Newsweek calls IU the "Hottest Big State School"

Four years after being named Time magazine's College of the Year, another national news magazine is recognizing Indiana University as one of America's 12 "hottest colleges."

The 10th annual Newsweek-Kaplan College Guide, which appears in the Aug. 22 issue of Newsweek magazine, chose IU Bloomington as its "Hottest Big State School" and extolled the campus' blend of tradition with emerging technologies. IU was the only Big Ten institution included.

"Much of the charm of life among the Hoosiers springs from tradition, like the Little 500 bicycle races and weekend partying dramatized in the 1979 film Breaking Away. But what stokes increasing interest in Indiana from out-of-staters, who make up a third of freshmen, is IU's embrace of the Information Age," wrote contributing editor Jay Mathews. "Intel ranked it first among U.S. universities for wireless connectivity. It doesn't hurt that IU provides vast choices: 328 degree programs and 130 majors for 30,000 undergraduates."

IU President Adam W. Herbert was excited about yet another acknowledgement of the university's quality by a national news magazine.

"We are extremely gratified to be recognized again for the high quality of the educational experiences Indiana University offers its undergraduate students," Herbert said. "We are particularly proud that Newsweek has focused on one of IU's major strengths -- leadership in information technology. These impressive IT resources and related facilities are available 24/7 to every IU student.

"When combined with a wide array of outstanding academic programs, a caring faculty and staff, a beautiful campus and impressive traditions, IU has justifiably earned the label, 'Hottest Big State School' in the nation."

Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis, senior vice president for academic affairs and IU Bloomington chancellor, also is pleased, but not surprised. The recognition simply confirmed what he already knew, he said.

"Coming so soon after Time named IU Bloomington 'College of the Year' among research institutions -- primarily because of the freshman year experience -- this note provides another pleasant indication that student satisfaction with Bloomington is no longer a well kept secret," said Gros Louis.

"As I've known for a long time, the Bloomington culture is unique among comparable public institutions. It is good to represent the state of Indiana in this way on a national stage."

While IU and the other schools being recognized are said to be "creating buzz among students, school officials and longtime observers of the admissions process," the magazine admits that its choices and corresponding categories are inherently subjective.

"There are no equations for assessing the magic that makes a school sparkle. And the colleges suit a range of tastes -- big and small, urban and rural, private and public. But each reflects a place that is preparing students well for a complex world," Matthews wrote.

In addition to the 2001 recognition by Time, the campus and the quality of its educational experiences have been praised by U.S. News & World Report for the last three years. U.S. News recognized IU Bloomington and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for the quality of their educational experiences for first-year students. They were noted for building seminars and programs into their curricula that bring small groups of students together with faculty and for their success in promoting learning communities.

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