music production, higher education, finance, insurance, automobile production and healthcare management.

Nashville is also blessed with a mild and pleasant climate, although winter temperatures range from cool to cold with occasional snowfall. Fall (autumn) is celebrated throughout Tennessee, attracting visitors who throng the state to witness its generous trees cover changing colour en masse in mid-October.

Campus facilities. Vanderbilt’s park-like campus is sited southwest of downtown Nashville, and a blend of architecture punctuates the landscape. Ancient oaks and magnolias fill this official national arboretum and open onto sweeping lawns boasting more than 300 tree and shrub varieties. Buildings on the original campus date back to its founding years in 1873. The Peabody section of the campus has been a registered National Historic Landmark since 1966.

Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Library System is among the top research libraries of America and hosts over 8 million items including 3.5 million volumes, 3.1 million microforms and 1.2 million digital collections.

Sports facilities on campus include Memorial Gym (basketball); Vanderbilt stadium (39,790 seats); Soccer/Lacrosse Complex; Vanderbilt Track; The Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center; Hawkins Field; John Rich Complex which includes two football practice fields and a state-of-the-art weights room; and the 36-hole Legends Club of Tennessee. Moreover the Student Recreation Centre offers a 8,000 sq. ft fitness centre; multipurpose pool; activity room; three basketball/volleyball courts; six racquetball courts; two squash courts; indoor elevated track; 25 ft. climbing wall; sand volleyball and basketball courts. In addition there are over 300 student clubs on campus.

Admission. Vanderbilt University follows a needs-blind admissions policy for all applicants including foreign students. The minimum eligibility criterion for admission into undergraduate programmes is compl-etion of Plus Two. In addition students have to submit official results of TOEFL/IELTS and SAT/ACT tests. The completed common application inclu-ding an International Supplement to the Secondary School Report should be submitted together with an official transcript or record of academic achievement in secondary school; a counselor or administrator letter of recommendation and two academic teacher letters of recommendation; International Student Financial Aid Application, and a $50 (Rs.2,500) non-refundable application fee. The admission deadline is January 1.

For further information contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 2305 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. Ph: 001 615 322-2561; Fax: 001 615-343-7765; e-mail: admissions@vander bilt.edu; website: www.vanderbilt.edu.

Accommodation. Vanderbilt is essentially a residential university with over 85 percent of students residing on campus. First-year students live in The Commons, a living-learning residential community comprising ten houses, the Commons Center, and the dean of The Commons’ house. Students living in The Commons benefit from regular interaction with faculty and guest lectures. After the freshman (first) year, students have several accommo-dation options available on campus, including traditional dorm living, living/learning communities, and apartment style residences.

Degree programmes. Vanderbilt’s ten faculties offer over 68 bachelors degree programmes, 72 Masters degree programmes, and 58 doctoral degree programmes (see box).

Summiya Yasmeen