UMFK at the top tier in US college rankings

FORT KENT - U.S. News & World Report, has listed the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the top tier of "Best Regional Colleges" for 2011, the university announced on Tuesday.

The 2011 U.S. News & World Report ranking marks UMFK's rise to the top tier from third-tier status just two years ago.  The creators of the report rank UMFK among the top 50 of all colleges in the North region.  It also ranks UMFK among the 15 best regional public colleges in the listings.

"I am excited that our campus has earned this distinctive recognition by U.S. News & World Report," said University President, Wilson G. Hess.  "Our focus on access to an affordable, quality college experience is one of the great value-added opportunities in Maine higher education.  For some time folks have known that our small campus, excellent faculty, and committed staff provide a wonderful educational opportunity for the people of the St. John Valley.  UMFK now is being justly recognized as a university of regional excellence."

Earlier this month, The Princeton Review cited UMFK for the sixth successive year as a "Best Northeastern College"   Researchers derive that accolade primarily from student input.

The U.S. News base their rankings on key measures of quality that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality.  The indices used for ranking "Best Regional Colleges" include: peer assessment; graduation and retention rates; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and, alumni giving.  Analysts weigh each measure as a percentage to arrive at a final overall score.

"For too long at UMFK we have hidden our light under a bushel basket," President Hess said.  "The recognition today by U.S. News & World Report shines a bright light on our accomplishments," he added.

The U.S. News rankings system rests on two pillars: the formula relies on quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, and, are based on U.S. News' researched view of what matters in education.

Two Maine public colleges - the University of Maine at Farmington and the University of Maine at Fort Kent are recognized.