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Miami ranks No. 2 for commitment to teaching

Catherine Couretas, Editor in Chief

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Miami University second in the nation for its commitment to teaching in the report's 2011 edition of America's Best Colleges, according to a university press release.

The report only cites a total of 16 colleges nationwide for faculty commitment, the release said.

"We're obviously thrilled that we would get national recognition for something, considered here, what we do," President David Hodge said. "Student success is what Miami is all about."

Hodge said many university initiatives have contributed to this ranking, including the improvement of academic advising, the focus on study abroad programs, the addition of the Howe Writing Center right on the first floor of King Library and the revision of the Miami Plan becoming the Global Miami Plan.

In addition, Hodge said the sophomore residency program has helped immensely.

"Students that live on campus do better academically and are more engaged with other activities on campus," Hodge said.

Hodge cited the Top 25 Initiative, a wholesale revision of Miami's largest introductory courses to create an engaged, active and student-centered learning environment, as another contributing factor.

It was also noted in the release that "graduation rate performance is more heavily weighed this year, accounting for 7.5 percent of the final score, compared to 5 percent previously." Miami exceeded the report's expectation of a 74 percent graduation rate with an actual 83 percent, and Hodge was pleased with the rate.

Miami is also recognized as an outstanding example of "academic programs that are commonly linked to student success, with Living Learning Communities, "Writing tin the Disciplines and "Senior Capstone" experiences all being cited.

College ranking highlights will be available August 31 in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report. On August 24, the 2011 Best Colleges guidebook will be available.

Additional rankings:

  • 34 of 164 top public national universities
  • 79 among all 262 public and private universities in the country recognized
  • 38 for undergraduate engineering program in a location where the highest degree is a bachelor's or master's

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