August 19, 2005
Contact: Bud Grimes, University Relations
UT Martin moves higher in 2006 U.S. News rankings
Martin, Tennessee - The University of Tennessee at Martin improved its top-tier ranking for master's level public universities in the South in the 2006 edition of America's Best Colleges compiled by U.S.News & World Report. The rankings, released this week, rate colleges and universities using information gathered from various sources.
UT Martin tied for 20th place among public universities in the South that grant bachelor's and master's degrees, up from 23rd place last year.
Colleges are ranked against their peers using information submitted in a survey completed by the institutions. Additionally, U.S. News gathers information from other sources including the American Association of University Professors, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Council for Aid to Education and the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.
Categories used to determine the rankings and to measure academic quality include peer assessment, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and the alumni giving rate. According to the magazine, the greatest weight is given to peer assessment, which surveys individuals who are "in a position to judge a school's academic excellence."
In the 2006 rankings, UT Martin improved it peer-assessment score and its retention and graduation rates. Dr. Nick Dunagan, UT Martin chancellor, said the university's efforts to improve total quality are positioning the university to better serve students.
"The U.S. News rankings are important, and I'm pleased that UT Martin's position in the rankings has improved the last two years," Dunagan said. "Still, my primary concern is improving overall quality in academic programs and services so that our students receive the best education possible. We're making excellent progress in these areas."
Dunagan said improvement in student retention is traced in part to the university's Student Success Center that opened last fall. The center offers advising support, career services and other initiatives, all designed to help students succeed.
The current U.S. News rankings follow three consecutive semesters of record student enrollment at UT Martin. A record 6,104 enrolled for fall 2004 classes, followed by record enrollments for both spring and summer 2005. Early enrollment numbers for fall semester 2005 point to a fourth consecutive record enrollment at the university.
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