(Photo by Kathleen Galarza)
Antioch College ranked in ‘Top 100 Liberal Arts Schools’
- Published: October 6, 2023
Antioch College announced last week that for the first time since its reopening in 2011, the college has been listed in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 National Liberal Arts Schools ranking.
Antioch is tied at No. 100 with six other institutions, including Earlham in Richmond, Ind.; Morehouse, in Atlanta, Ga.; and Sarah Lawrence, in Bronxville, N.Y.
Inclusion on the list “affirms a dedication to a world-class education that empowers students to become engaged, informed and socially responsible citizens,” according to a press release from the college. “
This ranking is the latest indicator of a successful turnaround, including an incoming class that is 25% larger than last year, an increase in institutional grants and student-derived revenue and a successful expansion of community-based learning and cultural programs,” the release continued.
“We are thrilled and humbled by this achievement,” Antioch President Jane Fernandes said in the release. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students, who have worked tirelessly to create an academic community that embodies our core values.”
5 Responses to “Antioch College ranked in ‘Top 100 Liberal Arts Schools’”
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People tend to underestimate the value of a Liberal Arts education although it is still the foundational background of all arts and medicine and law. There will continue to be a demand for trade schools and that is good thing; but, you don’t want a plumbing or IT guy or gal representing you in court.
Quality Liberal Arts education is the cornerstone of continued learning throughout a lifetime.
To the Editors,
I thought my original comment never went through, so either one will do. Apparently, the second version is longer. The Yellow Springs News gives the college the attention it deserves which has been much appreciated over the years.
This is good news for Antioch College. As the college emerges to be actively considered in ratings, the opportunity to increase enrollment presents itself. Many critical metrics that presently aren’t even recorded because of the ultra-small model will eventually confirm the educational value of Antioch as the college grows to a reasonable size.
The leadership of the president Fernandes that has focused on the academic core of the college while driving contributions and support cannot be overstated. The beginning of more enrollments signals a slight upturn of events.
Antioch needs approximately 800 students enrolled to break even and become sustainable. The lackluster admissions reveal the college is still a long way from fixing its historical operational problems. The timing of the CO-OP too early in the student journey is a critical flaw in the academic model.
Despite positive gradualism in restoring the academic core, the student design major needs further guardrails to make the core courses competitive with advanced liberal arts colleges. The college transformative interdisciplinary student journey currently proposes a shorter period for individual self-actualization and academic training at a time when both aspects of the college need to be increased.
The interactivity on campus with self-governance is almost meaningless without a student population to sustain it. Antioch is on its way to recognizing that this is an entirely new generation of students who have higher expectations for campus life, performing arts, and technology.
The Trustees must raise significant funds to fully restore the campus with an enlarged faculty presence in key areas of study, innovative campus design, and the implementation of community outreach. The admissions office needs an injection of professional talent.
This writer hopes the college chooses to create a new Performing Arts / Student Center to usher in a new era of increased enrollment at Antioch College. This college needs a more formidable physical institution transformed with a superior architectural vision. This would surely be a better idea than selling off resources to pay bills.
This is good news for Antioch College! As the college emerges to be actively considered in ratings, the opportunity for increasing enrollment presents itself. Antioch College needs approximately 800 students enrolled to break even and become sustainable.
The leadership of the president Fernandes that focused on the academic core of the college while driving contributions and support cannot be overstated. The metrics that aren’t even recorded because of the ultra-small model will most likely confirm the educational value of Antioch as it grows to a reasonably sized liberal arts community.
The college is still a long way from fixing the operational problems. The timing of the CO-OP and academic model is still flawed despite positive gradualism in restoring the academic core. The Trustees must raise significant funds to fully restore the campus with an enlarged faculty presence in key areas of study, innovative campus design, and the implementation of community outreach.
This writer is still hoping the college chooses to create an innovative Performing Arts / Student Center to usher in a new era at Antioch College. A liberal arts college without an active student center is like a wagon without wheels.
As an alum ’68, on the (evil)University trustee, who fought for the college abd fought against the closing, a member of the Alumni Board, plus board member of the college (also involved in saving and rebuilding the college), I am so thrilled to read this. Congratulations to everyone involved, including the YS News for supporting our efforts.