Dear Friends,
I am writing to share the wonderful
news that the University of Massachusetts was rated as one of the best
universities in the world – the only New England public university to be so
honored – in the Times of London’s 2010
World University Rankings.
UMass ranked 56th in the global Top 200, a truly remarkable achievement when
one considers that in addition to being the only New England public
university to make what the Times of London describes as its “gold-standard”
list.
UMass:
- The only public university in New England
to be in the top 200.
- Ranks fourth in Massachusetts (behind
Harvard, MIT and Tufts), and sixth in New England (after Harvard, MIT,
Yale, Tufts and Brown)
- Is the 14th highest-rated American public
university and is the 33rd highest-rated American institution public or
private
In announcing this year’s World University Rankings, Times
Higher Education editor Ann Mroz said: “We would like to congratulate the
University of Massachusetts for its performance in this year’s rigorous
rankings. Being ranked 56 in the world top 200 is an impressive achievement.
The top 200 universities in the world represent only a tiny fraction of world
higher education and any institution that makes it into this table is truly
world class.”
The World University Rankings, considered the premier global higher-education
ranking project, rates universities in five broad categories:
- Teaching - the learning environment
- Research - volume, income and reputation
- Citations - research influence
- International mix - staff and students
- Industry income - innovation
When we look at these
criteria, we can see why UMass fared so well, given the excellence we see in
the classroom every day, as well as the research and innovation
accomplishments of our outstanding faculty, which attracts nearly $500
million in research funding annually and in Fiscal Year 2009 generated $73
million in intellectual property income, placing us in the Top 10 nationally
in that vital category.
The University of Massachusetts is a truly great University, and we are
delighted to be recognized in such dramatic fashion. This ranking is a
testament to the hard work of our outstanding faculty and to the efforts of
students who come to us with impressive credentials and talents … and
graduate prepared to change the world.
I want to thank the Chancellors for their unstinting efforts and superb
leadership, and the members of the Board of Trustees, who take time away from
their personal and professional lives to provide us with wisdom, guidance,
support and encouragement.
Through its education, research and service efforts, the University of
Massachusetts shapes our future and touches every corner of the state. UMass
educates the people who will build and lead Massachusetts and produces
research that drives the state’s innovation economy. These are the efforts
that are being recognized by this international accolade.
Make no mistake about it, this is a very impressive achievement. The 2010
World University Rankings are based on a preliminary review of thousands of
universities worldwide and a “full evaluation” of 400 top candidate
institutions. When it was all said and done, the University of Massachusetts
earned an enviable ranking on this “gold-standard” list.
We see this ranking as a confirmation of what happens on our campuses every
day and of what we know to be true … and as inspiration for us to aim higher
and achieve more.
We are determined to shine a light on this world-class ranking because we
think it is a message that the public needs to hear. I would welcome your
assistance in spreading this important message.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jack M. Wilson