Summary
Founded in 1869, Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, is a Presbyterian university that is geared towards bringing in ambitious students and sending out graduates ready to lead. Trinity goes beyond the typical Christian ideals in order to make anyone attending feel welcome and accepted. The university looks for the curious, all-questioning student who won’t settle on the first answer given. They keep a confident and powerful tone throughout their website and as such their ideal reader is someone who is accepting, confident, and ready to take on a challenge within their academics and within their lives.
Credit: Trinity University
Analysis
Trinity University’s tone throughout its website leaves a feeling of empowerment to those that visit it. Upon clicking on the website, readers are shown Vanessa B. Beasley who has recently been inaugurated as president of Trinity (TU homepage). Having a strong leader be the first thing you see when starting to learn about Trinity has the effect that if students attend this university, they will also have the opportunity of leadership positions within the school and after they graduate. Also located on the homepage, is the statement “Trinity University is a force in motion” followed by a couple of statistics showing how Trinity alumni have become successful in later academics and the workforce (TU). Trinity University is confident that any student that steps foot on its campus will be successful while attending, and after attending Trinity.
Two other tones conveyed by Trinity are inclusion and acceptance, with one of their said values being inclusion. For many years, Trinity has strived to celebrate old traditions while also creating new traditions with its students as history continues (TU community). One of their missions is to build “a community that both honors our past and shapes our future” (TU missions and values). They have students of many different backgrounds and try to appreciate and honor each of their unique cultures. Despite common stereotypes regarding presbyterian churches and their unacceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, Trinity University fights those Christian ideals and celebrates the pride community that they have at their University. They showcase their acceptance through pride events and celebrations shown by pictures on their website (TU missions and values). Their acceptance allows for anyone that attends, whether they are Christian or not, to feel comfortable and welcome while receiving their education at Trinity.
Credit: Trinity University
Trinity University’s ideal reader is someone who is curious not only about the world but about other people and is an accepting person of everyone. The university wants students who care as much about the past, present, and future as they are when it comes to sustainability. As a liberal arts school, Trinity is looking for students that are interested in the arts and creativity. The website talks about how the students can be explorative because Trinity has “big-school resources in a small-school environment” meaning they have the resources to learn big while also having the aspect of a small community – only about 2,000 students are enrolled each year – in which everyone can feel acceptance from their peers (TU life at Trinity). Trinity University values sustainability and is “dedicated to a sustainable future” and would want anyone attending their university to feel the same way (TU our campus). They have the discussion of environmental issues and solutions built into their curriculum so every student can get an understanding of what is going on with the environment, even if the student is not going into an environment-related major. They have “a range of opportunities [that] are available for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to be involved in environmental efforts” (TU our campus). Trinity wants students that not only work hard during their school years but post-Trinity as well. It is number one in the state of Texas for alumni employment rates which goes to show they get its students ready to enter the workforce after they graduate with the education and work ethic they receive while attending its university.
Response
I would definitely consider attending Trinity University had I known about it while applying to my other colleges. Being an atheist, I would not have had a second thought before saying no to Trinity upon finding out that it is a presbyterian university. However, researching the university and doing this assignment has shown me that yes, they are mainly presbyterian, but they do not follow typical Christian beliefs when it comes to different races, cultures, and the LGBTQ+ community. It has a big emphasis on its goal to promote sustainability to those that attend its school, and even just the general public. I am big on environmental issues and nature was one of the values I included in our freewriting in class, so their mission is a mission of mine as well. The fact that they acknowledge climate change and make sure everyone on their campus has a moderate knowledge of the issues we are currently facing is also convincing. They want hardworking students and I have always been known for the hard work that is put into my studies. I feel as though I would fit right in at Trinity, especially with the fact that it’s not that big of a school – campus-wise, and student-population-wise – which means it is a lot easier to get involved with sports and extracurriculars which is important to me as well because I like to get involved in my schooling whether it be athletics or leadership positions within clubs. Trinity University also has a bachelor of science program for psychology which is what I plan to major in.
Works Cited
Trinity University | San Antonio, Texas | https://www.trinity.edu/