FWIW: Miami Ranked #2 Best Colleges: Undergraduate Teaching by USNWR

Colleges and Universities A-Z Miami University - Ohio
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<p>Up from last year's ranking of #8, Miami was recently ranked #2 by U.S. News and World Report in the Best</a> Colleges: Undergraduate Teaching at National Universities. Miami tied with Princeton University and is one spot behind Dartmouth...pretty good company along with the other more high profile names which include: Notre Dame, College of William and Mary, Brown, Berkley, Michigan, Virginia, Standford, Yale, Clemson, Purdue, Wake Forest.</p>

<p>Miami's take[/url</a>] on this rise in the rankings and USNWR's [url=]details on the methodology:</p>

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For the second consecutive year, in the spring of 2010, U.S. News asked top academics as part of the regular U.S. News peer assessment survey to name the schools that they think have faculty with an unusually strong "commitment to undergraduate teaching." These new rankings are the schools whose faculty and administrators are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner. College presidents, provosts, and admissions deans were asked to nominate up to 10 colleges in their U.S. News Best Colleges ranking category with a "commitment to undergraduate teaching."</p>

<p>This item on the peer survey enabled college officials to pick schools within their U.S. News Best Colleges ranking category that have a strength in undergraduate teaching that the public should be aware of and that is not always noticeable in a college's regular peer assessment survey results and its overall U.S. News Best Colleges ranking...

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<p>Anybody know WHY Miami is rated so highly in this area? I know it is a great rating but what specifically does Miami do to excel in undergraduate teaching? Thanks.</p>

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<p>Within the academic and business communities, Miami has always had a fantastic reputation. Here in the suburban Chicago area, many students who didn’t get in, or couldn’t afford Ivy league schools opt for Miami.</p>

<p>Miami is primarly an undergraduate university. Only about 2000 of the 16000 students are grad students. As a result, most of the money, resources and opportunities go to the undergrads - including research opportunities. In addition, almost all classes are taught by professors. USN&WR also mentioned elsewhere in its publication some of the other programs for undergrads such as LLC’s, special writing program/emphasis and senior capstone course requirement.</p>

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<p><a href=“%5Burl=http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065468106-post2.html]#2[/url]”>quote</a> Anybody know WHY Miami is rated so highly in this area?..

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<p>A previous post (with a link to a very detailed report) may provide some insight: [Miami</a> University results in National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/miami-university-ohio/451395-miami-university-results-national-survey-student-engagement-nsse.html]Miami”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/miami-university-ohio/451395-miami-university-results-national-survey-student-engagement-nsse.html)</p>

<p>…See Miami’s News Release on the report: [Student</a> engagement makes Miami experiences stronger, richer than many](<a href=“http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/3866][i]Student”>http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/3866) which summarizes the stats.</p>

<p>Edit: A recent article in the [Miami</a> Student](<a href=“http://www.miamistudent.net/news/miami-ranks-no-2-for-commitment-to-teaching-1.1535658]Miami”>http://www.miamistudent.net/news/miami-ranks-no-2-for-commitment-to-teaching-1.1535658) also explores some of the details behind the ranking:</p>

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<p>Thanks ChicagoBear & StitchInTime for the responses and links. Helps a lot!</p>

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<p>In addition, there are certain very strong majors / programs at UG level that have been recognized nationally. Definitely, Business School, Education and Zoology departments. There are might be more, these ones I am aware of. Pre-med advisory is exceptional, allowing pre-meds very smooth Med. School application process (I am familiar mostly with this. Comparing to other schools, everything was done early, in very helpful and supportive manner). </p>

<p>D’s (senior) overall experience at Miami exceeded her expectations in many aspects.</p>

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<p>MU graduates about 68% in four years and 80+% after 6 years
This puts MU in top 5 of the Large State Schools in the US.</p>

<p>Top 5 Large State Schools (10,000 students or more)
(4 yr grad rate)</p>

<p>University of Virginia (1310 SAT) 85%
UNC Chapel Hill (1295 SAT) 73%
Michigan (1300 SAT) 70%
Miami Oxford (1185 SAT) 68%
James Madison (1140 SAT) 68%</p>

<p>For comparison, (4 yr grad rates)
Here are other schools my son is applying to
(These are somewhat similar GPA/ACT schools)</p>

<p>University of Ky 29%
Purdue 38%
OSU 42%
University of Cincinnati 19%
Auburn 34%
University of Alabama 36%
University of Arkansas 33%
University of Arizona 30%
University of Mississippi 33%
University of Tennessee 30%
University of South Carolina 45%</p>

<p>source (2008 data) [College</a> Results Online](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/default.aspx]College”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/default.aspx)</p>

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<p>Now if MU would just start a men’s Volleyball club…that would be perfect. :)</p>

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<p>Link to Miami’s official press release: [Miami</a> 2nd Nationwide in its Commitment to Teaching, Says U.S. News & World Report](<a href=“http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news-and-events/news/2010/08/USNews.html]Miami”>http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news-and-events/news/2010/08/USNews.html)</p>

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<p>Miami does have a men’s volleyball club.</p>

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<p>I think you are right! We couldn’t find anything about it on their website, but when our guide on Saturday took us through the beautiful student rec center, my son asked specifically and our guide told us that to her knowledge, they have a very competitive intramural, club AND varsity program. That really made my son smile. He totally loves this school. Every time he visits his opinion is really reinforced.</p>

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<p>New York Times: [Rummaging</a> the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education](<a href=“Searching the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education - The New York Times”>Searching the Bargain Bin for a Premier Public Education - The New York Times):</p>

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<p>AND the best member of the House of Representatives is an alum…Rep. Paul Ryan/Wisconsin!</p>