Winter at Westminster

The Princeton Review has once again included Westminster College in its annual guide of colleges, “The Best 373 Colleges,” which profiles schools that offer students the best undergraduate experiences in the country. This prestigious national college guide puts Westminster among the top 15% of all four-year colleges in America as determined by the Princeton Review.

Westminster was singled out for special recognition in the categories of “Quality of Life,” in which Westminster ranks 13th nationally, and “Town-Gown Relations are Great,” where Westminster ranks 15th. The primary criteria for inclusion in the guide are outstanding academics and survey data from students attending the school

In its profile, the Princeton Review quotes extensively from Westminster students who boast that the college’s “academically challenging” programs, combined with the opportunity to “ski, climb, work, attend classes, hang out with friends, and be active on campus every day” make Westminster “the absolute best package of any college available.” Pre-professional programs such as nursing, education and business are praised for preparing students for “a global career” and “being able to work in many different cultures.” Students also note that “it’s very easy to meet people as well as to do many different things in the local area.”

Students comment that small class sizes give them “the opportunity to be seen and heard by their professors.” They also say that the focus on student learning makes classes less about “strict lecturing and more [about] discussion-based learning.”

Westminster President Michael Bassis remarked, “We could not be more pleased to be included in the Princeton Review’s top colleges for the third year in a row, and to be singled out as having an outstanding quality of life and relationship with our Sugar House community. Since the Review bases its decisions largely on the comments and evaluation of an institution’s own students, this demonstrates that our students recognize the value of Westminster’s unique environment for learning.”

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U.S.News & World Report announced today that for the 16th consecutive year, Westminster College has been ranked as a top-tier institution in its annually published college guidebook. In the 2011 edition, Westminster was also recognized for the first time on the list of “A+ Schools for B Students” and continued to earn a spot on the list of “Great Schools at Great Prices.”

“We are pleased that the college continues to be recognized as a quality institution in USNews,” said Westminster President Michael Bassis. “At a time when everyone is concerned about the cost of higher education, I am also pleased that we have once again been recognized as a great school at a great price. For me, inclusion on the list of ‘A+ School for B Students,’ along with other top schools in our region, such as Gonzaga (WA), Santa Clara University (CA), and the University of Portland (OR), is one of the most satisfying.”
“At Westminster we seek students who will thrive in our classrooms and bring vibrancy to our campus—students with different backgrounds and perspectives. We seek students who possess character and talent, in addition to a strong academic background. Our priority is to engage students in their learning, helping them to discover their true passions and potential.”
“While we are proud of our accolades in various college rating guides, and we realize this publication remains significant to prospective students and parents, we encourage families to look beyond the rankings when selecting an ideal college,” he continued. “Families need to consider the learning environment, accessibility of faculty, the campus community, the outcomes achieved by their graduates, as well as less tangible factors such as ‘fit.’”

Westminster’s ratings are included in the category of Regional Universities in the West. For more information on USNews’ 2011 Best Colleges, visit www.usnews.com/colleges. Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the September issue of U.S.News & World Report, available on newsstands August 31. The 2011 Best Colleges guidebook will be on newsstands August 24, 2010.

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