Contact: Elyse Ashburn Director of Communications eashburn@umbc.edu 410-455-2065 September 13, 2011 – The University of Maryland, Baltimore County has been recognized as a national leader in innovation and undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 edition of Best Colleges. For the third year in a row, UMBC tops the U.S. News ranking of national universities to watch – a designation recognizing that the university consistently find new ways to improve the educational experience for students. That experimentation builds on a long-standing strength in combining outstanding research and undergraduate teaching. U.S. News also ranks UMBC fourth on a list of the top national universities “where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching.” UMBC is tied with Yale University and ranks just ahead of Brown and Stanford universities. “We are delighted to be recognized as one of America’s most innovative universities and a national leader in undergraduate education,” says President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III. “UMBC is committed not only to helping students find success in the classroom, but also to encouraging them to develop a vision for themselves well beyond the college years.” For example, the University has redesigned its foundational science, engineering and psychology courses to promote student engagement. The changes have not only produced higher pass rates, but also have encouraged more students to prepare for careers in these fields. Model scholars programs for undergraduates in the humanities, arts and social sciences also promote engaged learning. “This recognition reflects the long-term commitment, hard work and vision of our faculty and staff, who do everything possible to support the success of our students,” says Philip Rous, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our faculty lead the way nationally in finding new ways to understand and enhance student learning and engage students in the process of discovery.” The University’s selection as a leader in undergraduate teaching and as the top innovative, “Up-and-Coming” national university is based on survey responses from higher education leaders across the nation. A more complete methodology and the full rankings are available from U.S. News. To learn more about UMBC’s innovative programs, please visit www.umbc.edu/bestcolleges.