Lipscomb University named one of the South's most innovative universities by U.S. News
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Lipscomb University has been named one of the South’s most innovative schools by U.S. News and World Report’s “2016 America’s Best Colleges” guidebook published on Wednesday. With an overall ranking of 18 in the Regional Universities-South category, Lipscomb was also named one of the best colleges in the region for veterans and was named one of the top “A+ Schools for B Students.”
Lipscomb was one of nine universities in the South nominated by its peers in a new U.S. News category included in this year’s rankings—Most Innovative Schools. College administrators were surveyed in spring 2015 were asked to name the institutions they think are the most innovative. College presidents, provosts and admissions officials were asked to nominate up to 10 colleges or universities in their ranking category that are making the most innovative changes in the areas of faculty, student life, campus life, facilities or technology. Other institutions on this list include Elon University, Belmont University, Embry-Riddle University and James Madison University.
Other institutions joining Lipscomb in the top 20 universities in the South include Samford University, The Citadel, James Madison University, Appalachian State University, the College of Charleston and Elon University. Lipscomb ranked higher in the South than universities such as Western Kentucky University, Murray State University, Tennessee Technological University, Liberty University, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Lee University, Harding University and Austin Peay State University.
With an enrollment of 4,686 university students after the first week of classes, Lipscomb University has broken numerous enrollment records, including an undergraduate enrollment that has topped 3,000 students for the first time and a first-year retention rate of 83.5 percent. The enrollment number will increase in the next few weeks as cohorts in several graduate programs, including civic leadership and education, begin classes later in the semester. University classes began Aug. 24.
Education innovation has been a hallmark of the administration of President L. Randolph Lowry, who begins his 11th year leading Lipscomb University this month. For nearly a decade, Lipscomb University has focused on expanding the opportunity for traditional and non-traditional students to access a college education through innovative programs.
Among the initiatives offered to help students meet their educational goals are an innovative competency-based education program, one of the few of its kind in the country; a scholarship and other programs for students who are the first generation in their families to attend college; a Yellow Ribbon Program, allowing eligible U.S. military veterans to attend Lipscomb tuition free or at a greatly reduced cost; a community college scholarship program; a three-year degree program; a program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities offering a two-year academic certificate experience; and an adult degree completion program. In addition, a variety of integrated degree programs, developed specifically to meet marketplace need, are also offered through collaborations within Lipscomb’s 10 colleges as well as programs developed that meet marketplace need.