At a glance
Rosati attributes this ranking to a number of positive initiatives taking place on campus, including the establishment of a Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, the development of specialized baccalaureate degree programs such as digital media and animation, financial planning, and information technology/network administration, as well as new townhouse-style residence halls, to name just a few.
Alfred State College is ranked in the Top 45 of Baccalaureate Colleges in the North in the 2008 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, the nation's leading source of service journalism and news. Alfred State is new to America's Best Colleges rankings this year. The exclusive rankings - which this year feature some substantial changes in methodology -published in the magazine's August 27 issue, which hit newsstands Monday, Aug.20, and is available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.
"Alfred State College is pleased and proud to be recognized by U.S. New & World Report," notes Dr. Ronald R. Rosati, provost and officer in charge at Alfred State College. "The results of these measures are proof that Alfred State is one of the finest institutions of its kind in the nation. There's no more fitting way to celebrate our centennial year than with this proof of our one hundred years of excellence," he noted.
Rosati attributes this ranking to a number of positive initiatives taking place on campus, including the establishment of a Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, the development of specialized baccalaureate degree programs such as digital media and animation, financial planning, and information technology/network administration, as well as new townhouse-style residence halls, to name just a few.
The annual rankings - in which U.S. News groups schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching - provide an unmatched resource for parents and students contemplating one of life's most challenging financial decisions.
Baccalaureate institutions are those which 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 fields such as business, nursing, and education. There are 320 baccalaureate colleges, within four regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.
From each college, U.S. News & World Report gathers data for up to 15 indicators of academic excellence, based on several key measures of quality, listed below. Scores for each measure are weighted as shown to arrive at a final overall score. For Universities-Master's and
Baccalaureate Colleges, the following criteria were considered: peer assessment 25%; graduation and retention rates 25%; faculty resources 20%; student selectivity 15%; financial resources 10%; and alumni giving 5%.
"For nearly a quarter century, consulting the U.S. News & World Report rankings has been a vital first step for prospective college students and their parents in the complex process of determining which institution best fits their goals," said U.S. News & World Report's editor, Brian Kelly. "Designed as a one-stop resource, the rankings supply hard data and analysis to help college applicants make apples-to-apples comparisons of schools across the country. Through these rankings, and the ‘America's Best Colleges' guidebook, our goal is to help equip students and their families to make a knowledgeable decision based on clear, comparative research."
Using a proprietary methodology, the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings represent the most comprehensive look at how schools stack up based on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence, and help consumers evaluate and compare data compiled from more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools. A complete summary of the methodology used to rank each school can be found online at www.usnews.com/colleges.
Alfred State College, a member of the technology college sector within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, offers outstanding educational opportunities for students in its nearly 60 associate degree programs, 14 baccalaureate degree programs, and several certificate programs. ASC continues to expand its online education offerings to include more than 56 online courses as well as two complete curriculum options (health information technology and court and realtime reporting). Numerous vocational-technical offerings stressing hands-on learning are available at the School of Applied Technology Campus located in nearby Wellsville, NY. The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and several programs are also accredited or approved by program-specific professional organizations. In recent years, the College has expanded its computing and networking choices to include a wireless option. While stressing technical education, the College continues to pride itself on maintaining close personal ties among students and faculty. Academic programs, residential facilities, and co-curricular activities are provided to meet the educational, cultural, social, and recreational needs of students. Alfred State's reputation for excellence attracts students and faculty from throughout New York, neighboring states, and several foreign countries. The College is located in Alfred, NY, a scenic village in Allegany County. It is 15 miles north of the Pennsylvania border, 70 miles south of Rochester, and 90 miles southeast of Buffalo.