Transylvania is firmly committed to the concept of liberal education. For an education to be of lifelong value, a student must acquire mastery of basic skills, have a broad exposure to and appreciation for the wide varieties of knowledge and expression, and pursue some discipline in depth.
Basic skills are emphasized in First Engagements and First-Year Seminar programs and in many of the introductory courses of the various programs. Broad exposure is provided by distribution, or general education, requirements. Major patterns offer students a wide choice of in-depth study. Off-campus study, travel-study, and internship programs add further options. A low student-faculty ratio and an advising and counseling program provide students with personal attention and guidance so that each may benefit fully from the opportunities available. Many academic support services, facilities, and organizations extend education beyond the classroom into the lives of students.
Academic Advising
The Academic Advising Program is under the general supervision of the dean of the university and is coordinated through the Office of the Registrar by the associate dean of the university. Upon admission, each student is assigned a faculty mentor/advisor. After completion of registration during winter term of the student’s first year, students may choose an advisor in their major or area of interest or another advisor with whom they had a class in their first year.
The Center for Academic and Professional Enrichment
Located on the first floor of Old Morrison, the Center offers resources to enrich students’ experiences in preparation for the many diverse roles of the 21st century. The Center is the home for the 100 Doors Mentor Program, Career Development, Global and Intercultural Engagement (previously known as Study Abroad), prestigious student scholarships/awards cultivation (such as Fulbright awards), student employment and academic internships. Staff will be available to assist faculty with graduate and professional school preparation of students and help faculty with service learning projects.
100 Doors to Success Mentor Program
100 Doors to Success pairs students with alumni and friends of the university. Imagine being guided by seasoned professionals who have successfully navigated the workforce and understand the liberal arts advantage.
Career Development
Career Development engages current and former students by helping them seamlessly translate their liberal arts experience into a fulfilling vocation. By educating our students, we endeavor to move them toward high levels of personal responsibility and self-efficacy that can sustain them throughout their professional lives. Get help with cover letters, resumes, shadowships and internships.
Global and Intercultural Engagement (Study Abroad) and Other Off-Campus Programs
International study opportunities in various settings and for varying lengths of time are available to Transylvania students.
Semester study abroad. Students must complete a formal application process, overseen by the Office of Global and Intercultural Engagement, in consultation with the academic dean’s office, the registrar and the faculty in order to study off campus and to transfer academic credit from foreign universities or programs sponsored by U.S. universities or affiliated programs. Approval for course credit must be granted by the registrar and academic program directors. Because University policy requires that 8 of the last 9 courses be taken in residence, students who want to study off campus during senior year must petition and receive approval from the Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards (CAAS).
For GlobalTransy semester programs, students will be billed their regular Transylvania tuition plus the general fee. Whether or not room and/or board is paid directly to Transylvania or the program provider will be contingent on the program tier. For tier 1 programs, students pay only tuition and the general fee to the University. For tier 2 programs, students pay tuition and the general fee, plus room to the University. For tier 3 programs, students pay tuition and the general fee, plus room and board to the University. For GlobalTransy programs, a student may use 100% of their Transylvania aid, plus all federal and state aid, loans and eligible outside scholarships.
If a student petitions to attend a non-approved, non-GlobalTransy program and is accepted, Transylvania will pay the program a maximum of $12,000 of a student’s program fee. Students are responsible to pay their study abroad program for the balance of fees if the cost of their study abroad program exceeds the maximum amount allowed. Once approved for a petitioned program, a student may use 50% of their Transylvania aid, plus all federal and state aid, loans and eligible outside scholarships.
Students who have Faculty/Staff, Tuition Exchange and Bon Appétit employee benefits, regardless of program choice, will not be charged home school tuition and fees, but rather will pay study abroad program fees directly to their study abroad program.
May term travel courses. Transylvania faculty members regularly teach May term courses that include international travel. Offerings vary each year; recent courses have been taught in Belize, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Summer study abroad. Students can study abroad in the summer through any of our partner programs, offered through KIIS, ISA, CISabroad, CIEE, WINS and Arcadia. There are scholarships available through Transylvania and individual partner programs for summer study abroad. Students will pay all fees to their program of choice.
