Awards, Recognition, Honors

Alverno's unique emphasis on learning the abilities needed to put knowledge to use has gained national and international praise for the college over the years. Here are several significant highlights.

Grants

 

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has awarded Alverno $40,800 to train students as poll workers for the November 2010 elections. The grant, directed by Susan Leister, the director of Alverno's internship program, in cooperation with Brenda Kilpatrick and Russell Brooker from the Effective Citizenship department, is one of only 15 awards nationally in a competition that drew more than 200 proposals. Alverno has always sought to involve students as election interns as part of its effective citizenship ability. The grant will help the college recruit and train 200 students to help in election activities and create materials to use in future election internship promotions.

The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year $184,455 grant to Alverno for support of the project, "Adapting Diagnostic Digital Portfolio Technology to Track Assessment of Advanced Student Learning Outcomes in Analysis and Problem Solving Abilities."

The Alverno College School of Nursing received a grant of $547,500 from the Helene Fuld Health Trust to fund financial aid for students enrolled in the college's baccalaureate nursing program.

 

Report sites Alverno as one of only four institutions whose educational approach is making a difference in outcomes

Arthur Levine, president emeritus of Teachers College at Columbia University, and his Education Schools Project, released a national report critical of accreditation processes and criteria. The report cited Alverno as one of only four institutions nationally whose approach to education is making a measurable difference in outcomes. Stories about this recognition appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Sept. 19, 2006) and over two dozen other major daily papers in the United States.

Alverno featured extensively in book, "Student Success in College, Creating Conditions that Matter"

This book, published in 2005 by Jossey Bass, includes numerous positive examples of an Alverno education at work including references to the college’s operating philosophy, assessment processes, ability-based curriculum, peer evaluation, study abroad program, student activities, study abroad opportunities and many other areas. The book describes policies, programs and practices that a diverse set of institutions have used to enhance student achievement.

Alverno highlighted in book as a leader in higher education

"On Becoming a Productive University, Strategies for Reducing Costs and Increasing Quality in Higher Education," published in 2005 by Anker Publishing Company, is a collaborative effort of scholars and practitioners who have taken the lead in improving educational productivity at their universities and in higher education generally. In both scope and depth, it represents a comprehensive attempt to address the challenges of how to raise productivity in higher education. The book addresses six broad approaches including organizational change, assessment, faculty development, technology, curricular change and classroom strategies. Three Alverno faculty and staff contributed to this book. They are: William Rickards, senior research associate in educational research and evaluation; and Zohreh Emami and Tim Riordan, associate deans for academic affairs. In addition, Emami is a professor of economics and Riordan is a professor of philosophy.

Association for American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) names Alverno as leader

AAC&U has recognized Alverno in 2 out of 12 key programs in its 2004 publication, Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. AAC&U evaluated Alverno as advanced leaders in the areas of Teacher Education Portfolio Assessment and Nursing Senior Assessment.

The publication states that the Portfolio Assessment for Teacher Education at Alverno gives education majors an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for student teaching by showing their ability to plan, teach, assess, and give feedback on their work.

Alverno's Nursing Senior Assessment was recognized for its requirement of integration in the areas of formulating value judgments and collaboration as a member of the health team to meeting health needs of individuals, families and groups within the nursing process.

AAC&U is the leading national association committed to advancing and improving liberal education for all students.

U.S.News & World Report ranks Alverno

Alverno ranked more than any other college or university in Wisconsin in four categories in the special section “Programs to Look For,” in U.S.News & World Report’s America's Best Colleges 2011 edition. This section ranks schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that lead to student success. In addition, the College is ranked in "Top Up-and-Coming Schools" and "A Strong Commitment to Teaching" sections. Since 1983, U.S.News & World Report consistently has rated Alverno among the best liberal arts colleges. details

Fast Company magazine featured Alverno

The March 2002 issue of Fast Company magazine featured Alverno in an article that challenged corporate America to follow Alverno's lead and build learning communities in their institutions. The college has received calls from around the world, from CEO's and business leaders, looking for more information on the Alverno methods.

Alverno named as leader in Character Development

templeton cover

Alverno College is profiled in two different sections of The Templeton Guide: Colleges That Encourage Character Development. In the Civic Education section, Alverno's ability-based approach to education is described as helping students to expand their "capacity for personal, professional, and civic responsibility. The Faculty and Curriculum section singles out Alverno's ability of valuing in decision making.

Alverno featured in the millennium edition of The New York Times

The January 1, 2000 millennium edition of The New York Times named Alverno as one of five "institutions that higher education experts expect to be on the cutting edge."

USA Today and Wall Street Journal featured stories on Alverno

USA Today and The Wall Street Journal published feature-length stories on Alverno stating: "Progressive Alverno College puts students skills first." (USA Today) and "Alverno teaches women what they really need to know." (The Wall Street Journal)

Alverno received Hesburgh Award

Alverno received the Hesburgh Award for its outstanding faculty program to enhance undergraduate teaching.

Alverno received award from U.S. Department of Education

Alverno's elementary-education program was selected as one of four winners in the U.S. Department of Education's national awards program for effective teacher preparation.