Significant and Notable Achievements Throughout the 2009-2010 Academic Year

We have just capped off another academic year with commencement ceremonies that packed several venues on campus. Campus is quiet and this scenario lends itself to reflection about the past year.

Many significant achievements have been highlighted by announcements throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, but I think they are important enough to repeat them here for your information and as a source of pride in your alma mater.

Significant and Notable Achievements:

The Fay Jones School of Architecture was ranked 20^th in the nation according to the 10th Annual Survey of America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools, a study conducted by the Design Futures Council. This marked the first time Arkansas has been included in the top 20 list. Also the School of Architecture was rank as a “notable distinction” in a new, comprehensive list of America’s World-Class Schools of Architecture compiled by James P. Cramer, editor of Design Intelligence. Inclusion in the listing considers schools that have distinguished themselves over time on the basis of rankings by professional firms, architecture deans, chairs and student evaluations, among other criteria.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business was ranked 24th among the nation’s top public undergraduate business schools, according to “U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2009” issue. The college has been positioned in the top 25 since 2005 as well as in the top 45 public and private. The college’s supply chain specialty was also ranked 13^th amongst all undergraduate programs nationally. The rankings continued as Business Week ranked the accounting program 35^th among both public and private universities, the marketing specialty 13^th among public and private business schools and 6^th among public schools only, the corporate strategy specialty 19^th among public and private business schools and 6^th among public schools only, and the undergraduate business program as 43^rd among top public undergraduate programs and 83^rd among public and private universities. The students also shined as six graduate and undergraduate student teams in the college participated in 15 national business plan competitions this year, a record number, wining four of them. Lastly, adding to the many distinguished accolades and successes earned by countless Walton College alumni is the election of Ricardo Martinelli, a 1973 Walton College alumnus, as president of Panama.

The School of Law tied for 48^th place among the nation’s public law schools. In the category of “Specialty Rankings: Legal Writing,” the School of Law was ranked 9th in the nation among all public law schools.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences was cited by Atlantic Monthly magazine for one of the top five ‘creative writing programs’ in the country. Also Dale Carpenter, associate professor of journalism, was awarded his 5th Emmy Award for the documentary, Beacon of Hope. He and fellow faculty member Larry Foley also received the Best of Festival Award from the Broadcast Education Association for this documentary. In the science world Science magazine, one of the two leading international scientific journals in the world, published the work of two faculty members, Glen Mattioli (geology) and Fang-Zhen Teng (geology) and also chose findings by Jak Tchakhalian (physics) as one of the top 10 breakthroughs of 2007. Xiaogang Peng, faculty member, was one of two researchers to receive a Recognition of Excellence in Innovation certification in 2008 from the Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology for his pioneer research in manufacturing high-quality nanocrystals. Lastly, Jerry Rose (anthropology) has turned his archeological excavation and field school into an important research project televised on National Geographic.

The School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach produced Silas Hunt: A Documentary and earned five national awards from the video and film industry.

The University’s Graduate Programs were also ranked by the U.S. News & World Report survey with our rehabilitation education and research ranked 15^th, biological engineering ranked 16^th and industrial engineering ranked 26^th nationally.

The University of Arkansas is now amongst the top 50 colleges and universities in the country as measured by the number of national merit scholars in attendance. We were also ranked 9^th nationally in the number of Goldwater Scholars selected over the past decade with two more Razorbacks named this month. Lastly, of the 75 Undergraduate Research Fellowships awarded by the State of Arkansas, the university received 51 of the awards.

So, when you attend those pool parties this summer, let folks know how great your university is doing and how it is bringing recognition to the state!