Oh Boy! More good news from Widener. More evidence supporting my claim that Widener is one of, if not the top, Chester asset. We're a big time college town that hasn't caught on yet.
Chester, Pa. – Widener University ranks in the top five in service and 56th overall among national universities in the annual Washington Monthly College Guide, which ranks colleges and universities based on their contributions to the public interest.
Widener was one of only two national universities in the Philadelphia area named in the top 100. The University of Pennsylvania ranks 34th.
Unlike U.S. News & World Report ranking, Washington Monthly ranks individual schools based on their tangible contributions to the public interest: on the degree to which they recruit and graduate low-income students, produce PhDs and research, and encourage students to serve in ROTC, the Peace Corps and other service programs. Institutions are ranked on three criteria: social mobility, research and service.
The “service” category, in which Widener ranks fifth, is based on the number of alumni who serve in the Peace Corps, the percentage of students in ROTC, the percentage of federal work-study money that goes to community service, the number of students participating in community service and the number of service hours performed, and the school’s rank on a combined measure of the number of staff supporting community service, the number of academic courses that incorporate service, and whether the institution provides scholarships for community service.
Widener University has ranked among the top 100 institutions in the annual Washington Monthly rankings since the magazine’s inaugural college issue in 2005. Widener University President James T. Harris III said that Widener’s consistent ranking in the guide represents the university’s continued commitment to civic engagement.
“The way we measure the success of our graduates is similar to the philosophy that Washington Monthly uses to rank colleges and universities,” Harris said. “Washington Monthly asks what colleges are doing for the country. Widener asks how we can prepare students to serve our communities and our nation. We believe that is the true measure of the success of an institution.”
”For the full ranking and methodology used in the Washington Monthly ranking, visit
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2010/national_university_rank.php.
Let's face reality, Chester is a town with a college in it, not a college town. I love seeing positivity being associated with
ReplyDeleteI love my home town dearly but these students are facing the same problem that the local youth are, there's nothing to do in that city. These college students have nothing to do but campus life.
I wish there were more activities in Chester that people enjoy on a regular basis. Gyms, movie theaters, museums, shops, even a volleyball net. Someday the city will turn around and I hope I'm here to see it.
Chester could be a college town. Instead of us being defensive everytime a new buisness venture comes in (Harrah's, the stadium) let's look at it as a buisness venture. Make a park with volleyball net right near the college. Make Providence Ave into a strip that is marketed to the college kids. Take some of those proceeds and give back to the less fortunate neighborhods in Chester.
ReplyDeleteI am happy with Widener's standing. But for the life of me, I can't understand why you are so gong ho about it. Are you an alumni? Or are you a Widener fanatic? Maybe you can help us out. What are the other big time college towns doing that Chester isn't?
ReplyDeleteNot a Widener Alum. Villanova Class of 1982 BS Electrical Engineering. Not a Widener fanatic. I am a Chester fanatic. I didn't write the press release, they did.
ReplyDeleteAlicia touches on what other college towns do. College towns go out of their way to cater to the college students and faculty because they spend money. Chester has nothing for them to spend their money on. It really is a very simple concept and a sad reality.
Alicia, as a Widener Alumni, I think you have some good ideas but making them a reality is another.
ReplyDeleteWell hopefully people will get ideas from the stadium. It seems that some local businesses have benefited from it with food or parking spaces. Why not? Even if its small stuff. Rent out your garage to a first year college student that can't keep there car on campus. Or rent out extra space in your home for storage. It seems that some businesses look at Chester as a profitable move. We need to look at them the same way.
ReplyDelete