Publications high on local universities

Ran on Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Publications high on local universities

By Keighla Schmidt
Leadert-telegram Staff

Chippewa Valley universities rank high among the nation's 4,500 higher education institutions in recent publications.
UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls both made U.S. News & World Report magazine's top public master's degree-granting universities in the Midwest and The Princeton Review's list of best Midwestern colleges. UW-Stout also made the Princeton list.

UW-Eau Claire has been among the top five public institutions in the Midwest every year since 1995.

"U.S. News and other prestigious publications consistently name UW-Eau Claire among the best of the best because of our exceptional faculty and staff," Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said. "The rankings tell employers and others that UW-Eau Claire provides its students with one of the best educational experiences available in the Midwest."

The rankings are important to the colleges.

"We're pleased that the report tells a story nationally that our students, faculty, staff and alumni already know: that we are an exceptional place," said UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz of the U.S. News ranking.

The rankings are determined by separating the schools into categories and scored in various academic categories.

"The survey asks other college leaders to evaluate our reputation for quality experiences, and it measures our resources and the satisfaction of our alumni through their continuing commitment and connection to UW-RF," Betz said.

The Princeton review has a different methodology.

Students are sent a voluntary survey of 80 questions regarding their life at the institution. A minimum number of responses is not required, but the editors look for commonalities in the students' replies. This year, 120,000 students replied, averaging 325 responses per institution.

The rankings are intended to provide potential students with a picture of the campus from present students. They aim to help determine which schools would be a best fit for an individual student.

Categories range from "The toughest to get into," to "Lots of beer," (a category UW-Madison topped).

UW-Stout Director of Communications Doug Mell said he attributes the Blue Devil Princeton ranking to the practical, hands-on teaching methods.

"Our methods are really geared towards making students ready for professional careers," Mell said. "We're not a lot of chalk and talk."