Winter Break Study Abroad. Transylvania students have the opportunity to study abroad over winter break through KIIS and will pay all fees directly to their program.
Internships Abroad. Students may participate in academic or practical internships abroad in the summer through any approved partner program. In order to receive academic credit, students must get proper faculty approval and submit a course approval form.
Domestic Off-Campus Opportunities. The Office of Global and Intercultural Engagement also assists students in finding and participating in domestic, off-campus academic experiences.
Study Abroad Eligibility
In order to study abroad at Transylvania, a student must meet the following criteria:
1. Minimum of 2.5 overall GPA (Many programs require a 3.0)
A student may still apply with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5, however they must first meet with the Director of Global and Intercultural Engagement.
2. Good standing with the Office of the Dean of Students regarding disciplinary and/or judicial status
3. For non-semester study abroad, students must have completed one full semester of university study. For semester study abroad, students must have completed at least two semesters of university study and return for their final academic year at Transylvania.
Students who wish to go abroad should demonstrate evidence of maturity, responsibility and preparation for education abroad and show intellectual curiosity, academic rationale and social flexibility.
Important: Certain programs will have their own specific requirements (i.e. prerequisites, language proficiency, etc.) that students will need to meet in order to participate.
Other Off-Campus Programs
Internship and sponsored learning opportunities are available through a variety of university learning/work options. (See Sponsored Learning: Internships in the Curriculum section of the Catalog.)
Several specific types of sponsored learning opportunities are offered:
Kentucky Legislative Internships. Developed in cooperation with the Kentucky state government, these provide an opportunity for qualified students to become acquainted with the legislative process of the state government by working with legislators and legislative committees during sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly. Students also take a series of courses associated with the legislative internship.
Congressional District Office Internships. Developed in cooperation with the Sixth Congressional District Office, these internships permit qualified students to gain experience in and become acquainted with the operation and activities of a district congressional office for several months.
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
Under an inter-institutional arrangement with the University of Kentucky, Transylvania offers qualified students an opportunity to participate in Air Force and Army ROTC courses. The courses are offered on the University of Kentucky campus, and students are responsible for their own transportation.
Students receiving ROTC scholarships must enroll for aerospace studies (Air Force) courses or military science (Army) courses at the University of Kentucky. In addition to the ROTC scholarships, Transylvania provides scholarships and grant assistance to cover the costs of room and board for all three- and four-year recipients. For more information, visit the Air Force and Army ROTC website at www.uky.edu.
Air Force Studies
1111 Aerospace Studies I ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 1120)
1120 Leadership Laboratory I ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 1111)
1131 Aerospace Studies I .¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 1140)
1140 Leadership Laboratory I ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 1131)
2111 Aerospace Studies II ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 2120)
2120 Leadership Laboratory II ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 2111)
2131 Aerospace Studies II ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 2140)
2140 Leadership Laboratory II ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 2131)
3114 Aerospace Studies III ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 3120)
3120 Leadership Laboratory III ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 3114)
3133 Aerospace Studies III ¾ unit (concurrent with AFS 3140)
3140 Leadership Laboratory III ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 3134)
4113 Aerospace Studies IV ¾ unit (concurrent with AFS 4120)
4120 Leadership Laboratory IV¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 4114)
4133 Aerospace Studies IV ¾ unit (concurrent with AFS 4140)
4140 Leadership Laboratory IV ¼ unit (concurrent with AFS 4134)
The laboratories are CR/NC courses that must accompany the appropriate aerospace studies courses as indicated.
