Image removed. Kettering University has retained its #1 ranking for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and moved into the Top Ten in the nation for overall ranking in the 2006 edition of "America's Best Colleges Guide," which is published by "U.S. News & World Report." Kettering's Mechanical Engineering department is now ranked in the Top Five nationally and Electrical and Computer Engineering has moved to #8!

It is the sixth year in a row that Kettering has been ranked tops in the country. Kettering's category is Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's degree.

#1 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
#5 - Mechanical Engineering
#8 - Electrical and Computer Engineering
#9 - Overall ranking for Kettering University and
"Programs To Look For: Internships/Co-ops" -- one of only 12 in the nation!!!

You can view all the rankings at USNews.com. The "America's Best Colleges" newsstand book and the Monday, Aug. 29, edition of "U.S. News & World Report" magazine (containing many of the rankings) will hit newsstands Monday, Aug. 22.

#1 for Year #6 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering retained its #1 ranking. It is the sixth year in a row Kettering has been designated as best in the country in its category.

Kettering University sits alone at the top of the list this year, followed by:
Bradley University
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo
Milwaukee School of Engineering
United States Military Academy
University of Michigan - Dearborn

Image removed. Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) faculty member Terri Lynch-Caris was pleased to express the department's enthusiasm for retaining this top national ranking. "We have bright students who work hard to become successful alumni, and we have caring faculty who work hard to keep our curriculum up-to-date," said Lynch-Caris, who is an assistant professor of IME. "Our co-op employers help by providing our students with experiences that they bring back into the classroom. We are proud to be part of the strong Kettering educational experience and thankful for the continuing distinction by US News & World Report."

Image removed. David Poock, department head for Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering (IME), said the ongoing recognition of peers is a great honor. "When you have excellent students, outstanding faculty and a good learning environment, you have the right ingredients for a recognizable program. Our faculty members are continually improving the curriculum and the laboratory to have a degree program that meets the needs not only of our students but also of their employers."

From #8 to tied at #5 -- Mechanical Engineering climbs in the Top Five

Kettering's Mechanical Engineering Department, the largest academic unit on campus, is now in the Top Five in the country, ranked at #5. The department has been in the Top Ten for the past five years. Last year, it was ranked #8

Image removed. "The Mechanical Engineering faculty and staff are extremely pleased with the success of our program. We have worked very hard to develop an undergraduate program with strong fundamentals integrated with hands-on experimental and computational laboratory experiences," said K. Joel Berry, P.E., professor of Mechanical Engineering, department head, and holder of the Eugene W. Kettering Chair of Power Engineering. "It's very satisfying that others also recognize the unique attributes and benefits of a Kettering Mechanical Engineering degree.

"We anticipate our efforts to develop Centers of Excellence in Fuel Cell Systems, and Bioengineering and Life Sciences, will further improve the public image and strength of our program offerings. These new facilities combined with our already state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure will allow faculty to offer unique student research opportunities and exposure to new technologies necessary for the ever-changing global work environment.

Image removed. "Much deserved congratulations are indeed extended to our faculty and staff who deserve all the credit," Berry added.

The top schools in this Mechanical Engineering category are: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College, Cooper Union, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo Kettering University and United States Military Academy.

Information was not immediately available whether Kettering's Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. retained its #9 ranking from last year.

From #9 to #8 -- Electrical and Computer Engineering

Kettering's Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. continued its Top Ten listing, moving from #9 to #8. Mark Wicks, department head for Electrical and Computer Engineering, said it is satisfying to know that those outside the university recognize the strength of Kettering's program and the success of its graduates. "One of our strengths is that we have a clearly defined mission. We know what we're trying to do, and we do it. I think our peers recognize that," Wicks said. "We have excellent students, a challenging program, and dedicated, experienced faculty and staff who are committed to our program. Our students gain real-world experience through our corporate partners, and the university maintains an excellent relationship with those partners. It's a successful combination," he said.

The top schools in this category are:
1. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology,
2. Cooper Union,
3. Harvey Mudd College,
4. Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo,
5. United States Naval Academy,
6. Bucknell University,
6. United States Air Force Academy,
8. Kettering University,
8. Milwaukee School of Engineering,
8. United States Military Academy,
11. Loyola Marymount University,
11. San Jose State University.

Wicks added that the department is now finalizing plans for three new labs, which will enhance opportunities for students even more in the future.

Overall rank: #9 Kettering has moved into the "Top Ten" in the country in the "Best Programs" category.

This year, it shares the honor with:
1. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology,
2. Harvey Mudd College,
3. Cooper Union,
4. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo,
5. United States Military Academy
6. United States Naval Academy,
7. United States Air Force Academy,
8. Bucknell University,
9. Kettering University and Swarthmore College.

Methodology: Best undergraduate engineering programs
A detailed explanation is available on the U.S. News website. The U.S. News reports that schools are categorized by mission and, in some cases, by region. Next, staff members gather data from each college for up to 15 indicators of academic excellence. Each factor is assigned a weight that reflects the judgment about how much a measure matters. Finally, the colleges in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score.

Most of the data comes from colleges and universities. U.S. News reports it "takes pains to ensure accuracy." This year, 95 percent of schools returned surveys. U.S. News obtained missing data from sources such as the American Association of University Professors, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Council for Aid to Education, and the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. The ranking formula gives greatest weight to the opinions of those in a position to judge a school's academic excellence.

Following are the indicators used to measure academic quality:
Peer assessment (25 percent),
Retention (20 percent),
Faculty resources (20 percent),
Student selectivity (15 percent),
Financial resources (10 percent),
Graduation rate (5 percent),
Alumni giving (5 percent).

Written by Pat Mroczek
(810) 762-9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu