Two Alabama Baptist schools — Samford University in Birmingham and the University of Mobile (UM) — hit major milestones this year with the publication of the America’s Best Colleges 2008 rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
This year, Samford ranked 118th among national universities. For 17 consecutive years, it was ranked in the top 10 by the magazine among master’s universities in the South.
Based on new classifications by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, Samford is now recognized as a doctoral/research university, making it Birmingham’s second national research university and the only private national research university in Alabama. It was one of 18 master’s-level institutions moved into the national category based on the new Carnegie classifications.
“This significant national recognition confirms what the Samford community has known — that Samford University provides a top-level education,” said J. Bradley Creed, Samford provost and executive vice president. “Our recent reclassification as a national doctoral/research university affirmed our strong faculty and student population. We especially are pleased to be considered among the nation’s top universities.”
‘An important milestone’
Public institutions in Alabama included in this category are the University of Alabama, which ranked 91st; Auburn University, which ranked 96th; the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
“This represents an important milestone for Samford University,” said President Andrew Westmoreland of the reclassification. “To be officially classified among the nation’s great universities further recognizes the quality of teaching, learning and scholarship that have been Samford hallmarks for decades.
“At the same time, we remain committed to providing a strong undergraduate liberal arts-based education.”
Last year, Samford awarded more than 450 doctoral and professional degrees in divinity, education, law and pharmacy. Samford also is recognized for its active and growing undergraduate research program. These things are taken into account in the annual rankings.
The rankings are based on a school’s academic reputation, freshman retention rate, graduation rate, class size, student-faculty ratio, percentage of full-time faculty, student selectivity and acceptance rate and average alumni giving rate.
First time to rank in Master’s category
UM was also ranked in the Universities — Master’s (South) category for the first time this year, coming in 56th.
“Four years ago, we made the decision to strengthen the academic program and raise admission standards as part of our emphasis on graduating men and women who will excel in the workforce and make a difference in the world,” said UM President Mark Foley. “The rankings are beginning to reflect the success of our commitment to providing quality higher education with a Christian worldview.”
The university was listed in the fourth tier of schools in 2003 and was included in the third tier in the following years.
Kaye Brown, UM’s associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate programs, said several factors at the university have changed since 2003. She said a higher peer assessment score, smaller classes, higher percentage of classes taught by full-time faculty, higher ACT scores, increased selectivity in admissions and increased annual alumni giving rate are reflected in the current rankings.
Also in the Universities — Master’s (South) category, Spring Hill College in Mobile tied with a Tennessee school at 11th, the University of Montevallo finished even with two other schools at 50th, the University of South Alabama in Mobile tied with a Kentucky school for 53rd and the University of North Alabama in Florence tied with UM and two other schools for 56th.
In the Baccalaureate Colleges (South) category, Tuskegee University tied with an Arkansas school for 8th, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa ranked 25th, Oakwood College in Huntsville ranked 30th and Miles College in Fairfield tied with a Kentucky school for 39th.
Birmingham-Southern College tied with four other schools for 75th place as the only Alabama institution ranked nationally in the top liberal arts colleges category.
For more on the U.S. News & World Report study, visit www.usnews.com. (TAB)
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