American Military Studies
1101 Introduction to the Army ½ unit (concurrent with AMS 2501 recommended)
1102 Foundations of Leadership ½ unit (concurrent with AMS 2501 recommended)
2211 Leadership and Ethics ½ unit (concurrent with AMS 2501 required)
2212 Army Doctrine and Team Development ½ unit (concurrent with AMS 2501 required)
2501 Basic Military Science Laboratory ¼ unit
3014 Training Management ¾ unit (concurrent with AMS 3501 required)
3024 Applied Leadership ¾ unit (concurrent with AMS 3501 required)
3204 American Military History ¾ unit
3414 The Army Officer ¾ unit (concurrent with AMS 3501 required)
3424 Command Management ¾ unit (concurrent with AMS 3501 required)
3501 Advanced Military Science Laboratory ¼ unit
3951 Independent Study in Leadership ¼ unit
Nontraditional Enrollment
Part-time, non-degree-seeking students, designated as special students, may register for regular courses through the registrar’s office. Registration is subject to the following restrictions:
- All prospective students must affirm their completion of high school or the GED or be approved by the dean of the university.
- An individual denied admission as a degree-seeking student is not eligible to register as a special student.
- After completing three courses, a person must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher to continue as a special student.
- No more than six full-unit courses taken as a special student may be applied to degree requirements.
- Exemptions from any of the above restrictions may be granted by the dean of the university.
For detailed information, contact the Office of the Registrar, (859) 233-8116 or registrar@transy.edu.
Academic Support Facilities and Organizations
Campus computing facilities exist for three distinct areas of campus activity:
- Administration—a Student Information System and Customer Relations Management System is available for admissions, the registrar, student life, accounting, alumni and development offices.
- Library—a cloud-based system for the library catalog
- Academics—clusters of Intel-based servers running VMware software that host virtualized Windows and Linux servers that provide most hosted campus computing needs.
Transylvania is a Google Workspace for Education client. Each student receives a university Google account, which provides cloud storage (Google Drive), email (Gmail), collaborative productivity apps (Docs, Sheets, Presentation) and more. Access to the network is provided by PCs in student labs, through wired and wireless connections in residence hall rooms and via portal connections for commuting and off-campus students.
Computing facilities are available in numerous campus locations, including the library, Brown Science Center and Cowgill Center. Wireless access is available for use with appropriate devices in all buildings and many other locations on campus, including several common and outdoor areas. Computers are available to students in lab settings, most of which run Windows 10 and Microsoft Office. Printers are available in the library, Campus Center, Beck Center and the residence halls, and mobile printing allows students to submit print jobs from their personal computers, tablets and phones. The library has a color copier available for student use. Computer science students have access to a specialty graphics lab that runs Linux. The Digital Arts Technology Labs, podcasting studio and green screen photography studio are accessible to students. From off campus, students have direct web access to email, Self-Service, TNet, Canvas and other apps using the MyTransy portal, and they can connect to Transylvania’s campus-only resources if needed via a secure VPN connection. The information technology office offers help desk support from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Software available to users in the computer labs includes programming languages (C/C++, Java, Prolog, LISP, Perl and BASIC), math (Matlab), statistical packages (SPSS) and productivity packages (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, Publisher and PowerPoint), as well as various other software packages.
J. Douglas Gay Jr./Frances Carrick Thomas Library
As the center of academic research on campus, the Transylvania library provides a bright and flexible place for students to gather to engage in intellectual discourse with their peers and to engage in the ongoing intellectual discussion in the scholarship of their fields.
The library offers students, faculty and staff a broad range of research materials. The collection consists of databases, books, e-books, periodicals, streaming films and music designed to support current academic programs and courses. The online resources are available anywhere on or off campus 24 hours a day and provide access to the full text of more than 24,000 journals, 200,000 e-books, hundreds of high-end encyclopedias, streaming video, and music and other resources. In addition, the library provides access to video cameras, projectors and other technical equipment that support student academic work.
The library offers outstanding services to users. Librarians enjoy helping students, faculty and staff with their research, providing personalized and professional guidance. They teach Transylvania students to identify, find, evaluate and use information from a plethora of sources available, helping them to be first-class researchers and critical consumers of information. Librarians also conduct individual research consultations with students, helping them to succeed in their courses. Librarians begin teaching students to be information literate in the First-Year Seminar and continue the work with upper-class students to further develop and translate those skills to their advanced studies. Librarians work to ensure that graduates are prepared to do the types of research they will encounter when they leave, either in graduate school or in the workplace.
