Points of Distinction

KU's study abroad program is among the best in the nation, according to a survey of education experts by U.S. News and World Report.

The survey listed programs at 37 universities; KU was one of nine public universities on the list.

"Some schools are much more determined than others to provide freshmen and all undergrads with the best possible experience, recognizing that certain enriched offerings, from service learning to learning communities to study abroad, are linked to student success," the magazine said. "These schools are recognized for outstanding programs."

KU's School of Medicine ranks 5th among the country's 141 medical schools in a study on how well medical schools meet their social mission to train doctors to care for the nation's patients.

The George Washington University researchers who created the study defined social mission in three ways: the percentage of graduates practicing primary care, the number of graduates from underrepresented minorities, and how many work in areas with shortages of health professionals. The study tracked 6,000 medical students.

KU graduate programs continue to excel nationally, according to 2011 U.S. News and World Report rankings.

City management and urban policy and special education continue to rank No. 1 among public institutions. City management and urban policy also is No. 1 overall among public and private university programs. Special education is No. 2 overall. The School of Education is ninth among publics and 17th overall.

The doctoral program in paleontology, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences geology department, was ranked fourth among publics and seventh overall. Also on this year’s list is the School of Law, which ranked 33rd among public institutions. Only selected academic disciplines are ranked annually.

KU's program was honored by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists for excellence in teaching methodology, innovative programs, and leadership training.

Pharmacy residents work at the KU Hospital while completing master's degrees in pharmacy practice.

KU ranks in the top 25 large national colleges and universities for the number of its graduates volunteering for the Peace Corps in 2010.

According to information released by the Peace Corps, KU tied for 25th with 47 volunteers. KU was the only university in Kansas on the list.

KU tied for fifth in the nation for the number of doctorates earned by American Indians during the years 2005-09, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Fifteen American Indians earned doctorates at KU during that time.

In a Sept. 25, 2011, special report on diversity in academia, the Chronicle based its rankings on figures from the federal government's Survey of Earned Doctorates.

The University of Kansas has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fifth consecutive year.

The honor is the highest federal recognition of a university's commitment to service learning, volunteering and civic engagement.

The honor roll recognizes colleges and universities for the number of students taking part in service, faculty involvement and total hours of service. The Corporation for National and Community Service compiles the list and administers the annual award.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized the University of Kansas for its outstanding commitment to and involvement with the community. KU was one of 115 institutions selected for the foundation’s Community Engagement Classification.

Colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community engagement were invited to apply for the classification. KU’s application included information about programs that interact with and serve the community on local, state and national levels.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized the University of Kansas for its outstanding commitment to and involvement with the community. KU was one of 115 institutions selected for the foundation’s Community Engagement Classification.

Colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community engagement were invited to apply for the classification. KU’s application included information about programs that interact with and serve the community on local, state and national levels.

Confirming what many in the Jayhawk nation already know, a guide for parents of college-bound students has named Lawrence one of America’s 10 best college towns.

Praising the city’s vibrant downtown, youthful attitude and crimson-capped campus, Parents & Colleges recommends families put Lawrence and the University of Kansas on their shortlists as they make college plans.

The University of Kansas is among the nine public doctoral/research universities listed as best in the nation for junior faculty in a new report from the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education based at Harvard University.

KU, which also was one of five universities cited as an “exemplar” for its clarity of institutional expectations for tenure, was recognized as a top place for beginning faculty in COACHE’s last report in 2007.

Among national public research universities, KU ranks 44th in federal funding for science and engineering research, according to the National Science Foundation. KU's funding in 2009 totaled a record $124.7 million.

Lawrence ranks ninth on a list of the 75 best college towns compiled by the American Institute for Economic Research.

The locations were selected from an analysis of 222 metropolitan statistical ares with student populations of 15,000 or more.

The KU law school ranks 21st out of 65 schools that "carry a low price tag and are able to prepare their students incredibly well for today's competitive job market," according to National Jurist magazine.

The magazine based its best value rankings on tuition and employment statistics.

KU is one of "10 cool schools that will blow your mind, not your budget," according to Mother Jones magazine. The list appeared in the MoJo Mini College Guide in the September-October 2009 issue.

Twenty-eight KU programs rank in the top 30 spots among public universities nationwide, and KU's special education program continues to rank first among special education programs, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The 28 programs and their rankings are

1. City Management and Urban Policy (Master)
1. Special Education (Master/Doctorate)
2. Community Health (Master/Doctorate)
2. Occupational Therapy (Master/Doctorate)
3. Paleontology (Doctorate)
3. Public Management Administration (Master)
4. Public Affairs (Master)
4. Speech-Language-Pathology (Master)
7. Audiology (Doctorate)
9. Nursing-Midwifery (Master)
9. Petroleum Engineering (Master/Doctorate)
9. Public Finance & Budgeting (Master)
10. School of Education (Master/Doctorate)
11. Social Work (Master)
12. Music (Master)
12. Physical Therapy (Master/Doctorate)
13. Clinical Child Psychology (Doctorate)
18. Clinical Psychology (Doctorate)
18. Pharmacy (PharmD)
21. Psychology (Doctorate)
22. Healthcare Management (Master)
23. Drama/Theatre (Master)
24. History (Doctorate)
25. Nursing-Anesthesia (Master)
26. Fine Arts (Master)
28. Nursing (Master)
30. Biological Sciences (Doctorate)
30. Political Science (Doctorate)