Overview
Turning Academic Dreams into Reality at the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN
"Dreamers. Thinkers. Doers." That's not only the motto; it's who the university is. The University of Memphis means different things to different people -- students, faculty, staff, the community, the nation, and the world -- but it can all be encompassed in those three words. More than 20,000 students come to the university each year with a dream, something they want to accomplish. The University of Memphis helps students turn those dreams into reality as they become "doers" in their chosen fields.
With over 250 majors and areas of study, the University of Memphis produce more graduates annually than any other university in the Mid-South. It's no wonder so many exceptional students choose the institution. With five renowned Centers of Excellence at its schools in Memphis, the university attracts some of the country's top scholars dedicated to scholarship and research in education, Egyptian art and archaeology, psychology, earthquake science, and speech and hearing. The university also has 25 Chairs of Excellence (or leading scholars), more than any other school in Memphis or the state of Tennessee. Additionally, its FedEx Institute of Technology is home to nationally recognized research teams in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, geospatial analysis, multimedia arts, and nanotechnology, and provides opportunities for students to work alongside PhD's and academic researchers involved in groundbreaking studies.
First-Rate Faculty and Talented Students at the University of Memphis Lead to Successful Alumni
At the University of Memphis, it is common for faculty members to collaborate with students and for departments to cross over and combine forces, resulting in a lively, stimulating research environment for both undergraduate and graduate students. Creative energy can be found all across the campus. An impressive 80 percent of the full-time faculty holds the highest academic degree possible in their field; the faculty's membership includes Emmy, Grammy, and Peabody winners. Four programs (audiology, speech-language pathology, discrete mathematics, and rehabilitation counseling) are ranked in the top 20 nationally by "U.S. News & World Report."
The university's students come from 47 states and 99 countries and participate in more than 150 student organizations, including 23 sororities and fraternities. Taught by more than 930 full-time faculty, students enjoy a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1. More than 20 percent of freshman students are members of the Helen Hardin Honors Program, designed for academically ambitious and talented students. Every year the university awards hundreds of scholarships to deserving students from schools in Memphis and across the nation. More than 80 percent of students receive some assistance in the form of either scholarships or financial aid.
University of Memphis alumni include CEOs, Senators, Congressmen, actors, designers, authors, judges, engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs. Some of the well-known alumni are former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson, actors Dixie Carter and William Sanderson, and best-selling authors Eric Jerome Dickey and Johanna Edwards. Other university alumni have run some of the world's largest companies from FedEx, Coca-Cola, and Saks to "The New York Times," "Rolling Stone," and Ford.
Career Opportunities in the City of Memphis, TN
Like the university, the city of Memphis is known for an entrepreneurial spirit that encompasses "Dreamers. Thinkers. Doers." The city has produced a lot of firsts, such as the first self-service grocery store, the first outlet mall, and the first overnight package delivery company. Companies like FedEx, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl's, and Holiday Inn were born in Memphis, TN. The city is also home to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, AutoZone, International Paper, and a host of other world renowned operations. What this means to students is that they have incredible opportunities for internships, co-op work programs, and employment in Memphis, TN. In partnering with the University of Memphis, the corporations get a digitally savvy workforce right in their own backyard.
Opportunities for students are not limited to the Memphis, TN, area. Students travel to more than 45 countries and over 200 study sites as part of an extensive study abroad program at the university. They also participate in a number of service learning initiatives, which are collaborations with other national universities and philanthropic projects that spread well beyond the city's borders. Certainly, academic success is very important to the university, but it also graduates students from its schools in Memphis who are globally conscious and understand the importance of giving back to the community in which they live.
