University of the South

University of the South
Name	University of the South
Motto	Ecce Quam Bonum (Latin)
Mottoeng	Behold How Good
Established	1857
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Episcopal Church
Endowment	$515.2 million (2020)
Chancellor	Stephen B. Oates (Vice Chancellor)
City	Sewanee
State	Tennessee
Country	United States
Campus	Rural, 13,000 acres (53 km²)
Colors	Purple and white
Nickname	Tigers
Affiliations	Annapolis Group, Associated Colleges of the South

University of the South is a private Episcopal liberal arts college located atop Cumberland Plateau in Sewanee, Tennessee. Founded in 1857 by dioceses of the Protestant Episcopal Church, its expansive campus is noted for its Gothic Revival buildings and natural beauty. The institution is colloquially known as "Sewanee" and is a member of the Annapolis Group and the Associated Colleges of the South.

History

The university was conceived at a landmark 1856 meeting in Lookout Mountain, where delegates from ten southern Episcopal dioceses, including Bishop Leonidas Polk of Louisiana and Bishop James Hervey Otey of Tennessee, resolved to create a regional university for the South. Following its 1857 charter, the Civil War halted construction, with the site used as a Confederate encampment and later occupied by the Union Army. The cornerstone of the first building was finally laid in 1868, aided by a significant donation from the English philanthropist George Peabody. The university's early growth was shaped by figures like Bishop Charles Todd Quintard and William Porcher DuBose, who established its theological identity. The Sewanee Military Academy operated on campus for several decades, and the institution formally adopted the name "Sewanee: The University of the South" in the 1980s.

Academics

The university operates through a College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology, the latter being one of ten official seminaries of the Episcopal Church. It follows a 4-1-4 academic calendar featuring a one-month January term for intensive study. The curriculum emphasizes a traditional liberal arts education, with notable strength in programs like English literature, philosophy, and classics. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio. Distinctive academic opportunities include the Sewanee Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Review literary journal, and extensive undergraduate research fellowships. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees at institutions such as Vanderbilt University, the University of Virginia, and Yale University.

Campus

The 13,000-acre domain, known as "the Domain," sits at an elevation of 2,000 feet on the Cumberland Plateau and includes extensive tracts of old-growth forest. The central campus is defined by its Gothic Revival and Collegiate Gothic structures, most constructed from local sandstone. Key landmarks include All Saints' Chapel, a massive Gothic church, the Convocation Hall building, and the Jessie Ball duPont Library. The Domain contains the Sewanee Natural Bridge, numerous karst features, and over 50 miles of trails used for academic study and recreation. The University Press and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival are also based on campus.

Student life

Student life is governed by the Sewanee Honor Code, a student-administered system. Over 90% of students reside on campus in residence halls like Hodgson Hall or in the numerous fraternity and sorority houses. The Order of Gownsmen, a historic literary and debating society, grants members the privilege of wearing academic gowns. Traditions include the "Purple" and "White" student factions, Easter on the Mountain, and the "Sewanee Gentleman" ethos. The Sewanee Outing Program organizes outdoor activities, while religious life is centered around All Saints' Chapel and the Community of St. Mary.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Sewanee Tigers, compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the Southern Athletic Association. The football program is historically famous for the 1899 "Iron Men" team, which famously recorded five shutout victories in six days during a road trip. The university was a founding member of the Southeastern Conference in 1932. Other notable sports include men's lacrosse, women's soccer, and equestrian. The campus features facilities like Hardee-McGee Field at Harris Stadium and the Fowler Sport and Fitness Center.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include Senator John N. Heiskell, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet William Alexander Percy and his protégé Walker Percy, and Nobel laureate in literature William Faulkner (who attended briefly). Notable faculty have included theologian William Porcher DuBose, literary critic Andrew Lytle, and poet Allen Tate. Other distinguished graduates are Ambassador Hume Horan, CNN co-founder Reese Schonfeld, and author Monroe K. Spears.

Category:Universities and colleges in Tennessee Category:Liberal arts colleges in the United States Category:Episcopal Church (United States) universities and colleges