Get to Know Tufts

A light on the Hill. That is what benefactor Charles Tufts envisioned when he donated the land around Walnut Hill in Medford to Tufts University. But what does that mean today, more than a century and a half after the school's founding in 1852?

student
You can find that light in the signals emitted by fireflies that Tufts biologist Sara Lewis studies to uncover the mysteries of animal communication.
Next »

But don't just take our word for it. Every year, we ask students to share their favorite Tufts moments—the memories that, for them, define the Tufts experience. Here, in their images and words, are reflections of that light on the hill.

Tufts at a Glance

Figures as of Fall 2008. More information at the Office of Institutional Research »

  • Established: 1852
  • Total students: 9,531
  • Undergraduates: 5,025
  • Graduate and professional: 4,182
  • International: 1,150
  • Total faculty: 1,227
  • Total staff: 2,982
  • Total volumes, all libraries: 1,195,793
  • Total libraries: 6
  • Campuses: 4 (Medford/Somerville; Boston; Grafton; Talloires, France)
  • Motto: Pax et Lux
  • Colors: Brown and blue
  • Mascot: Jumbo (elephant)
  • Affiliations: NESCAC

Our Leadership

Our leaders came to Tufts from around the globe and from leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, all because they understand the promise and critical importance of universities in framing our future. Taken as a whole, their experience represents a cross section of those leading our nation and our world.

More about Tufts leadership »

Points of Pride

Up until 1894, there were no majors at Tufts. Instead, students completed a fixed curriculum leading toward the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The standardized course load was based on a classical curriculum, and included Latin, Greek, rhetoric, mathematics, theology, political economy and other subjects.
 

More »

Find People:
 
Find Offices, Services & Departments:
 
 

Schools & Deans

School of Arts and Sciences
Robert Sternberg, Dean
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Lynne Pepall, Dean
School of Engineering
Linda M. Abriola, Dean
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Deborah T. Kochevar, Dean
School of Dental Medicine
Lonnie H. Norris, Dean
The Fletcher School
Stephen W. Bosworth, Dean
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Eileen T. Kennedy, Dean
School of Medicine
Michael Rosenblatt, Dean
Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Science
Naomi Rosenberg, Dean
Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service
Robert M. Hollister, Dean

What is interdisciplinary teaching?

The University Seminars began in 2008, seeking to build on Tufts' strengths as both a liberal arts college and a research university by bringing together scholars and researchers to work together on challenges facing society. "Complex societal problems, be they domestic or global, cannot be addressed from the perspective of a single discipline anymore," says Provost Jamshed Bharucha. What's needed is to bring experts with strong, rigorous disciplinary training together to address societal problems, which forces them "to learn about each other's perspectives, because you have to if you want to address the problem." The seminars are open to undergraduates upperclassmen and graduate and professional students.

"We need to know more how universities, nonprofits, even corporations, can translate knowledge into meaningful change in the world beyond them. Within higher education, we need research that addresses how universities and curricula can be restructured to better prepare students to engage in the world. We're putting in place the structure and programs to encourage people to learn and explore. It has taken root throughout Tufts and has sparked the imagination of faculty and students. It will continue to spread like fire, and there is no predicting what it will produce."

Jamshed Bharucha, Provost and Senior Vice President