Published
5 years agoon
National recognition for classroom performance keeps on coming for Fresno State.
The U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best College rankings are out, and Fresno State is pegged at No. 3 among public universities and No. 5 overall for its graduation rate performance.
The latest good news builds upon a long string of positive evaluations by publications keeping a close eye on education.
But lifting up an entire region — which has been Fresno State President Joseph Castro’s mission since day one — is a complicated, long-haul effort involving many people.
All of these latest rankings validate that Fresno State is on the right track.
Fresno State ranked No. 41 in Money Magazine’s 50 Best Public Colleges for 2018-19 and 66th overall among 727 schools. And Fresno State checked in at No. 24 nationally last month in Washington Monthly’s rankings — the third consecutive year that the university has cracked that publication’s Top 25.
The various ratings — while all impressive — reflect the differing methodologies and criteria used by evaluators.
U.S. News and World Report, for example, predicted what it expected Fresno State’s graduation rate to be and compared that to the real-world results.
Saying it succinctly: The university’s professors and the support put in place by administrators — along with the generosity of donors — are enabling the university to beat expectations.
“Fresno State’s continued recognition in these national rankings speaks to the transformative educational opportunity we offer to our 25,000 students,” Castro said in a statement released Monday. “About 80 percent of our graduates stay and work in the Valley. By providing our students with a quality and affordable education, Fresno State is preparing a new generation of bold leaders who will guide the region to new heights of success.”
Go ahead and debate the limits of free speech. That’s always healthy and interesting.
Boo or cheer Jarrar and Maischak, too. It’s the American way.
Just know that the first-rate teaching and learning taking place at Fresno State are what will matter a generation from now — when the Jarrar and Maischak dust-ups are footnotes, if that, in Valley history.
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email
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