‘National College of Distinction’ honor bestowed on UMFK

10 years ago

Officials with the university recently announced that the University of Maine at Fort Kent has been selected as a national College of Distinction for the 2014-15 academic year.
University officials also stated that UMFK is one of a select group of 200 colleges in the country to earn this prestigious designation based on its educational excellence in each of four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus community and successful outcomes.


According to UMFK President Wilson G. Hess, “This is the fourth consecutive year that UMFK has received recognition from the Colleges of Distinction,” he said. “It is an acknowledgement of the university’s reputation for student success from within the community of educational professionals.”
University officials described the process of earning the distinction and stated that high school counselors and educators nominate colleges and universities for recognition by Colleges of Distinction, which then evaluates each college based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. Colleges of Distinction then looks beyond rankings and test scores to find colleges that are the ideal places to learn, grow and succeed.
The selection process reviews such factors as the college’s first-year experience, general education program and experiential offerings in the curriculum, strategic plan and alumni success/satisfaction.
UMFK is one of only five public colleges in New England to receive this recognition.