In addition, the library supports the research of students, faculty and international scholars with the university’s magnificent historic and rare collections. Special Collections and Archives houses the Clara S. Peck Collection, the Old Medical Library (used by Transylvania medical students from 1799-1859), the university archives and the J. Winston Coleman Jr. Kentuckiana Collection, among others. Transylvania students of today are able to use the oldest academic collection in Kentucky and one of the oldest in the South.
The library’s Educational Resources Center houses curriculum materials for grades K-12, including a wide variety of activity and idea books, thematic unit guides and children’s and young adult literature, as well as flash cards, educational games and more. The primary purpose of the collection is to support the education program as it prepares early childhood, elementary and secondary school teachers.
Academic Center for Excellence (ACE)
The ACE is a partnership of the Library, Writing Center, Learning Skills Program and Academic Tutoring Program. Its goal is to ensure that students get the help they need to succeed in their courses. Located in the library, it provides space for students to have intellectual discussions with each other or with their tutors, as well as get support from librarians, tutors and Writing Center staff. It provides two seminar rooms in which workshops, meetings, student research and discussions are held. These rooms have monitors that allow students to share their work. The library also provides space and equipment for students to video themselves doing presentations, which allows them to observe and critique themselves and obtain critiques from others. The ACE has flexible furniture that moves based upon the need of the users, plenty of movable whiteboards and large monitors that multiple students can plug their devices into to share what they are seeing, discussing and creating.
Learning Skills Program
The Learning Skills Program provides individual academic coaching sessions for students. It also provides the free, four-week Master Student Class to help students learn to study smarter, not harder. The primary purpose of the program is to assist students in achieving academic success. It serves all students and those who utilize the group and/or individual services increase learning efficiency, gain appropriate learning strategies to current classes and improve problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills.
Academic Tutoring Program
Subject-based academic tutoring is offered by peer tutors in high need subject areas in both drop-in and appointment-based sessions. Check the ACE website to learn what subjects are supported or to make an appointment.
Writing Center
The award-winning Writing Center is a hub of writing activity and provides a space for our campus community to discuss writing. Its trained peer consultants help students and faculty members dream, draft and develop texts for a variety of audiences and purposes in both one-on-one tutoring and small group conferencing. Those who use the Writing Center range from first-year students honing their skills as college writers to seniors preparing themselves for the job market or graduate research. The center is committed to helping students in all majors and disciplines develop lifelong writing habits.
The Cowgill Center for Business, Economics and Education includes a general-purpose computer/teaching lab and a specialized classroom for training education majors.
The L.A. Brown Science Center provides laboratories equipped for instruction in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics. Chemistry students can study on ultraviolet and atomic absorption spectrometers and a nuclear magnetic resonance machine; biology students have access to use current molecular genetic tools as well as imaging and analysis microscopy systems, and individual laboratory facilities are available for research. The building also offers computing facilities, including a specially equipped lab with workstations for computer science students. Several of the laboratories are newly renovated.
The Behavioral Sciences Laboratory, located in Hazelrigg Hall, provides facilities for research in psychology and sociology. It contains several testing rooms, including an observation room with a one-way mirror and audio recording equipment.
The Lucille C. Little Theater, the university’s highly flexible black box performance venue, seats 100-150 spectators. Actor-audience configurations are unlimited, enabling directors, designers and actors to experiment and innovate. The efficient dressing rooms and comfortable green room contribute to an inviting atmosphere for both work and camaraderie. Lighting instruments in the wire rope grid, projectors and computerized light and sound boards all offer a variety of options for technical support. Onsite storage and scene shop facilities enhance production potential.
The Mitchell Fine Arts Center houses Haggin Auditorium, Carrick Theater, Morlan Gallery, scenery and costume shops, music practice rooms, Coleman Hall and the Digital Arts Technology Lab. Coleman Hall provides space for recitals, rehearsals and classes in stage movement, theater and music.
