Feature Article
Online Program Earns
Top 25 National Ranking
S
iena Heights University’s
Online Learning Programs were
ranked as the best in Michigan
among private institutions and
25th nationally among public
and private institutions by the
U.S. News and World Report. The
publication released its 2015 Best
Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings Jan. 7.
SHU’s Online Learning Programs, which earned its first
national ranking last year, moved up more than 100 places in
the 2015 rankings. SHU has offered online bachelor’s degree
completion programs in selected majors since 2004.
“We are thrilled and proud to receive this prestigious third
party endorsement of our program,” said SHU President Sister
Peg Albert, OP, PhD. “This ranking reaffirms what we at Siena
Heights already know to be true – that our Online Learning
Programs consistently deliver outstanding quality and value
to students. We will continue to strive for excellence in this
very competitive environment.”
U.S. News and World Report’s methodology included student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation and student services and technology to determine the
rankings. Siena Heights was particularly noted for its efforts
in student engagement, receiving the second highest ranking
of all institutions surveyed (97 out of a possible 100). SHU
also received high marks in faculty credentials and training.
“Our ranking represents our ongoing focus, commitment
and determination to make this program successful,” said
SHU College for Professional Studies Dean Deborah Carter.
“We have added services like eTutoring while maintaining
the existing overall academic instruction, student support
and operational services. We have and will continue to judiciously operate to enhance our distance education efforts,
with various teaching enhancements and beneficial changes
in the near future. We know that our ‘student engagement’
score is the result of the combined efforts, commitment,
and passion of advisors, faculty, staff, students and administrators who make Siena Heights University online learning
exemplary. We are deeply grateful.”
12 | Reflections Summer ’15
SHU’s Online Program Nationally Lauded
for Graduation Rate
SHU’s undergraduate Online Learning Program also has
the nation’s highest graduation rate among private institutions
and was third overall in a recent report released by the U.S.
News and World Report.
SHU’s Online Learning Programs made the U.S. News
and World Report’s “Short List” of top 10 colleges or universities that had the highest six-year completion rates based on
students who entered in 2007-08. Siena Heights was the top
private institution ranked with a 91 percent graduation rate
during that period.
SHU was third overall nationally among all institutions,
placing behind the University of Georgia and the University
of Missouri-St. Louis. u