Last modified: Tuesday, September 11, 2012
IU Bloomington, IUPUI and Kelley School of Business recognized in U.S. News rankings
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 12, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- This year's U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges edition noted several Indiana University programs as worthy of special mention, including its Kelley School of Business -- which was ranked No. 11 nationally among undergraduate business programs -- and several student-focused initiatives at IU Bloomington and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
IUPUI continues to be seen by U.S. News as an "Up-and-Comer," based on comments from university presidents, provosts and admissions deans.
IUPUI and IU Bloomington were recognized for offering programs that help both incoming freshmen and undergraduates to succeed. Both campuses were cited for their first-year experiences, which help freshmen to feel more connected to the campus, while IUPUI was recognized for its learning communities and service learning programs, which help students to feel more connected.
"IUPUI faculty and staff have worked extremely hard to develop a comprehensive array of programs and initiatives that enable all first-year students to enter the university with a strong support network," said Kathy E. Johnson, IUPUI associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education.
"Summer Bridge programming, followed by a themed-learning community with an embedded first-year seminar, has proven to be one of the most successful combinations we offer," Johnson added. "Each student becomes part of a small community that includes a peer mentor, an academic advisor, supportive faculty members and a librarian who work as a team to support student learning and success."
IU Bloomington continues to be among the top public universities, and the Kelley School of Business ranked second in the Big Ten, sixth among those at public universities and tied for 11th overall (up from 12th last year). Its entrepreneurship specialty was No. 1 among public schools and second overall.
"We are certainly pleased by the improvement in our U.S. News ranking. There are over 3,000 business schools in the U.S. and being ranked 11th clearly places us among the nation's elite programs," said Dan Smith, dean of the Kelley School. "The U.S. News ranking of business schools is based on our overall reputation. It reflects the extraordinary quality of our faculty, ranked among the top 10 in the world in terms of research impact, our students and our commitment to constant innovation. We do not focus on rankings, but, rather, on providing a truly world-class student experience."
Tom Lenz, chair of the school's undergraduate program, added, "These rankings support all that we have been doing to provide outstanding undergraduate business education and career services to our students. The Kelley School optimistically looks to our continued success as the construction of our new state-of-the-art undergraduate building gets under way and we begin the rollout over the next few years of our new Kelley Compass talent management system coupled with curriculum enhancements that focus on globalization, critical thinking and the development of ethical, strategic leaders."
Overall, U.S. News ranked IU Bloomington 83rd in its list of "best national universities," and 36th among public research universities in that group. IU Bloomington was also cited for offering substantial academic work abroad for credit and valuable international experience.
U.S. News asked college presidents and other administrators which higher education institutions recently had made "most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities." The publication ranked IUPUI seventh in its list of "2012 Up-and-Comers."
This is the 11th consecutive year that U.S. News has highlighted the IU Bloomington and IUPUI campuses for offering programs that help ensure a positive collegiate experience for new freshman and undergraduates. "Some colleges and universities are much more determined than others to provide freshmen and all undergrads with the best possible experience, recognizing that certain enriched offerings, from service learning to learning communities to study abroad, are linked to student success," the editors wrote.
Highlights of the 2012 America's Best Colleges rankings will be published at USNews.com on Wednesday and in its Best Colleges 2013 Guidebook, available on newsstands Sept. 18.
