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By
Kelley
Bozeman
“Our
steady climb in these rankings reflects the hard work
and dedication of our faculty, staff and students.”
-- Lee T. Todd Jr., President
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April
4, 2003 (Lexington, Ky.) --
Three University of Kentucky colleges are among the
best in the nation, according to newly released rankings
from U.S.News
& World Report. The ratings are included in
the magazine’s 2004 annual ranking of “America’s
Best Graduate Schools.”
In U.S. News’ rankings, the most widely read
ratings of colleges, UK has the ninth best Rural
Medicine program in the nation, up from 24th in
2001. In addition, UK’s College
of Nursing ranked 29th overall, up from 36th in
2000, and the College
of Law was again among the top 100 law schools,
coming in at 51st.
“Our steady climb in these rankings reflects
the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff
and students,” UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.
said. “The consistent performance of the College
of Law and College
of Nursing over the past several years is very
notable and satisfying. I am extremely pleased about
the Rural
Medicine ranking – to jump 15 spots in two
years is remarkable. Through programs like these,
UK will continue to have a major impact on all of
Kentucky and beyond.”
"We
are very pleased to be recognized by our colleagues
throughout the country for our emphasis on rural medicine,”
said Emery A. Wilson, dean of the UK College
of Medicine. “This is fitting testimony
to the successes of our Center
for Rural Health, our rural-based training programs
conducted with our community partners in our Area
Health Education Centers, our hundreds of outreach
clinics each year, and our leadership in the development
of an extensive telemedicine system.”
“I
am extremely pleased that the College
of Nursing continues to be among those advancing
in the national rankings,” said Carolyn A. Williams,
dean of the UK College
of Nursing. “Since 1998 the college has
advanced from being ranked 48th to a ranking of 36th
in 2000 and now we have progressed to 29th. To be
ranked 29th in a large field of programs in nursing
eligible for ranking is an outstanding tribute for
our college, the Medical Center, and the University
of Kentucky. With the combined efforts of our outstanding
faculty, staff and students and the university we
will continue to move forward.”
“It
is nice to have a range of outside confirmations of
the quality of our program. But as we are improving
the college to better serve our students and the Commonwealth,
and not to influence the rankings, the best confirmation
of our progress comes from our graduates, our students,
and those who employ them,” said Allan Vestal,
dean of the UK College
of Law.
Each year, U.S. News ranks graduate programs in the
areas of business, education, engineering, law and
medicine. The rankings are based on expert opinion
about program quality and statistical indicators that
measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research
and students. Graduate programs in public affairs,
the sciences, the social sciences, and humanities
were not ranked this year; however, U.S.News &
World Report reprinted tables of rankings completed
in 2000 and 2001.
The
magazine based its specialty rankings solely on ratings
by deans and senior faculty at peer schools. Medical
school deans and senior faculty identified up to 10
schools offering the best programs in each specialty
area.
UK colleges and programs included in U.S. News’
rankings are:
-
College
of Pharmacy, third;
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UK Martin School
of Public Policy and Administration, Public
Finance/Budget program, fifth; Public Affairs graduate
program, 31st; and Health Policy and Management
program, 35th;
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College
of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Sciences,
10th;
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College
of Health Sciences, Physical Therapy master’s
program, 38th, and Speech Pathology master’s
program, 73rd;
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College
of Social Work master’s program, 58th;
and
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College of Arts
and Sciences, English program, 62nd, and Clinical
Psychology doctoral program, 67th.
In the past year, UK set numerous records. Fall 2002
saw a record 34,182 students on campus. In the area
of research, UK achieved expenditures of over $212
million, placing it 32nd among public universities
and 47th among both public and private. And, for the
first time, UK was ranked among the top 50 public
research universities by U.S.News & World Report.
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