GU top five of best in West

Gonzaga has a new top 25 ranking these days, and it has nothing to do with basketball.
For the third year in a row, U.S. News and World Report has named Gonzaga the No. 3 "Best in the West" university in the categories of "Universities-Masters" and also No. 3 for "Alumni Giving," with 23 percent of alumni giving back to the university in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Gonzaga's Engineering and Applied Science School also tied with six other schools for the No. 26 best engineering program in the nation.

Rankings such as these acknowledge what many GU community members may already know — that Gonzaga is a great place to be.

Admissions counselor Alison Guzenski said that the rankings were very exciting for everyone in the Admissions Office.

"We're doing a great job getting our name out there," she said.

Associate Dean of Admissions Erin Hays was also excited about the rankings, saying "good publicity is always helpful."

Guzenski also said that Gonzaga has seen an increase in their inquiry pool in the last couple years, possibly because of recognition like the U.S. News and World Report article.
"Our early interest inquiry pool is the largest it's ever been," Guzenski said.   

Gonzaga's increasing popularity has also contributed to a slight jump in admission standards. Average test scores and GPA's have increased to some extent in the last few years.

This next class won't be as large as this year's, the largest ever. According to Guzenski, there "just isn't room."

"We accept more students than actually end up coming, so we'll see what happens," Guzenksi said. "But we can be a bit more selective."

Hays agreed, saying that more applications forces admissions to be more selective.
"There are only so many students we have room for," she said.

In an e-mail interview, University Relations Associate Vice President of Development Joe Poss said that two important factors in the rankings were student retention and faculty resources.

"A high retention percentage means that students are satisfied with their Gonzaga education thus far and are staying to graduate," Poss said. He also said that faculty resources, such as Gonzaga's highly touted student-to-faculty ratio, helps indicate that the quality of Gonzaga's faculty is being preserved throughout the years.

Gonzaga is also being recognized for its alumni donations. According to Poss, Gonzaga's alumni want to "ensure that the experience they had at Gonzaga is upheld, while keeping Gonzaga affordable at the same time."

Alumni have often been, and may continue to be, a huge part of the Gonzaga community.
"It's critical that our alumni understand the importance of not only what these rankings mean, but also where they fit into the equation," Poss said.

Much of what Gonzaga offers is only possible through alumni support, according to Poss.
"Tuition only covers approximately 80 percent of the costs of educating each student," he said. "The remainder needs to be supplemented and this is where we look to our alumni for help."

According to Poss, the U.S. News and World Report Alumni Giving ranking takes a look at the satisfaction students had with their Gonzaga education. If they give back to their alma mater, it means they were pleased with their experience.

"Gonzaga alumni are like life rafts to a large cruiser. We need them tied to us ... We rely on them for security and as a reminder that given enough support, they can carry us through difficult waters if needed."

But what really makes Gonzaga a "Best in the West" school is the people, Guzenski said.
"The community here is just amazing," she said. "I always tell kids that it's a magical place, and they roll their eyes at me. Then they come here and they see it really is this magical little place."

According to Hays, what makes Gonzaga a great school is the "total package" which includes excellent faculty, small class sizes, school spirit and a vibrant student body, combined with a great community and location.

"The community that exists at Gonzaga is because of the people, the environment and the Jesuit values that keep us grounded," Post said. "The positive rankings reflect that the University is doing well and let's be honest, people want to be associated with a winning team, on the court and off."