Utica Championed as College of Distinction

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Utica Championed as College of Distinction

The words Utica University against a brick wall in front of a residence hall.

National College Resource Recognizes Utica for Individualized, Engaging Education

Utica Unviersity has received national recognition as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction for its individualized and engaging education and goals of student success and satisfaction.

This award is unique among popular college guide classifications, as typically schools are ranked on the basis of selectivity, faculty salaries and more. Colleges of Distinction instead recognizes colleges for the excellence exhibited in the classroom, incorporating high-impact practices throughout every student’s undergraduate education. College of Distinction looks for student-centered programs such as first year seminars, alternative Spring Breaks, diversity and global learning programs, intensive writing courses, undergraduate research, study abroad programs and internships, all of which are offered at Utica University.

A hallmark of the Utica experience is individual and personalized attention, as each student is assigned a care team that is responsible for their success at the institution. This team includes a faculty advisor, success coach, financial aid counselor, student accounts specialist and career coach.

Colleges of Distinction recognizes colleges for excellence exhibited in the classroom, incorporating high-impact practices throughout every student’s undergraduate education.

Utica enrolls more than 3,500 undergraduate students in 42 majors, including nursing, cybersecurity and information assurance, health studies, criminal justice, and construction management. The college also enrolls nearly 1,500 graduate students in 20 graduate programs, including cybersecurity intelligence and forensics, health care administration, physical therapy, and management. Students enjoy 26 varsity and 16 intramural sports teams and over 100 clubs and organizations.

Utica is also home to the Todd and Jen Hutton Sports and Recreation Center, one of the largest sports domes in North America. It housesan eight lane, 200-meter NCAA competition indoor track, four multi-sport courts, a multi-sport artificial turf practice field, a weight area and more. In recent years, the university unveiled a new, 23,300-square foot Science Center offerings state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces for many science courses such as genetics, biochemistry, animal physiology, human anatomy and much more as well as the Pioneer Track and Field Complex featuring a new 360’ by 225’ turf practice field that is suited for football, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and softball. The Utica campus also boasts Thurston Hall, an academic building with specialized labs for construction management students, complete with workspace for construction projects, instructional support technology, computer laboratories configured with CM-specific software, a multi-use auditorium, a smart classroom and more.

College of Distinction’s selection process consisted of detailed interviews and research for each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts, alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction and more. Schools are accepted on the basis that they adhere to four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes.