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U.S. News & World Report's 1999 guide to colleges and universities keeps Colorado College among the best -- No. 24 among the nation's 162 liberal arts colleges.

Amherst College in Massachusetts ranked first, followed by Swarthmore College, Williams College and Wellesley College.

The magazine, in its 12th year of rankings, is one of several publications that offer guidance to high school students trying to chose among hundreds of colleges and universities.

To determine the rankings, magazine staff draw on the results of their survey of higher education leaders about the reputations of colleges and universities, and on 81 statistical measures, including the number of applicants to the fall 1997 entering class, the average salary of full professors, and the amount of money spent on student services. That ranking is then combined with other standards of academic quality: student selectivity, faculty resources, financial resources, retention rates, and alumni satisfaction.

"The improved ranking is of course good news," says Terry Swenson, director of admission and financial aid. "If U.S. News reports this in a format similar to the past, more attention will be given to the top 25 colleges than to the rest of the top quartile. So being in the top 25 is a real gain in visibility. As to the changes in methodology that led to the swings we have seen in recent years, we need to take President Mohrman's lead. That is, we shouldn't take this too seriously. The college ranking game is a little like middle school romance. It's hard to predict who will be in or out of favor at any given time, but it's great fun to think about. And in the case of U.S. News and their annual college issue, there is a lot of money to be made."

CC was tied for 31st last year, ranked 28th for two years before that, and ranked 20th in 1994.

About 1,500 alumni and parents came to campus in October for a festive lineup of events, including the new Parade of Classes across Armstrong Quad. Pictured with National Alumni Association president Gregory J. Smith '69, far left, are the honorees in the 1998 awards ceremony. They are, from left, Dr. Andrew Speilman '52, Professor Ruth Barton, Professor Emeritus Joseph T. Gordon, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth C. ("Betsy") Alden '64, Robert H. Redwine '71, A. Daniel Sheffield, Jr. '69, along with CC President Kathryn Mohrman and Edward S. Goldstein '79, president-elect of the National Alumni Association. Alden and Spielman received the Louis T. Benezet award for outstanding acheivement in their chosen field. Redwine and Sheffield received the Lloyd E. Worner award for loyalty, service and generosity to the college, and professors Barton and Gordon received the Gresham Riley award for making a significant difference to the CC community.

Photo by Kathy Brandt

By Diana Smith, Media Relations Paraprofessional

United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette '79 and genetic researcher Dr. Lee S. Rowen '72 received alumni honorary degrees at opening convocation Aug. 31 in Shove Chapel. The ceremony marked the beginning of the academic year at Colorado College.

DeGette served two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives and was elected to Congress in 1996. In her first year, she influenced legislation affecting health care for children, the regulation of tobacco and smoking, and the protection of the environment. She was also elected to a leadership post in the Democratic party as western regional whip for the House of Representatives.

After graduating from Colorado College, DeGette earned her J.D. at NYU Law School in 1982. She returned to Denver to practice law, focusing on civil rights and employment litigation. DeGette and husband, Lino Lipinsky, have two young daughters.

Rowen has completed doctoral degrees in philosophy and chemistry. She taught philosophy at Cal Tech, but quickly became involved in AIDS research. While there, she worked as a technician in Lee Hood's research group on DNA sequencing. Hood's group was a part of the human genome project specifically interested in the T-cells that are attacked by the human immunodeficiency virus.

With Rowen's skills as a biochemist, she moved from being a technician to supervising and training other technicians. She has co-authored several articles for journals including Genomics, Cold Spring Harbor Symposia of Quantitative Biology, and the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Colorado College commends her for contributing significantly to human knowledge of the AIDS virus.

By Rebecca Brant, Publications Director

What has 1,152 feet, loves scuba diving and volunteer work, and calls home almost anywhere but Delaware, Mississippi, and Rhode Island? The incoming class, of course.

The smallest group of incoming students in the last three years, the Class of 2002 comprises 576 summer and fall starts representing 47 states, 13 countries, and 447 schools. Vital statistics show that 53 percent graduated in the highest 10th of their class, 85 percent in the top quarter, with the women outnumbering the men nearly 6-to-4. Diversity efforts have resulted in a 16.7 percent minority enrollment, up from 15.6 and 14.7 percent the past two years. International student enrollment is also up; 91 students this year compared with 42 in 1997 and 15 in 1996. The class boasts four Boettcher Scholars, four Barnes Science Scholars, five Barnes Chemistry Scholars, and 15 National Merit Scholar finalists.

But who are these kids, and what makes them a good match for Colorado College?

Many are members of the National Honor Society, have been elected to their student councils, and have participated in a variety of athletic events. Quite a few play instruments, including oboe, tuba, flute, piano, saxophone, and more unusual instruments like the djembe and tablah.

Many have been on Outward Bound and other outdoor learning trips, and a surprisingly high percentage list scuba diving as a favorite activity. The Class of 2002 also features a large number of experienced volunteers whose service includes Habitat for Humanity, peer counseling, working at local hospitals, and feeding the homeless. And drama tryouts will be harder than ever -- many of these students have acted in school and community productions, and there are enough with set experience to form their own crew.

Canoeists and kayakers, including one ranked 15th at the U.S. Junior Nationals for slalom whitewater racing, bass guitarists and models, hockey players, linguists, and world travelers. One is a commercial salmon fisher. One spent the summer working with the Public Utilities Commission studying how stray voltage affects livestock, while another has climbed all the peaks in New England over 4,000 feet (that totals 65, by the way). One has nearly earned a pilot's license, and another is a quadruplet. And for what must be the first time in Colorado College history, one incoming student is a trapeze artist who travels with a circus troupe and performs around the world. Talk about a well-rounded bunch.

Posters of The Colorado College inspired by Saul Steinberg's New Yorker magazine cover are now on sale.

*18 x 22.5 inches
*Heavy poster stock

Order at $10/print (includes postage and handling)

Colorado College
College Relations - Poster
14 E. Cache la Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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All proceeds benefit The Campaign for Colorado College