SUU Tops U.S. News' "Best Colleges" List

Published: September 26, 2011 | Read Time: 2 minutes

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Southern Utah University as one of the top universities in the West in its 2012 Best Colleges guidebook, placing SUU in the first tier of all universities in the West which provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs.

Moving up yet again in the rankings from last year, this is the University’s eighth consecutive appointment to the regional list and second consecutive listing in the top tier of all Western colleges formally recognized. The “West,” as defined by U.S. News, includes a peer group that spans 16 states.

SUU President Michael T. Benson says this recognition proves the University continues to make great strides.

“This recognition from US News further validates the progress we continue to make in our efforts to carve out a specific niche within the Utah System of Higher Education,” Benson says. “It also promotes SUU within our region as an option for students seeking an educational experience that is wholly unique.”

SUU Provost Brad Cook agrees with Benson and cites the U.S. News ranking as “another indication that the quality-agenda we have embarked on for the university is increasingly recognized at the regional and national levels.”

“As we elevate the students’ academic and personal experience, we are likely to see these national recognitions increase,” Cook adds.

Though Cook recognizes this is a gratifying honor, he says SUU does not focus on such rankings when prioritizing its resources and mission.

“Ultimately, we measure our success on the individual success of our students,” he says. “Nothing less, nothing more.”

Benson acknowledges the faculty, staff, students and community all “need to be recognized and thanked for their collective efforts in securing this important ranking,” as the campus community and camaraderie is what sets SUU apart from many of its counterparts.

Each university in the regional listings was judged by categories that, among others, included peer assessment, retention rate, student to faculty ratio and the academic merits of incoming freshmen.

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