FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug 21, 2009

Keuka's Commitment to Experiential Education Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

KEUKA PARK, N.Y.—You wouldn’t expect Keuka College to be listed on the same page as Ohio State University, Purdue University and the University of Southern California in the 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” U.S. News & World Report’s annual college guide.

After all, Keuka is ranked among baccalaureate colleges in the north while the other three are listed under the national universities category.

But on page 34, in a section titled “Programs to Look For,” Keuka, Ohio State, Purdue and USC are among 18 college and universities listed in the “Internships” category.

According to U.S. News, “Schools nominated in this category require or encourage students to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to work in the real world through closely supervised internships or practicums, or through cooperative education, in which one period of study typically alternates with one of work.”

“This is a ringing endorsement of our longstanding commitment to experiential education, in particular our Field Period program,” said College President Joseph G. Burke. “The fact that this list was based on recommendations from college presidents, chief academic officers and deans of admissions from around the country makes it even more gratifying.”

There was more good news for Keuka in the 2010 college guide. In the overall rankings of 70 baccalaureate colleges in the north, Keuka checked in at No. 26. And, Keuka is ranked No. 4 in a list of the top 5 colleges in its category whose students in the Class of 2008 graduated with the lightest debt loads.

“Year in and year out, we rank in the top one-third of our category and that is a tribute to our faculty, staff, students, and the loyal support of our alumni and friends,” said Burke. “It’s also important to note that this is the fourth straight year that we have earned a top 5 ranking in the debt load category. We invest a lot of time and effort in ensuring that our students don’t graduate with a pile of debt and this ranking is proof that out hard work is paying off.”

By U.S. News definition, schools in the baccalaureate category focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs—in the liberal arts, which account for fewer than half of their bachelor’s degrees, and in professional programs such as business, nursing and education. There are 319 comprehensive colleges ranked within four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.

The U.S. News rankings of baccalaureate colleges are based on 11 indicators of academic quality, including assessment by administrators at peer institutions, average freshman retention rate, average graduation rate, percent of classes under 20 students, percent of classes with 50 students or more, student/faculty ratio, percent of faculty who are full time, freshmen in the SAT/ACT 25th -75th percentile, freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school class, acceptance rate, and the average alumni giving rate (the average percentage of alumni who gave to their school during 2006-07 and 2007-08).

Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the September 2009 issue of U.S. News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase Monday, Aug. 24. The 2010 “America's Best Colleges” guidebook will be available as of Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Keuka College is the national leader in experiential, hands-on learning.

Office of Communications, Keuka College, Keuka Park, New York 14478

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