By Ashley Sidebottom, staff writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University has been ranked 22nd by U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” in the Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South category. This is the highest ranking the university has ever received in 15 consecutive years of rankings.
This year’s ranking recognizes the quality of the institution’s academic and student life programs, according to an announcement from Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter.
“It is an honor to be recognized for providing students with an excellent educational experience,” Carter said. “Being recognized for the excellent quality of our academic programs, as well as for the excellent quality of our faculty, validates Campbellsville University as we begin our second century of quality, Christian higher education.”
Carter said the rankings “recognize significant progress and achievement at the university, however, we remain diligent in improving and enhancing all areas of the academic programs.”
Among the improvements in academics is the addition of a bachelor of university studies degree, which was approved by faculty members during the spring semester. A social work minor has been added to the Carver School of Social Work to compliment the already existing social work major.
Another new academic program is health care management, which has been added to the business administration area as an emphasis and also as a minor.
Campbellsville University will graduate its first class of students from the School of Nursing in May 2008.
“We anticipate new undergraduate and graduate programs to be available to meet the growing socio-economic demands of our area and the Commonwealth,” Carter said.
“CU has a proud tradition of academic excellence in a Christian context,” said Carter. “Student satisfaction is a priority, not only in the classroom, but for their co-curricular experience.”
Other changes to Campbellsville University’s campus include the completion of the Ransdell Chapel, the construction of a new women’s Residence Village, the completion of the second floor of Hawkins Athletic Center that added classrooms, offices and a multi-purpose room for athletics, resurfacing of the Tiger Football Field and transforming the Tiger Baseball Field to a stadium, and construction of the new Gosser Gymnasium began in late July 2007.
Also, this year, the university plans to break ground on a School of Education building.
Campbellsville University has also obtained a property at the corner of Broadway and North Columbia Avenue that will undergo major renovation and house the School of Business.
“We will continue to make quality Christian higher education affordable throughout the Commonwealth as we continue to reach students throughout the United States and internationally during her next 100 years,” Carter said.
“Alumni of Campbellsville University, too, should be pleased with this announcement as this validates the strong education they received at CU,” said Carter.
“Needless to say, we are pleased with this ranking among the South’s best baccalaureate universities,” Carter said.
Academic institutions are categorized by their mission and region with the gathering of data from each of 12 indicators of academic excellence. The schools are ranked against their peers, according to scores given by U.S.News & World Report.
Factors contributing to the ranking formula for baccalaureate schools are: peer assessment score, graduation and retention rates, class sizes, student/faculty ratio, percentage of full-time faculty, student ACT/SAT scores and high school grades, acceptance rate and alumni giving.
“Campbellsville University has a theme of ‘find your calling’ that exemplifies what Campbellsville University means to our students. We feel it is the epitome of what a Christian education at Campbellsville University can provide for our students,” Carter said.
Campbellsville University offers ten master’s programs including a master of arts in education, master of arts in special education, master of arts in music, master of arts in social science, master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages, master of business administration, master of music in church music, master of music in music education, master of science in counseling and master of theology.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. CU has been listed in U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 15 consecutive years and is number 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” for 2008. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.