The signs along University Parkway and throughout this region read, “It’s about ETSU Pride,” and that pride becomes even more evident when entering the halls of the university.
That “extra” pride could be the direct result of an announcement made last week by The Princeton Review, which named ETSU as one of 136 best colleges in the Southeast.
ETSU is now ranked with such universities as Belmont University in Nashville, the University of the South and the University of Tennessee.
“It is of particularly gratifying value that it was the perception of our own students that gave us our recognition,” said Dr. Bert C. Bach, vice president and provost for academic affairs at ETSU.
“It will play a very strong role in the future of this institution. I am very pleased.”
According to the survey data presented on princetonreview.com, ETSU students surveyed said the 9,500 undergrads are “generally friendly” and “get along very well.”
The campus is composed of “people of all different colors, backgrounds, religions, you name it.”
However, some students believe ETSU still has room to grow where diversity is concerned and pointed out that “ETSU is in no way as diverse ethnically and socially as it could be.”
“We’ve all received a big smack from the Bible belt,” said one student. “Sometimes the welts from that spanking seem to hurt the worst when you actually look around at the students you’re attending college with and try to make sense of the narrow views that they hold.”
Look closely though, and you’ll see that there are open-minded people on campus. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and society thanks to some of them,” one student said.
“We were very pleased with the survey results, since it was due to student opinion,” said Kristn Clark Fry, director of news and information services in University Relations.
“It had a neat balance,” she said. “The recognition also allows the university to use The Princeton Review’s logo on its news releases.”
This was the first year that ETSU made the list and ironically the first time the university had been surveyed.
The survey, which was comprised of more than 70 questions, is divided into four essential sections: About Yourself, Your School Academics/Administration, Student, and Life at Your School. The scope of the questions also allows students an opportunity to respond in more detail.
The goal of The Princeton Review is to identify colleges and universities that stand out within each geographical region of the country. The review is also designed to raise public awareness of the schools that may not be as widely recognized.
The survey is conducted annually, and the current list of the best colleges and universities is for the year 2005. Because of the time period during which this survey was conducted, the new Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships (TELS) did not play a role in the survey results.
One considerable impact of this survey may be increased future monetary donations to the university, especially when the honor is brought to the table during the annual fund raising campaigns.
“[It is] a major accomplishment for this university, and one that our friends and alumni will be proud of, and [it] will enhance our total fund raising program,” said Dr. Richard A. Manahan, executive vice president of the ETSU Foundation. “It sends a message of quality to our students and their parents.”
In being chosen this year, ETSU was required to meet two criteria. One was allowing The Princeton Review to conduct their surveys with students anonymously, while the first and foremost criteria was the ability of the university to meet the standards of academic excellence within its region.
“Future students will now look at ETSU in a certain manner.” … “The Princeton Review is well-respected in its field.” … “It sends a message of quality.”
These are words of pride, spoken with pride by the administration at ETSU.

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