STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Sept. 10 — Wagner College was identified in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges 2014” as the only college or university in New York State with 4 or more “programs to look for” — and 1 of only 7 such schools nationwide. The only institutions with more such programs were Stanford University (5) and Elon University (7).
Wagner College placed #24 in the U.S. News overall northern regional universities rankings. The college was also cited on the regional universities list of “Up-and-Comers” (#4).
The magazine’s annual college guide was released this morning.
MORE ON ‘PROGRAMS TO LOOK FOR’
U.S. News explained its “Programs to Look For” lists: “Some colleges and universities are much more determined than others to provide … 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. Here, U.S. News highlights schools with outstanding examples of eight programs that education experts, including staff members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, agree are key.”
A total of 105 colleges or universities across the nation were recognized by the U.S. News survey for 1 or more of their “programs to look for.”
Wagner College was recognized on four U.S. News lists of “programs to look for”:
- First-Year Experience
- Internships
- Learning Communities
- Service Learning
“These four program areas are fundamental components of our signature curriculum, the Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts,” said Wagner College President Richard Guarasci. “Since 1998, the Wagner Plan has combined a very strong first-year program with multiple service-learning experiences and three learning communities placed at the beginning, middle and end of the Wagner student’s undergraduate career. And every student participates in an internship program as part of their Senior LC.”
“Wagner College’s four ‘programs to look for’ are what the American Association of Colleges & Universities terms ‘high impact practices’ — those academic components that significantly contribute to a high-quality education,” added Lily McNair, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Wagner College. “In essence, the Wagner Plan embodies such high-impact practices.”
“It’s worth noting that the ‘Programs to Look For’ lists are all based on nationwide evaluations — rather than regional rankings — submitted by college presidents, provosts and deans of admission,” observed Angelo Araimo, Wagner’s vice president for enrollment and planning.
MORE ON THE ‘UP-AND-COMERS’ LIST
Wagner College appeared for the sixth year in a row on the U.S. News “Up-and-Comers” list of schools in its category — institutions identified by top administrators at other northern regional universities as those that “have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities,” according to the magazine. “The colleges and universities [appearing on the list] were cited most often by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who were asked to identify up to 10 up-and-coming schools in their U.S. News ranking category.” Wagner College has appeared on the “Up-and-Comers” list ever since U.S. News first published it in 2009.
MORE ON OVERALL RANKINGS POSITION
In the overall rankings among regional universities in the northeast, Wagner College tied for the #24 position. This is the 10th year in a row in which Wagner College has appeared among the Top 26 schools in its category.