Aug. 20, 2009
For Immediate Release
Campbellsville University Named to U.S.NEWS & World Report's Best Colleges Guide as Top ‘Up-And-Coming School'
ByJoan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE,Ky. - Campbellsville University has been ranked as one of the best “up-and-coming” schools in the south according to the new U.S.News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” in the 2010 Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South category.
CU is ranked fourth in the new category in the south.
“Up-and-coming”schools are colleges and universities that were singled out as “schools that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities,” according to U.S.News & World Report.
The “up-and-coming” schools were ranked against other schools within their categories in the U.S. News rankings. A total of 77 colleges and universities across the nation were singled out for this honor.
CU was also ranked 23rd in the Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the south category. This is the third year in a row that CU has been ranked in the top 25 in the south. CU has been ranked in U.S. News' “America's Best Colleges” 17 consecutive years.
“It is a great accomplishment to be ranked in the top 25 of Best Baccalaureate Colleges,” according to an announcement from Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter, “but it is especially satisfying to see us ranked as an ‘up-and-coming' institution.
“We know we have innovative programs that prepare our students to be strong Christian servant leaders, and it is gratifying to see that our peers recognize our pioneering academic programs as well as our spiritual, athletic and extracurricular endeavors.”
This year's ranking recognizes the“colleges that are helping students be successful and stay in school,” Carter said.
“It is an honor to be recognized for providing students with an excellent educational experience,” Carter said. “Our freshmen retention rate went up two points, and our graduation rate went up one point,” he said.
“These are significant increases, and we are encouraged and proud of our ability to work with our students moving them along to staying in school and graduating,”he said.
Carter said the rankings “recognize significant progress and achievement at the university especially in the area of service to students.”
Carter said CU's innovative program called FIRST CLASS, a freshman year experience that emphasizes character, leadership and stewardship, has freshmen in a program that will help them in their college career and in life.
Campbellsville University has a new academic support area open for fall through a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Strengthening Institutions Program. Funds will be used to improve achievement and retention during the first two years of students' academic careers.
Among the improvements in academics is the addition of new master's programs and new endorsements.
Campbellsville University now has 15 master's programs that include: master of arts in education, master of arts in special education, master of arts in music, master of arts in social sciences, master of business administration, master of science in counseling, master of music in church music, master of music in music education, master of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), master of theology, master of social work, master of music in musicology, master of music in conducting, master of music in piano pedagogy and master of music in performance, plus rank I and endorsement in gifted and talented education, endorsement in English as a Second Language and director of special education certification.
“We anticipate new undergraduate and graduate programs to be available to meet the growing socio-economic demands of our area and the Commonwealth,” Carter said.
CU has 44 academic majors and minors at the baccalaureate level.
“CU has a proud tradition of academic excellence in a Christian context,” said Carter. “Student satisfaction is a priority, not only in the classroom, but for their co-curricular experience.”
Other changes to Campbellsville University's campus include a new 14,000-square-foot School of Education building and an upcoming groundbreaking for a new School of Business building.
This is the second year of use for the Gosser Gymnasium which is used for the university's wrestling program and also has a walking track for students, faculty and staff use.
“We will continue to make quality Christian higher education affordable throughout the Commonwealth as we continue to reach students throughout the United States and internationally during her next 100 years,” Carter said.
“Alumni of Campbellsville University, too, should be pleased with this announcement as this validates the strong education they received at CU,” said Carter.
“Needless to say, we are pleased with this ranking among the South's best baccalaureate universities and as an‘up-and-coming' institution,” Carter said.
Academic institutions are categorized by their mission and region with the gathering of data from each of 12 indicators of academic excellence. The schools are ranked against their peers,according to scores given by U.S.News & World Report.
Factors contributing to the ranking formula for baccalaureate schools are: peer assessment score, graduation and retention rates, class sizes, student/faculty ratio, percentage of full-time faculty, student ACT/SAT scores and high school grades, acceptance rate and alumni giving.
“Campbellsville University has a theme of ‘find your calling' that exemplifies what Campbellsville University means to our students. We feel it is the epitome of what a Christian education at Campbellsville University can provide for our students as we prepare the next generation of Christian servant leaders,”Carter said.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2010“America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges.” CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report.The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges® and is recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.
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