"Reputation is the lifeblood of the work we do, for better or for worse ... Our reputation is currently moving in a positive direction at Tufts, which presents a great challenge and a great opportunity," explained Tufts Dean of Admission Lee Coffin at last evening's Ex-College event, "Scaling the Ivies."
Coffin's address and the subsequent discussion at the annual gathering of students, faculty, administrators and professionals focused on issues of ranking, name recognition and competition-issues that often matter to students only before and after their time on the Hill.
A school's selectivity is often of the first and most glaring obstacles facing prospective college students; the recognition of the school's credentials by prospective employers also forces graduating students to reflect back on their choice. Thus, despite our deepest desires to ignore reputations altogether, as was discussed by some during the event, it is important to take a moment for reflection on the growing value of the "hidden gem that is not so hidden anymore."
Improved rankings aside, Tufts University deserves credit for much progress on- and off-campus that cannot be measured in numbers. The double-entendre suggested by the title of last evening's event reflects not only the ingenuity of the event's planners, but also touches upon the ambition of Tufts University and the students who study upon the Hill. Tufts is scaling new heights as the administration tries to balance priorities based on the current financial situation, yet the scale tips in our favor when the human capital from this campus is added to the mix.
As Director of Public Relations Kim Thurler recently explained to The Daily, "Every school at Tufts is on the forefront of impressive work that can impact the lives of people around the world, so having good stories to tell and amazing people behind those stories is a large part of our success."
Things to be proud of include the recent commitment to making Tufts undergraduate admissions need-blind, efforts to make the campus more environmentally friendly, colorful trees in the fall and flowers in the spring, an Ex-College that offers interesting classes soon to be available through SIS, edible food, a police force that upholds the values of sobriety and quietness and, of course, the opportunity to run around naked each December.
Such characteristics of Tufts do more to affect the everyday happiness of the average Tufts student than anything measured by the Newsweek rankings. For example, although everyone may love "small class sizes," with every additional person in a class comes the opportunity to learn a new perspective and make a new friend. Again, the basis of such rankings are often not as important as they may first appear.
Like the ivy which climbs up the building of those schools after the plant, Tufts continues to grow. Even if progress is often slow, who can deny that many new buildings are needed on campus?
There at least appears to be an awareness and a discussion within the pages of this paper and through community forums on campus about these affairs. Although flourishing takes time and patience, through continued activism and engagement within the campus community, students, faculty, administrators and professionals can help spur Tufts to new heights.
Perhaps that is what Newsweek meant when they called Tufts a "new Ivy." Unlike the Hills we scale each day, the only way ivy travels is up.
