Wagner in 5 of 8 US News Programs to Look For

Wagner College
USNews & World Report News Release

For Immediate Release

Based on votes from 1,300 colleges and universities -
Wagner Listed in 5 of 8 Programs to Look For in 2007 USNews’ America’s Best Colleges

NEW YORK, NY --  Wagner College is listed in five of the eight Programs to Look For in the 2007 issues of U.S. News & World Reports’ guide to America’s Best Colleges which was released last weekend.  The five areas are all key components of Wagner’s signature curriculum: The Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts. 

Wagner’s inclusion was based on the written votes solicited from presidents, provosts, and deans at about 1,300 colleges and universities across the country.  “They did not pick from a list,” said Angelo Araimo, Wagner vice president for enrollment and planning, “but wrote in the names of up to 10 schools they felt had the strongest programs in each category.”

In the print edition, Wagner is cited for “first-year experiences,” “learning communities,” and “service learning.”  The on-line edition also includes Wagner in “internships” and “writing in the disciplines.”  According to editors of America’s Best Colleges, these eight fields are those most likely to lead to student success.

With its multiple listings Wagner College stands alone among New York City institutions. New York University is the only other school in the metropolitan region with a program – “study abroad” – included in America’s Best Colleges  lists of “Programs to Look For.”

Wagner’s  program for first-year students has been widely recognized by a number of professional higher education organizations, including TIAA-CREF  which presented it with the prestigious Hesburgh Award.  Learning communities – small groups of students and faculty studying together – reflects the cornerstones of Wagner’s curriculum.

“Service learning is a euphemism for learning from working on projects that benefit the community,” said Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner.  “This concept is deeply imbedded in our landmark curriculum, The Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts.  Every student at Wagner participates in at least one, and many two or more, long-term community service projects.”  Annually, Wagner students devote more than 85,000 hours in service to New York and metropolitan community agencies. 

In addition to their work on community projects, many Wagner students take part in internships with Fortune 500 companies in Manhattan and other corporations in the five boroughs.

“We’re especially delighted to be recognized for writing in the disciplines,” said Devorah Lieberman, Wagner’s vice president and provost.  “Writing includes the ability to formulate and express ideas and is one of the attributes of an educated person.”

Wagner’s ascent in America’s Best Colleges rankings is evidence of the elements of its signature curriculum: The Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts. Since the Wagner Plan was adopted nearly a decade ago, undergraduate enrollment has increased by about 40 percent, the endowment has grown from about $2.4 million to $36 million, and the college has become a national model for the integration of the liberal arts, professional studies, and civic engagement.

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For more information, contact John Ross, Wagner office of communications, 718/420-4599, or john.ross@wagne.edu.