| U.S.
News and World Report has named Berea College the best Comprehensive
College for a Bachelor’s Degree in the South for 2005. This is
the 10th time Berea College has earned a top ranking in the publication.
To determine a school's overall rank, U.S.
News considered academic reputation,
retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources
and alumni giving rate.
In addition to the top spot for Comprehensive Colleges in the South,
Berea College was again among colleges and universities recognized
nationally for having outstanding programs in ‘Service-learning’ and ‘Internships/Co-ops.’ Berea
also was ranked highly for selectivity in admissions and for low amount
of debt students had upon graduation.
“As Berea College nears its 150th year, those of us who work
and learn here remain committed to its
historic mission of learning,
labor, and service," said Berea College President Dr. Larry D.
Shinn. "We are deeply appreciative of the positive evaluations
of our work by our peers reflected in the U.S.
News and World Report Survey. Berea looks forward to many more
decades of serving young people with high academic promise and significant
financial need from the
Appalachian region and beyond.”
College presidents, chief academic officers and deans of students
from throughout the country nominated colleges and universities with
stellar examples of academic programs that are believed to lead to
student success. Berea was one of 23 cited most often for its service-learning
program and one of 11 cited most often for its internship/coop program.
In service-learning
programs, volunteering in the community is an instructional strategy
and a requirement of a student’s coursework. Schools recognized
as the best for Internships/ Co-ops encourage students to apply what
they’re learning in the classroom through closely supervised
internships or through cooperative education.
The survey results were announced today and will appear in the year
2005 edition of the magazine's guide "America's Best Colleges” which
will be available on newsstands Monday, August 23. The rankings also
are available today on the U.S. News Web site (www.usnews.com).
Berea now has been ranked in 17 of the 19 "Best College" surveys
conducted by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Last year, Berea
also was ranked best Comprehensive College for a Bachelor’s Degree
in the South. In 2000, Berea College was named the best liberal arts
college in the South, and for five consecutive years (1989-93), Berea
was third among colleges and universities in the South. In 1987 and
'88, the College was No. 1 in the category of small comprehensive colleges,
and in 1985, was first among small colleges in the South and Border
States.
In 1995, U.S. News ranked Berea fifth on the list of best regional
universities in the South and first in regional universities showing "an
unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching" -- the
first year the magazine recognized that category. Rankings in 1994
and 2001 listed Berea among the best liberal arts colleges in the nation.
No survey was conducted in 1986.
Berea College has a long tradition of commitment to high-quality academic
programs, equality and interracial education, service to the Appalachian
region, a unique work-study program, and inclusive Christian values.
The College is further distinguished by a its no-tuition policy, awarding
the equivalent of a full-tuition scholarship to every student admitted,
serving students who have high academic potential, but limited financial
resources.
(For additional information visit the Berea College web site at: www.berea.edu).
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