Robert Franek, Princeton Review's Vice President for Publishing, said, "We chose schools for this book primarily for their outstanding academics. We evaluated them based on institutional data we collect about the schools, feedback from students attending them, and our visits to schools over the years. We also consider the opinions of independent college counselors, students, and parents we hear from year-long. Finally, we work to have a wide representation of colleges in the book by region, size, selectivity, and character."
In its profile on California State University Stanislaus, The Princeton Review quotes extensively from current students who The Princeton Review surveyed for the book. Among their candid comments: "Students appreciate their school's dedication to ‘bringing every student the highest quality education in the Central Valley by providing up-to-speed technology in the classrooms, high diversity of classes, and most importantly, excellent professors who personally care for their students.'"
The school profiles in "The Best 368 Colleges" also have ratings in eight individual categories. The ratings are numerical scores on a scale of 60 to 99 based largely on school-reported data collected during the 2007-08 academic year. Rating categories include Admissions Selectivity, Financial Aid, Fire Safety, and a new Green rating that The Princeton Review developed in partnership with ecoAmerica, a DC-based environmental organization. The Green rating is based on several criteria concerning environmental policies and practices reported by the colleges to The Princeton Review.
Commenting on the fact that CSU Stanislaus received a high mark of 94 on the Green Rating, University President Ham Shirvani said, "It is increasingly important for us to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and green technology. At CSU Stanislaus, we are working hard to develop programs that will better serve the Central Valley and that will educate the future workforce to be good stewards of the Valley’s rich resources."
Shirvani continued, "We are just delighted to be recognized for academic excellence by The Princeton Review for the third consecutive year. The outstanding work of our faculty and staff is evidenced by the acclamations stated by our students in The Princeton Review surveys."
"The Best 368 Colleges" is one of nearly 200 Princeton Review books published by Random House. Over the years, various ranking lists in the book have been favorably referenced by President Bill Clinton, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings (among others), and praised by USA Today as "a public service."
Media Contacts:
CSU Stanislaus: Kristin Olsen, 209-667-3610, kmolsen@csustan.edu
Princeton Review Books: Jeanne Krier, 212-539-1350, Jeanne@Jeannekrier.com