In his 2008 inaugural address, ³Ô¹ÏÍø President Rock Jones, Ph.D., encouraged the campus to dedicate itself anew to the noble ideas “that an education makes a difference in the life of an individual, that educated citizens make a difference in the life of the world, and that a liberal education grounded in … practical idealism has a singular opportunity in this age to raise up a new generation of moral leaders for a global society.”
Two years later, Ohio Wesleyan continues to be recognized in ways that reflect the power and realization of this vision.
In its September/October edition, Washington Monthly ranks Ohio Wesleyan as No. 51 among 252 U.S. liberal arts institutions based upon OWU’s contribution to the public good in the categories of social mobility (defined broadly as recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D. recipients), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).
Borrowing and recalculating Washington Monthly’s service data, Newsweek this week ranks Ohio Wesleyan as No. 22 among the nation’s 25 most service-minded schools in its first-ever rankings of “The Best Schools in America.” (Newsweek analyzed data for 510 public and private schools to create its ranking.)
According to Washington Monthly’s editors, they wanted to rethink the traditional concept of school rankings for their new college guide: “Instead of asking what a college could do for you, we asked, ‘What are colleges doing for the country?’ ”
“[C]olleges and universities do as much to shape the future as any institutions you can think of,” the editors state. “They conduct cutting-edge research that drives economic growth, provide upward mobility to people of humble birth, and mold the characters of tomorrow’s leaders. … Colleges should be judged not just on who they enroll and how many graduate but on what students do with their lives after they leave.
“The nation is badly in need of cutting-edge research, wise and knowledgeable citizens and workers, and a renewed focus on service,” the editors conclude. “Our top-ranked colleges are poised to deliver.”
Ohio Wesleyan also was recognized for its extraordinary commitment to service in February, when it was selected as one of three colleges nationwide to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in General Community Service. The award recognized OWU students for completing more than 45,000 hours of community service during the 2008-2009 academic year.
Other recent recognitions of Ohio Wesleyan’s excellence include:
Congratulations to everyone at Ohio Wesleyan who helps the University to fulfill its high calling and noble aspirations!