2012 Princeton Review spotlights Whitman's engaged community

Each year, The Princeton Review selects Whitman for inclusion in its popular guidebook and lists the college in any number of its 62 Top-20 rankings. This year, Whitman is included on four of the publication’s Top-20 lists.

“Though the breadth of the Whitman experience cannot be defined simply by a number on a ranking list, I am pleased that the college is consistently recognized as one of the top schools in the nation,” President George Bridges said. “The methodology for many of these rankings relies largely on student surveys – making Whitman’s high standing a tribute to our respected faculty, dedicated staff and a diverse student body comprised of some of the brightest young minds in the country.”

Three of Whitman’s four Top-20 rankings particularly spotlight the level of engagement that is a celebrated hallmark of the college – “Professors Get High Marks” (a perennial inclusion for Whitman), “Lots of Race/Class Interaction” and “Class Discussions Are Encouraged.”

“These and similar attributes are not new on campus,” said Tony Cabasco, dean of admission and financial aid. Cabasco added, “Whitman is very much an engaged community, in every aspect of campus and college life. Still, it’s gratifying to be recognized for our strengths and core values, which certainly include intercultural interaction and class discussion.”

According to Cabasco, the existence and efforts of Whitman’s First Generation/Working Class Students Group, the Intercultural Center and the new Glover Alston Center contributed to high marks in the Race/Class Interaction category.

The faculty’s reputation as both “distinguished scholars and wonderful teachers certainly contributes to ranking highly in the ‘Class Discussions Are Encouraged’ and ‘Professors Get High Marks’ categories,” Cabasco said. “Overall, year after year, it’s no surprise that positive national rankings are a reflection of the Whitman faculty,” Cabasco said.

Whitman’s other Top-20 category this year is “Best Health Facilities,” ranked No. 2 in the nation. President Bridges believes that factors that have elevated the Welty Heath Center to this position are the “extremely high quality of the facilities and a staff that reflects the kind of student-centered attention and devotion that are foundational to the success and reputation of Whitman College.”

Bridges adds: “The recognition for our Welty Health Center is particularly meaningful to us because it honors the vision and intentions of its benefactor, Trustee Emeritus Dr. Elizabeth Welty, and the memory of its namesake, her late husband, Dr. Robert Welty.”

Through the years, Whitman has been recognized by The Princeton Review in a wide variety of categories. Among them:

• Happiest Students
• Best Classroom Experience
• Professors Get High Marks
• School Runs Like Butter
• Best College Theater
• Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
• Best College Radio Station
• Best Library
• Students Never Stop Studying
• Best Quality of Life

The rankings are based on findings of a survey that asked 122,000 students at 376 top colleges to rate their schools on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences. Whitman has also been named a “Best Value” school and been included in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges.