DATE:             Sept. 26, 2007
CONTACT:      Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations
                      Phone: (717) 264-4141, Ext. 3178
                      E-mail: cmentzer@wilson.edu

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Wilson College is participating in a groundbreaking national effort aimed at helping prospective students and parents evaluate higher education institutions based on comprehensive, objective and quantifiable data presented in a common format.

Wilson  is one of nearly 600 private colleges and universities voluntarily participating in the University and College Accountability Network (U-CAN), a Web-based database unveiled today by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). NAICU developed the database in response to growing consumer demand for comparable, concise, relevant and easily accessible information about institutions of higher learning, including information not typically available in magazine college rankings. Consumers have direct, free-of-charge access to the database at www.ucan-network.org.

“We are proud to be part of this pioneering effort to bring students and parents the kind of useful, objective information they deserve when making a decision as important as choosing the right college,” said Wilson College President Lorna D. Edmundson. “We welcome the chance to illustrate, through unbiased measures and data, what we know to be true – Wilson College provides a high-quality, personalized education at an affordable price, providing students with every opportunity to succeed.”

Wilson College is one of 59 member institutions of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) so far to have provided a wide range of information about their schools to the U-CAN consumer resource, which developers say makes the college selection process more holistic and responsive to the interests and priorities of individual students.

College profiles on the U-Can database contain comparable data and links to the institution’s Web site for more detailed information on specific aspects on the institution. The profiles are presented in a common template developed by NAICU based on feedback from consumer focus groups.

Information that can be found on the site includes: freshman college board scores and grade-point averages; percentage of students who graduate in a given number of years; number and types of degrees awarded; enrollment figures; student demographic information such as race and gender; a breakdown of costs such as tuition, room and board, and books and supplies; percent of freshman receiving financial aid by type; and average loans owed by students at graduation. Information about student life, faculty, accreditation, and credit transfer policies is also provided.

The statistical data comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS survey and the Common Data Set, which is often difficult for consumers to find and decipher, U-CAN officials said.

The U-CAN database, which seeks to increase institutional transparency and accountability, was created in part to provide an unbiased alternative to college rankings publications that have come under fire by some.

“While Wilson has been routinely recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a “Top Tier” and “Best Value” college in the North, we pleased to participate in the U-Can initiative that provides an alternative with access to more complete and objective information so that parents and students can make informed choices.” Edmundson said. “The U-Can profiles’ statistical data, combined with links and narrative descriptions, give students the opportunity to determine what really makes each college or university distinctive and choose a college wisely.”

Although the U-CAN effort only represents private colleges and universities, several other college and university groups – including those that represent public institutions - are also planning similar consumer information Web sites, according to U-CAN.

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Wilson College is an independent college dedicated to the education of women, rigorous study in the liberal arts and sciences, and strong career preparation. Wilson is committed to the life of the mind and spirit, to environmental sustainability, and to preparing articulate, ethical leaders who will serve their communities and professions effectively in an increasingly complex, interdependent and global world. The College is distinguished by its supportive, diverse and close-knit community, which is guided by the Wilson Honor Principle. Wilson College offers its nearly 800 students more than 40 fields of study, including majors, minors, concentrations and certificates, as well as a master’s degree in teaching. Additional opportunities are available in physical education and dance; pre-professional programs in law, medicine, veterinary medicine and the health sciences; and a variety of special learning opportunities, internships and study-abroad programs.

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