Earlier today, Washington Monthly released its 2015 College Rankings in which Hastings College is recognized as 26th out of 350 colleges in the Best Baccalaureate Colleges category. In 2014, the publication, which looks closely not only at education but also how schools facilitate social mobility, allocate research funds and foster community service, ranked the College 29th in the same category. The publication also named Hastings College a “Best Bang for the Buck” institution, recognizing best values for the money.
Additionally, the College was recently named one of the country’s 50 most affordable private colleges by MONEY, which built its list to highlight schools providing a great education at an affordable price that helps students launch promising careers.
Washington Monthly and MONEY aren’t the only national organization noticing the great academics and student environment at Hastings College. In early July, the College’s accreditation body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), reaffirmed Hastings College’s accreditation.
To remain accredited, a college or university must undergo a comprehensive review of all its programming areas – from how an institution implements its curriculum to what entertainment activities it offers to enhance the student experience – every ten years.
During the 2014-2015 academic year, Hastings College completed its ten-year self-study report and hosted visitors from the HLC. Students, faculty, staff and administrators all participated in the comprehensive process.
And all the work paid off.
“Reaccreditation is primarily a reaffirmation that what we’re doing fits within the best practices in higher education,” said Dr. Gary Johnson, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The choices we’ve made as an institution in education and operating practices have been good ones and validated as such by our peers.”
Don Jackson ’70, President of Hastings College, agreed.
“This is a testament to the faculty and staff’s continued commitment to excellence for our students,” said Don Jackson ’70, President of Hastings College. “Looking thoughtfully at how we do things as an institution can be challenging. We find things to be proud of, and we find areas in which we can improve to better meet our students’ needs in the 21st century. The Hastings College community should be very pleased with the Higher Learning Commission’s affirmation of our commitment to our students and our mission.”
Additionally, the College has been approved for the HCL’s Open Pathway program, a new approach to reaccreditation allowing solid institutions opportunities to undertake new ambitious initiatives based on their needs while maintaining accreditation. In the next year and a half, Jackson and Dr. Johnson will work with other faculty and administrators to craft how this project will be structured.
