Lipscomb University included on exclusive up-and-coming list in <em>US News'</em> rankings

Janel Shoun | 

 
Lipscomb University was selected as one of only 16 “top up-and-coming” master’s universities in the South, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s “2010 America’s Best Colleges” guidebook.
 
With 16 new graduate programs, $40 million in construction and record enrollments since 2006, Lipscomb certainly fits the U.S. News criteria of “schools that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus, or facilities.”
 
“Four years ago, our administration embarked on an ambitious, five-year plan to add new academic and service programs, re-create the campus into a 21st century learning environment, and to be very intentional about engaging with the community that surrounds us. It is gratifying to see that national leaders and educators acknowledge the results of this investment and recognize Lipscomb University as the vibrant, innovative, serving institution it is today,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry.
 
Lipscomb’s innovative attitude has resulted in rapid growth. In fall 2008, the university achieved a record enrollment of more than 3,000, including a 66 percent increase in graduate enrollment. The graduate enrollment is likely to jump again this fall due to the addition of four new graduate programs in education, sustainability and exercise and nutrition science.
 
“We believe the schools on this list offer the reassurance that whatever their historical reputation (or lack of it), they’re firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today—at least in the judgment of their peers,” states the U.S. News’ “America’s Best Colleges Guidebook.”
 
This past year has been focused on extending the university’s educational resources into underserved areas of the community. Innovative programs that Lipscomb has implemented in the past 12 months include:
 
    Rep. Jim Cooper (De-Tenn.) spoke on health care reform at the Institute for Conflict Management.
    Lipscomb's President Lowry speaks with participants at the first Hispanic Forum in April.
    The College of Pharmacy achieved candidate status in July 2009.
    The Institute for Conflict Management will teach courses on the campus of the UT Law school this fall.
  • Access Lipscomb, encompassing a three-year academic plan for traditional undergraduate students, expanded financial assistance and greater academic availability for community college students and free tuition for military veterans.
  • Reclaim Tomorrow: The Lipscomb Professional Resource Center, an on-campus career networking program for the local unemployed, utilizing university resources and area business executives.
  • Lipscomb’s Conversations of Significance program brought Shaun Casey, former faith advisor to the Barack Obama presidential campaign, to speak to local non-profit leaders and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) to speak to local health care leaders on the ethics of health care reform.
  • The Institute for Conflict Management has partnered with the UT College of Law’s Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution to offer Lipscomb’s graduate conflict management courses on the UT campus.
  • More than 100 civic and Hispanic leaders gathered to discuss Nashville’s multicultural future, and 250 local business leaders met at the Green Business Summit to learn how to navigate the green revolution.
  • Establishment of the School of Executive Education, providing local businesspeople unique interactive, business skills training, including a two-day seminar with national leadership expert Barry Posner.
  • Partnership with Teach for America, serving as the on-site certification training site for the Nashville Teach for America Corps.
  • The SALT Program (Serving and Learning Together) debuted in fall 2008, requiring all new students to fulfill designated service-learning requirements before graduation. As part of this program and other service efforts, students performed community service valued at more than $800,000 in the past year. The university was one of only 83 universities nationwide to gain “distinction” level on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
  • Lipscomb’s nursing program, a collaborative program with Vanderbilt School of Nursing, achieved accreditation this past year, and 100 percent of the nursing students passed their licensure exam.
  • The College of Pharmacy achieved accreditation candidate status and partnered with Vanderbilt University to provide practical research experience to four of Lipscomb’s inaugural pharmacy students. The college received almost 900 applications for the college’s second class of 75 student pharmacists.
 
In the overall rankings, Lipscomb is ranked 21st in the “Best Universities-Master’s, South” category. In U.S. News criteria, the university improved in average freshman retention rate, average graduation rate and percentage of faculty who are full-time.