On Jan. 7, a national ranking for online bachelor’s degree programs by U.S. News and World Report reported that Siena Heights was named 25th, as well as being named one of the best in Michigan in the category of private institutions.

SHU President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD., said in a news statement, “We are thrilled and proud to receive this prestigious third party endorsement of our program, This ranking reaffirms what we at Siena Heights already know to be true – that our Online Learning Programs consistently deliver outstanding quality and value to students. We will continue to strive for excellence in this very competitive environment.”

Siena Heights was particularly noted for its efforts in student engagement, receiving the second highest ranking of all institutions surveyed (97 out of a possible 100). U.S. News and World Report based its ranking on student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, and student services and technology.

Student engagement was based on how we, the students, could learn and have access to getting help by our instructors, as well as the instructors making it easy to learn the subjects the online courses were about. Student engagement makes up 40 percent of the ranking. Faculty credentials and training is 20 percent of the ranking and it is about how well the teachers are able to instruct online and if they have the qualifications to do so.

Peer reputation is described by U.S. News as “A survey of high-ranking academic officials [which] help[s] account for intangible factors affecting program quality that are not captured by statistics. Also, degrees from programs that are well respected by academics may be held higher regard among employers.”

Student services and technology is the last 20 percent of the survey, and it is how easy it is to learn online from anywhere you have internet access, as well as having sufficient “learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate with quality campus based programs.”

SHU College for Professional Studies Dean, Deborah Carter, said in a University release, “Our ranking represents our ongoing focus, commitment and determination to make this program successful. We have added services like eTutoring while maintaining the existing overall academic instruction, student support and operational services. We have and will continue to judiciously operate to enhance our distance education efforts, with various teaching enhancements and beneficial changes in the near future. We know that our ‘student engagement’ score is the result of the combined efforts, commitment, and passion of advisors, faculty, staff, students and administrators who make Siena Heights University online learning exemplary. We are deeply grateful.”

For the complete rankings, visit the U.S. News and World Report web site at  http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/rankings?sort=v_overall_rank_display&sortdir=asc