ON CAMPUS AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY:Vanguard among top-ranked universities

Each year, colleges and universities around the nation anticipate national and regional rankings by college guidebook publications. Vanguard University has once again been ranked highly by three national publications.

Vanguard has been included in the U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges as one of the best comprehensive colleges in the West, as well as being on the list of top colleges for two of The Princeton Review publications.

U.S. News and World Report named Vanguard in the top 10 of the best comprehensive colleges in the West when its America’s Best Colleges 2007 was published. The rankings are created with the help of the Assn. of American Colleges and Universities, the leading national association involved in promoting the advancement of higher education.

The system takes into account assessments by administrators at peer institutions, faculty resources, student retention, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation rate.

Through all of these assessments, U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges ranked Vanguard seventh of all comprehensive colleges in the Western United States.

This accomplishment is viewed as evidence that Vanguard continues to make its name as a nationally recognized institution, not just for its academics but also for the overall atmosphere that it offers its students.

“As a best comprehensive college, Vanguard University is among schools that focus on quality of education and the college experience,” Vanguard President Murray Dempster said. “It is exciting to once again be ranked in the top 10 among these great institutions, and it is an extraordinary honor to be regarded so highly among our peers.”

In addition to receiving this honor from U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review has also named Vanguard in two of its annual reports on colleges and universities.

The Princeton Review named Vanguard in its guidebook “The Best Western Colleges: 121 Great Schools to Consider.” As with its other publications, this ranking is based on feedback from student surveys.

“This is great news,” said Rick Hardy, vice president of advancement and enrollment management. “To receive this distinction based on feedback from our students is very special and says a lot about the positive educational experience at Vanguard University.”

The Princeton Review chooses U.S. colleges and universities based on a student survey it conducts. The survey is a grid-based questionnaire that asks students about their school’s academics, campus life and student body, as well as their study hours, politics and opinions.

In America’s Best Value Colleges, Vanguard has also been ranked as one of 150 colleges and universities nationwide as having the best “bang for your buck.” This distinction is based upon the schools’ academic rating, financial aid rating, tuition and grade-point average.

Vanguard is named a “Best Value College” in California along with the California Institute for Technology, Long Beach State, Scripps College, Sonoma State, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Riverside, UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz.

The Princeton Review’s description of Vanguard talks about the unique learning environment the university offers. “Vanguard University is a small, tight-knit community that values academic excellence and the freedom to discuss their religious convictions in an academic setting. VU is all about community, friendliness and support — it isn’t long before students feel like they are part of a family.

“Faith is important at Vanguard — it isn’t unusual for students to pray and discuss their beliefs in class. And professors feel the same way. This makes for genuine relationships between students and faculty, with almost everyone actively participating and enjoying classes.

“Instead of getting hammered, students are more likely to be swinging a hammer as they help build a home for Habitat for Humanity or to be volunteering their time to other Vanguard service projects … VU students prove that you don’t need to be boozing it up to have a good time.”

Responding to the news of The Princeton Review distinctions, Dempster said, “This is an honor for our university and reflects our commitment to provide high-quality education in the context of faith and virtue. It excites me to see that students consistently rated Vanguard favorably, and this honor speaks highly of the academic, social and spiritual environment here.”

Overall, these honors could not have come at a more appropriate time, as Vanguard is in the midst of continuing development as an institution through its Vision 2010 Capital and Endowment Campaign. These distinctions recognize the value Vanguard University offers to students and the surrounding communities.

Vanguard University of Southern California, founded in 1920, is a Christian comprehensive university of liberal arts and professional studies. The purpose of Vanguard University is to pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith and equip each student for a life of leadership and service. The university offers educational programs organized under eight schools that confer degrees for traditional undergraduates, adults seeking a bachelor’s degree and students enrolled in graduate programs.

For more information, please visit www.vanguard.edu.