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SMWC among top online programs

News | 01.07.2015

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) is listed among the top online programs nationally in the just released U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Online Undergraduate Programs and Best Online Graduate Business Programs rankings. SMWC’s Woods Online is recognized as one of the best undergraduate online programs as well as its Master of Leadership Development for best online graduate business program. The exclusive list includes rankings of more than 300 schools nationwide.

“We are proud to again be recognized as one of the top online programs in two categories,” said Dottie King, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. “It is a reminder of our commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences for adults who aspire to enhance their careers and communities.”

The U.S. News rankings are based on several key measures including faculty credentials and training, student engagement and peer reputation. The largest percentage of the methodology focuses not only on faculty accessibility and responsiveness but also in creating experiences so rewarding that students stay enrolled to graduate in a reasonable amount of time.

SMWC attributes its success in online education to many factors including faculty engagement.

“We place a strong emphasis on modeling what we do on campus in our undergraduate online program,” King said. “Our success comes from a strategic combination of faculty accessibility and meaningful interaction, technology and student support services.”

In the 41 years since it introduced its distance education program, SMWC has educated women and men all over the country. Currently, students in 33 states and four countries are enrolled in Woods Online.

The Master of Leadership Development (MLD) students concentrate on critical areas of leadership, team effectiveness, power and relationships, strategic planning and communication – one that emphasizes principles, not positions.

“We are very pleased to once again receive this national recognition,” said Susan Decker, director of the master of leadership development program. “With classes like ethical decision-making and creative leadership, students gain management and technical skills necessary to advance in their careers and successfully guide their organization into the future. Our graduates not only change the way organizations think about leadership, they change the way leaders think about leadership.”

To arrive at the rankings for non-MBA programs, data on several indicators of academic quality are gathered from each institution and tabulated. Among the indicators are admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and peer reputation.

This interdisciplinary program is designed for business, not-for-profit and public sector professionals and can be completed in one year. Based on a cohort model, the program is tailored to financial, not-for-profit, individualized and organizational leadership.

With the importance of leadership to every organization, MLD graduates are making lasting contributions in many prominent companies. Employees from Duke Energy, Eli Lilly, General Electric, Hamilton Center, Ivy Tech, Sony, Union Hospital and Wellpoint have seized this opportunity to impact the future of these companies.