Facts About Fisk
- U.S. News & World Report recently moved Fisk to rank 118 and into tier one in its 2008 rankings of 266 American liberal arts institutions.
- Fisk is ranked fifth among the 81 schools listed in U.S. News and World Report’s “Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Top Schools.”
- A recent National Science Foundation study revealed that Fisk alumni earned more doctorate degrees in the natural sciences than African-American graduates from any other college or university in the nation.[1]
- Fisk has an annual economic impact of $42 million on its local community.[2]
- Fisk ranks in the top 23% of all institutions in the United States receiving federal science and engineering research funds.[3]
- For the past ten years, Money Magazine has included Fisk on its “100 Best College Buys” list.
- Fisk ranks in the top-fifty baccalaureate institutions in producing African-American science and engineering doctoral degree recipients.[4]
- For the sixteenth-consecutive year, Fisk has been selected for inclusion to the “Best 361 Colleges” by the Princeton Review.
- Over 10% of Fisk’s 2006 & 2007 graduating classes (the maximum allowed) were inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
- Fisk is ranked 1st of moderately selective colleges when it comes to graduating low-income students.[5]
[1] National Science Foundation
[2] 2006 – U.S. Department of Education technical report entitled Economic Impact of the Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities
[3] 2007 – National Science Foundation: Fisk Institutional Profile
[4] 2007 – National Science Foundation
[5] 2004 – National Center for Education Statistics
In 1972 I was student at Fisk when a young instructor in the Art Department, Martin Puryear gave his first one man show. Today this native Washingtonian has become a major force in American modern art. He currently has a 46 piece show at the National Gallery of Art on tour from the MOMA drawing critical aclaim.
As student then strolling on campus I often crossed paths with Aaron Douglas and spent Thursday afternoons my final semester captivated with the yarns of Arna Bontemps. I am to this day still amazed at the level scholarship and talent amassed at this small historically black college. It is a genuinely unique institution. Despite all its financial troubles for me the Fisk experience is priceless.
As Norwood Holland commented, the Fisk experience is priceless.
When I was a student (’58-’62) not only was Aaron Douglas on campus (he taught most of us), but also Arna Bontemps, University Librarian, and John Work, Chair of the Music Department. During my years there, I was taught by Robert Moses and Robert Hayden, both nationally recognized poets. Charles Spivack was a wonderful Shakespeare scholar who taught us to appreciate not only the Bard, but many others who contributed to the literary richness of the English language. We had the benefit of faculty and staff who cared about us and set standards which we are strived to meet.
These were the days when senior faculty taught not only the graduate students, but also Upper Division as well as first and second year students!
We interacted with principals of the Harlem Renaissance and not until we had finished and were speaking of our college days, did most of us realize the wealth of our experience.
Please, please, DO NOT think that we did not go to fraternity and sorority parties, to Collier’s for beer and to White’s for fish sandwiches! We did, but we also knew that our parents were paying for our education and that there was no higher court than facing them if our grades did not meet their expectations.
Thank you, Fisk!
As a High School Senior, contemplating where to go to college, I received letters from current students encouraging me to attend FISK UNIVERSITY. Each letter eluded to the “FISK EXPERIENCE.” After accepting the scholarship offer to attend, I can now speak of the FISK EXPERIENCE. From 1987-1991 my FISK EXPERIENCE was one I will never forget. I gained a strong sense of independence, developed life long coping skills, came into contact with outstanding instructors who equipped with tools to be a dynamic middle school science teacher for 10 years, pledged the best sorority, met friends from the east coast, from down south, from the heart land and from the west coast whom I relish dearly and deeply. My FISK EXPERIENCE has me truly understanding what it means to be a “FISK DAUGHTER EVER ON THE ALTAR!!!”"
Sylvia T. Langford ’64
I was at Fisk at the same time as Mary above. I work in higher education now. I am so thankful that I went to Fisk because my professors assumed that I was smart until I proved otherwise. I don’t always see that at other universities. I was able to learn in a challenging, but nurturing environment. We were taught by scholars and exposed to the best in their fields. We were in school with a peer group that has gone on to great things. I never doubted that I could achieve because my parents and my professors assured me that failure was just not an option. It was a magical moment then and Fisk has the potential to continue that tradition with the many bright students who are entering today.
Thank you Fisk University!
When I began my journey at Fisk University, I was one of 3 Jamaicans attending the institution at the time. Today I am in shock as to the large numbers of Caribbean and particularly, Jamaican students who have chosen Fisk as their path to higher education. So when I discuss my experience at Fisk, I discuss what it was like to be in reality a minority international student.
Admittedly, the first few months were quite difficult. I knew I was at a HBCU, but I didn’t quite ‘fit in with the crowd.’ It was not until the end of my first semester as a freshman that my teachers encouraged me to speak up in class and to share some of the ideas that I put into writing during the semester.
I have never forgotten those encouraging words or the teachers who uttered them. Thankfully, I accepted their invitation to have confidence in myself and my ideas. Today I am in my second year pursuing a PhD and those words get me through each day. Thank you Fisk.
I was a student at Fisk from 1946-1950, where I spent some of the best years of my life. I went on to obtain the master’s degree in Zoology from Indiana University, and the Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Iowa. Fisk prepared me well to meet the rigorous challenges of graduate school. More importantly, Fisk prepared me for life. The Fisk experience allowed me to appreciate the arts as well as the sciences, and as such, I was well prepared to step into the position as Dean of the College oif Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University, where I served for 20 years. The strong liberal arts background enabled me to develop the coping skills required of well educated individuals. Fisk is the Best!! If I had to o it all over, my choice of colleges as an undergraduate would be Fisk. FISK FOREVER!!!