09/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/24/2024 06:19
William & Mary has been a transformational leader in higher education for more than 300 years, innovating with excellence in teaching, research and career preparation.
Photo by Stephen Salpukas
William & Mary has been a transformational leader in higher education for more than 300 years, innovating with excellence in teaching, research and career preparation.
That excellence is evident in the enduring success of its 110,000 alumni, who thrive in a wide range of fields and make a lasting impact as global citizens.
Their success begins with the liberal arts and sciences education they receive at W&M.
"William & Mary cultivates lifelong learners who excel in a rapidly evolving world, from their first job to their last," said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. "Through internships, research, study abroad and hands-on learning, William & Mary ensures students are career-ready and connects them to a powerful global alumni network. The university is a career partner for life."
The benefits of that partnership are clear:
The university receives impressive recognition throughout the year in these strategic areas and more, including in the most recent round of rankings that often alter methodologies and increasingly focus on short-term, transitional metrics.
As the data and facts reveal, W&M takes the long view. W&M alumni succeed, and they do so with integrity and character while meeting the most pressing needs of our time.
"We are a world-class university built on innovation and excellence," said Provost Peggy Agouris. "While rankings and their methodologies change, our commitment to our values never does. That commitment fuels our successes."
The university is built around core values and is steadfastly committed to its strategic goals. Those efforts continue to be reflected in metrics that matter most to the university.
For instance, the university committed in recent years to increasing affordability and access. Two years ago, W&M set a goal to increase the percentage of in-state undergraduates who are Pell Grant-eligible to 20% in four years. This fall, 20% of in-state undergraduates in the Class of 2028 are Pell Grant recipients, an increase of 28% from last year.
The university has also been making progress on its Vision 2026 strategic initiatives around Careers, Data, Water and Democracy.
William & Mary focuses on the long-term success of its students as professionals and global citizens, and some recent rankings align with those values:
Other recent rankings that have highlighted various aspects of W&M include:
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While many compare rankings from one year to the next, the methodologies change frequently and sometimes dramatically.
In addition, several of the rankings systems reward schools for offering degrees with an immediate return on investment instead of looking longer-term at alumni success and societal impact. These changes have led to increased scrutiny in recent years.
The rapid rise in the number of rankings has led to a shift in how they are used in the college search. Prospective students are instead prioritizing the wealth of supporting information that helps them make informed decisions. According to studentPoll, they use rankings to find relevant information about a school three times more often than simply looking for a specific numeric rank. And one-third of students start their search using artificial intelligence to compile a list of schools that fit them best, rather than rankings.
With more than a dozen major ranking systems and none controlling more than 20% of the market, rankings are becoming increasingly fragmented.
In response, William & Mary has published its own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), tracking success against metrics that matter to its community. The KPIs are reviewed annually by the Board of Visitors Committees on Academic Affairs, Administration Building & Grounds, Financial Affairs, Institutional Advancement and Student Experience to drive strategy throughout the university. W&M is also focusing on national reputation at the leadership and board level. The president has charged a Tiger Team, led by her Chief of Staff Carlane Pittman-Hampton, to assess national drivers for rankings change and chart a long-term strategy for reputational gains.
"We are the Alma Mater of the Nation, a leading university with an enduring track record of preeminence," Rowe said. "We remain committed to the long view and ensuring William & Mary's place in history for the next 331 years."
Staff, University News & Media