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IPFW Web site earns high national ranking

By Krista J. Stockman
The Journal Gazette

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Web site has been named one of the best in the country in providing prospective students with admissions information.

The National Research Center for College and University Admissions ranked IPFW’s site ninth out of 3,039 Web sites examined and fourth among Midwest schools. The rankings are based on the prominence of the admissions link on the school’s home page; design and ease of navigation; online access to admissions material; ability to contact the admissions office; and additional admissions information.

IPFW Director of Admissions Carol Isaacs was surprised to hear that IPFW’s site scored so well but pleased by the recognition. She said the importance of the Web site has increased in recent years.

“That’s how high school students in particular communicate nowadays,” Isaacs said. “We have made a conscious effort to put more resources into our online presence because that’s what kids want.”

She said online applications have increased significantly over the last three years, and now the university receives about 60 percent of its applications online. She expects that will only continue to increase.

Visitors to IPFW’s site at www.ipfw.edu , will see a link for “Prospective Students” prominently located near the top of the page. Clicking on the link brings up a site where students can see class schedules, find out the admissions requirements, look at student blogs or fill out an admissions form.

New to the Web site is a feature called “Ask the Don,” which allows visitors to type in questions to be answered, such as how much does it cost to go to IPFW or does IPFW have student housing?

Isaacs said the university is always looking to improve the site and even works with high school students to find out what they like and don’t like about the site.

“We’re delighted to think we’ve done a good job at it,” she said

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NEWS RELEASE - 10/2/2005

Entrance info: University's effort gets top rating

The Herald News
FROM STAFF REPORTS

ROMEOVILLE — Lewis University has been recognized by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions as having one of the best admission sections on its Web site.

Lewis is ranked fifth in the nation, second in the Midwest, and first among Catholic institutions, according to the group's annual Enrollment Power Index. The index analyzed the admission Web sites of more than 3,000 post-secondary institutions.

Of the 3,039 post-secondary institutions graded, Lewis University was named one of only 130 colleges and universities to receive an A.

"We are very pleased to be recognized by the NRCCUA as one of the leading admission Web sites in the nation, as well as the top-rated Web site among Catholic colleges and universities," said Brother James Gaffney, president of Lewis. The research-based study rates the functionality and design of each college and university admission site in providing information to potential students and moving them from prospect to applicant. Each institution is rated on a 100-point scale, with 28 different criteria reviewed. Rating categories include ease of navigation, prominence of an admission link on the institution's home page, online access to admission materials, and the ability to contact the institution's admission office.

This fall, Lewis broke its enrollment record for the third consecutive year, reaching a total student population of more than 5,000. The university also has been recognized for the second year in a row as one of the best colleges in the region by The Princeton Review, and is ranked in the top tier of best Midwest master's-level universities by U.S. News and World Report.

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NEWS RELEASE - 09/21/2005

GCC Web site among the elite

BATAVIA — Genesee Community College has one of the best admissions Web sites among the nation's community colleges, according to an annual ranking done by the Missouri-based National Research Center for College & University Admissions. This marks the seventh year the center has ranked collegiate admissions Web sites based on design and functionality.

In the rankings, GCC was listed among the top 10 in the category of community colleges. It was the only school in the Rochester region to make the top 10 in any of the categories.

The rankings looked at more than 3,000 postsecondary educational institutions. To see GCC's Web site, visit www.genesee.edu.

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NEWS RELEASE - 09/21/2005

Winning Prospective Students on the Web

Transylvania University, in Kentucky, has the nation's best web site for prospective students, according to the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA). The organization's annual Enrollment Power Index, an analysis of more than 3,000 colleges' Web sites, bestowed most of its honors on fairly small institutions: After Transylvania, LeTourneau University, Salem College, Capital University, and Lewis University filled out the top five.

What makes an admissions Web site work? Online forms and services, virtual campus tours, and, of course, good design, according to the research center.

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NEWS RELEASE - 09/20/2005

WVU ADMINSSIONS WEB SITE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

WVU News and Information Services

When it comes to meeting the demands of tech-savvy students, West Virginia University’s admissions Web site ( www.arc.wvu.edu/) is making the grade.

The site, developed by WVU Web Services, is one of only 130 nationwide that received an A by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCCUA) in a recent study.

The NRCCUA sent e-mail surveys to more than 100,000 college-bound high school students to identify the Web site features that have the most significant impact on prospective students. More than 3,000 college and university admissions Web sites were then rated on how well they provide information to potential students.

Specific criteria included prominence of an admissions office link on the institution’s home page, admissions Web page design and ease of navigation, online access to admissions materials, additional admissions information and ability to contact the admissions office.

“Web Services organized information so that future students could find out more about WVU’s strong tradition of academic excellence, our world-renowned professors, the chance for research opportunities and why WVU is a place where people can find their niche with 171 majors and over 300 student organizations,” said Cathy Orndorff, director of Web Services. “We are excited and appreciative of the recognition from NRCCUA.”

With students turning more to the Internet for information, they have come to expect university Web sites to provide critical information to help them make decisions, according to WVU recruiters.

“Since increasing numbers of high school students indicate that they utilize the Web to research universities they are interested in attending, it’s gratifying to know that the WVU admissions site ranks among the best in the country,” said Tricia Petty, director of Undergraduate Recruitment.

The present WVU home page design made its debut two years ago. The University dedicated about half of the navigation and photos to marketing toward future students.

“This effort two years ago was a start, but we felt we needed more information for upcoming students,” Orndorff added. “Work began on the New Student Communication Portal about 18 months ago, and we will roll it out soon.”

Users will be able to access the new portal from WVU’s home page (www.wvu.edu).

Additional information about this new online recruitment tool will be released in the next couple of weeks, Orndorff noted.

The NRCCUA is a nonprofit education research organization. For more than 33 years, it has conducted the largest nationwide survey of high school students, which serves as a communications link between college-bound high school students and public and private colleges and universities.

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The National Research Center for College & University Admissions ((NRCCUA) is a non-profit educational research organization based in Lee’s Summit, Mo. For over 30 years, NRCCUA has conducted the largest nationwide survey of high school students, which serves as a communications link between college-bound high school students and public and private colleges and universities. For more information, visit www.nrccua.org