The Evergreen State College (TESC, TESC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The Evergreen State College is one of the six four-year public colleges in the state of Washington. The history of the Evergreen State College dates back to the year 1967 when the college was founded. In 1971, the college started admitting students and since then it has established itself as an institution of repute offering innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative, and team-taught educational programs. The Evergreen State College fosters a student-centric learning environment with a linkage between theory and practice.

The Evergreen State College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and is a leading college in environmental education and sustainability. The Evergreen State College is located in Olympia, Washington and the campus includes almost 1000 acres of lush Northwest forestlands. The college is about an hour’s drive from the Seattle-Tacoma international airport.

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Information Summary

Ranks 20th in Washington and 1140th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	78.5
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$23,397
Admission Success rate	N/A
SAT 75%ile scores	1210
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	22 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	66% / 50%
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,327

Academics

The Evergreen State College offers a unique method of teaching wherein students enroll in a single comprehensive program rather than multiple courses and topics are taught in an interdisciplinary way. The faculty teaches programs in teams of two to four and the classes involve labs, workshops, seminars, and field trips. The faculty use narrative evaluations rather than adopting the usual grading system. The degrees offered by the Evergreen State College include: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master in Teaching, Master in Public Administration, Master of Environmental Studies, Master of Education, and the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts. Various areas of study offered at the college include Aesthetics, African American Studies, Agriculture, Anthropology, Biochemistry, Botany, Business and Management, Chemistry, Communications, and Economics. Some examples of programs offered in the Evergreen State College are: American Stories, Animal Behavior and Zoology, Eye of the Story, Drawing Outside the Lines, Food, Health and Sustainability, and Sustainable Design.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

To seek admission in the Evergreen State College, students are required to fill in the application form. For freshman applicants the admission criteria involves submitting their ACT/SAT test scores, official high school transcript, and good standing in any college work attempted previously. Students also need to submit a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and essays. Applications are scrutinized on the basis of academic achievements. The required college programs in high school include English, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Fine, Visual, or Performing Arts.

Home-schooled students need to submit their home school transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, personal statement, and official high school/college transcripts, if any. Students who have taken the GED are required to submit their SAT/ACT scores and their GED test scores.

Financial Aid

The Evergreen State College encourages all students to apply for scholarships, tuition awards, and other forms of financial aid to meet their academic expenses. The basic objective of providing financial aid is to bridge the gap between family resources and annual educational expenses of the students enrolled for various programs at the Evergreen State College. To apply for financial aid from the Evergreen State College, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education. The Evergreen State College recommends a priority deadline of March 15 for submitting the FAFSA, and February 1 for applying for scholarships and tuition awards.

Students of the Evergreen State College can avail different types of gift aids such as Evergreen Need Grant (ENG), Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Washington State Need Grant (SNG), and Washington State Tuition Waiver (STW). The loan options available to eligible students include Alternative (Private) Student Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Direct Student Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. Another option for the students to avail financial aid is by opting for the need-based work-study programs wherein they can search for employment opportunities within the Evergreen campus or in the community through the Student Employment Office. During the academic session, students cannot work for more than 19 hours per week. Students can also avail various scholarships such as Alumni Association Undergraduate scholarship, Bennett/Roussos scholarship, Mark Blakley Memorial Award, Bowden/Camp Memorial scholarship, and Edith K. Draham scholarship.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5178th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Washington.

Students

The Evergreen State College believes in diversity and promotes learning in a multicultural world. The college life presents a number of opportunities that encourage a cross-cultural learning environment. Students get involved in various extracurricular activities, campus events, and organizations. There are numerous student groups such as the Amnesty International, Bedfellows, Bigger Than Facebook, Chemistry Club, Common Bread, Photo Club, and Model United Nations. The campus has its own bike shop and newspaper, the Copper Point Journal. There is a student government on the campus which is responsible for improving the quality of students’ life by advocating for their rights and needs. There is a radio station on campus known as KAOS and it has been created by Evergreen students as a public service for the community.

The Career Development Center provides quality career and work planning guidance to the students. The Student Affairs Sustainability Committee provides sustainability tips to the students. The Student & Academic Support Services (SAAS) offers student-specific advice on policies and procedures of the college.

Every year, almost 80% of the freshmen opt to live on campus. The residential Freshman Halls comprise single and double rooms with shared bathrooms and lounges. Students can opt for apartment-style housing featuring single rooms, shared bathrooms, living room, and a kitchen shared between 3-5 students. Students also have the option to stay in Freshman Quiet, which offers an environment that remains quiet for study, sleep, and recreation. There are single and double rooms with common baths in the Freshman Quiet. There are numerous dining options for students at the Evergreen State College. These include The Greenery, The Market, The Corner Store, Seminar II Café, and the C-3 Store.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Evergreen State College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). The college’s athletic teams are known as the Geoducks and the official colors are forest green and white. The intercollegiate sports teams include: men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, track and field, and women’s volleyball. The intramural sports include co-ed soccer and kickball and there are numerous opportunities for open practice in swimming, rock climbing, and basketball. The Outdoor Program offers opportunities for animal tracking, nature walks, bird watching, and photography trips. The athletic facilities available on campus include a gymnasium, multi-purpose exercise room, wellness center, three full-size basketball courts, three full-size volleyball courts, machine and free-weight rooms, saunas, an 11-lane Olympic swimming pool with a separate diving well, an indoor rock climbing wall, four indoor racquetball courts, and 13 acres of playing fields.

Bibliography

The Evergreen State College. About Evergreen. Web. 2 August 2011.

The Evergreen State College. Financial Aid and Costs. Web. 2 August 2011.

The Evergreen State College. The Evergreen State College Media Information. 2010. Print.

The Evergreen State College