During the Spring 2014 semester I was enrolled in the Private Liberal Arts Colleges (PLAC) course. As part of our final project we prepared a case study on the PLAC of our choice. For my project I chose to focus on the University of Puget Sound located in Tacoma, Washington.

1. Presented by: Brandi Hoffman

3. “Trees that would give shade to giants dot the ninety-seven
acre campus, and everywhere shades of green, vibrant and
varied, are a gorgeous reminder of Puget Sound’s spot in the
Northwest. On a sunny day- and there are plenty of them,
despite the meteorological stereotypes of Washington-Mount
Rainier is visible from campus. Amid this natural beauty stand
handsome buildings so classically collegiate that they might
have been plucked from a New England college. The campus
“expresses the college’s soul.”
- President Ronald Thomas.

4. •Located in Tacoma, Washington
•Home to about ~2,600 students
• Established in 1888
•Unique and quirky history that transcends to today

5. PUGET SOUND
• Puget Sound is called home by about
4.4 million people, accounting for
about 67% of Washington State’s
entire population.
• Puget Sound is the second largest
estuary in the United States. Only
Chesapeake Bay is larger.
• As ecosystems, estuaries are under
threat from human activities such as
pollution and overfishing. They are
also threatened by sewage, coastal
settlement, land clearance and much
more.

6. “In 1970, when other universities were embracing the idea of a
“multiuniversity,”being all things to all people, the faculty and
trustees here agreed that the college must return to it’s liberal
arts roots.”
“Look at the college’s curriculum which is full of
interdisciplinary programs, valuable for their emphasis on
connecting ideas from different fields.”
“The faculty here like to dream up new courses and expand
offerings as their fields grow, change, and overlap.”

7. Final Thoughts
• Student Leadership style/ Community Engagement
• Committed to Study Abroad Programs
• Future focused with a 2023 Master plan in place
• http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/strategic-planning/the-master-
plan/mission-goals/
• Dedicated & Engaged Graduates and Alumni
• Has ranked in the to ten small colleges for
producing Peace Corps volunteers since 2001.