Winthrop University has just received its highest U.S. News and World Report rankings ever and the university administration is ecstatic, but what do these rankings mean and what are their significance?
U.S. News ranks universities across the country to give prospective students insight into where they should apply and what different schools have to offer.
According to the U.S. News website, they determine the rankings based upon “user feedback, discussions with schools and higher education experts, literature reviews, trends in our own data, availability of new data, and engaging with deans, and institutional researchers at higher education conferences.”
Winthrop climbed from number 8 to number 6 in the top public schools category, the university’s highest rank yet. This is due to “Winthrop University’s 6-year graduation rate, its commitment
to undergraduate teaching, assistance to veterans and the social mobility of its graduates,” as reported by U.S. News.
“One of the things that has contributed to us moving up in the rankings is that we have been consistent in the data that we have presented over the years. A number of universities, they go up and they go down in the data that they present, [but] ours have been consistent,” said Winthrop President George Hynd. “I also think it’s our treatment of veterans…our innovation, with the number and the kinds of programs we have and our reputation as an undergraduate teaching institution, those things all go into those ratings as well.”
Winthrop ranked number 7 in the best colleges for veterans and is a purple heart and yellow ribbon university.
“The Yellow Ribbon Program allows for the university and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide funds for tuition and fees for students that are wanting to come back after their military
service. And we have exceeded our established threshold under the post 9/11 GI Bill,” Hynd said.
“We also have a dedicated student Veterans Center. And in my prior experience at other universities, we frankly offer our veterans more services and I think that contributes to our rankings as well,”
Hynd said.
The university also reviews the training that veterans have received and awards academic credits based on the military coursework they have completed.
Winthrop also placed number 13 for the regional universities South category, due in part to its increase in innovation. This puts Winthrop ahead of other notable universities in the region such as Coastal Carolina and Western Carolina University.
However, some Winthrop students feel as though this ranking may be too high.
“I can understand why they have the ratings that they do. However, I don’t believe Winthrop is the 12th most innovative school,” said Malik Smith, a junior computer science major. “The A/C needs to be upgraded, the wi-fi and many of the older buildings need to be renovated”.
Winthrop’s lowest ranking was number 41 in the best value category, which means “the best bang for your buck” in layman’s terms.
However, the university placed 12th in innovative schools and President Hynd says they are continuing efforts to expand and create new programs for students.
“We’re adding programs too and I think this helps a lot. And it will help us move forward in that designation… I think as we continue to develop programs that will meet market demands, that will
help our graduates tremendously and will help us in areas of our rankings,” Hynd said.
President Hynd is excited to begin working on his vision for the university.
“We have buildings on this campus that were built back in 1901, or even before then. We need to take a look at our infrastructure and if they are meeting our current instructional needs. And frankly, if they are what students expect when they come to campus,” Hynd said.
“We are ready and soliciting proposals from companies through an RFP for companies to come in and help us do a campus facilities master plan. That is a conversation that should engage our faculty, our students, our alumni, our community members, and our board members. [Regarding] what facilities they think we should have and what we should do with the facilities that we currently have,” Hynd said.
“The Provost and the Vice President for Academic Affairs will also be using this year to develop an academic master plan,” Hynd said. “The third thing I would put out there is that we really need to take a look at our fundraising capabilities and start to develop a plan to move forward in that area.”
Winthrop’s rankings are a point of pride for the university and are an opportunity for them to reflect on the progress that is being made. Many are hopeful that Winthrop will continue to rise in the
rankings for years to come.
Photo courtesy Winthrop University.