The Digital Arts Technology Labs (DArt Labs) are digital production studios for digital art, music, video and multimedia recording, editing and production, including a podcasting studio and video capture studio with green screen. These spaces are designed for collaborative, interdisciplinary classwork as well as independent and extracurricular research and creative projects.
Morlan Gallery, located in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center, presents five exhibitions of contemporary art throughout the academic year. The gallery’s mission is to expose students to the work of living artists, the latest directions in theory and criticism and the variety of diverse perspectives on human behavior and concerns. Morlan Gallery strives to be a laboratory of thinking, a place to ask questions, risk and experiment.
The Physiology Lab, located in the Beck Center, is the site of laboratory activities for courses in anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology and biomechanics, as well as faculty and student research. It is equipped with BIOPAC physiological recording systems, a treadmill and electronically braked bicycle for exercise studies, a metabolic cart to measure oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production during exercise and a bioelectric impedance analyzer to estimate body composition. Using this state-of-the-art equipment, students gain hands-on experience while applying principles and concepts learned in the classroom.
Academic Honoraries
The Holleian Society was established in 1960 for the encouragement and recognition of superior achievement in liberal arts studies. Students are selected by the faculty on the basis of academic achievement. The society is named for Horace Holley, president of Transylvania from 1818-27. Transylvania also has chapters of Phi Alpha Theta, (national history honorary) Alpha Lambda Delta (first-year student honorary), Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology), Psi Chi (psychology), Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics), Sigma Pi Sigma (physics), Sigma Tau Delta (English), Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish), Pi Delta Phi (French), Pi Sigma Alpha (political science), Beta Beta Beta (biology), and Phi Alpha Delta (prelaw). Campus societies include the Science Honorary, Sodalitas (classics), and Sophia, the Transylvania University Philosophical Society.
Campus Media
In addition to serving as a means of student expression, the campus media offer opportunities for instruction and learning. The media are The Rambler, the student newspaper, and The Transylvanian, the literary and visual arts magazine.
Speech and Debate
The Transylvania Debate Team is active in parliamentary debate, attending several tournaments each term. Transylvania is a charter member of the National Educational Debate Association. The debate program helps students develop skills in analytical thinking, research, argumentation, and public speaking. Some of these same skills, as well as those in writing and interpretation, are developed by members of the Transylvania Speech Team, which is active in the National Forensics Association and competes in a number of individual events tournaments throughout the year. The speech and debate teams are both affiliated with Pi Kappa Delta, a national forensics honorary. Involvement in speech and debate is open to all students and does not require previous experience.
Performing Arts Organizations
Transylvania University Theater offers a variety of theatrical experiences to the campus and the greater Lexington community. Each year, the department presents two to three major productions in the Little Theater and/or MFA. Qualified students have opportunities to direct, stage manage, design, technically support and act in those shows. Recent productions have included She Kills Monsters, Marie Antoinette, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Stupid F**king Bird and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In addition, the student-run Theatre Guild produces its own projects, such as full-length plays, 10-minute play festivals, Fright Night and more. Auditions are open to all Transylvania students, and everyone is invited to participate.
The Transylvania Choir is an auditioned choral organization that studies and performs standard choral repertoire from the sixteenth century to the present. The choir presents public performances on and off campus, including an annual tour. This organization is for the experienced singer who is interested in the study and performance of the finest choral literature and wants to achieve a particularly high performance standard.
The Transylvania Singers is a non-auditioned ensemble for treble voices. Class materials and choral repertoire are geared to create confident and beautiful singing for all voice types.
The Transylvania Concert Band is the university’s principal wind and percussion ensemble. It focuses on major works from the concert band literature. Highlights of its activities include guest conductors, guest soloists, and concert tours. It is the parent organization of the Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, and Percussion Ensemble.
The Jazz Ensemble performs compositions and arrangements for “big band” from all styles and historical periods. Emphasis is placed on the development of individual improvisation and reading and ensemble performance skills.
The Chamber Orchestra performs repertoire for both string and full orchestra.
The Musical Theater Workshop and Opera Workshop provide opportunities in staged musical productions, both fully produced and in workshop settings.
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