Thiel College earns third straight recognition on prestigious Colleges of Distinction list

Posted July 10, 2018 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- For the third consecutive year, Thiel College—a leading liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania—has been recognized for its committed implementation of high-impact educational practices, earning its title as one of the nation’s Colleges of Distinction.

In addition, the College’s Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration & Accounting and Department of Education were singled out for their innovative leadership in business and education programs.

For the past five years, 100% of the accounting majors in the Department of Business Administration & Accounting have gotten jobs within three months of graduation—including many who had been hired before graduating. The Business Department has unique programming such as the Haller Enterprise Institute for student entrepreneurs, the Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar that provides juniors and seniors with the opportunity to network with distinguished alumni during a series of weekly lectures and participation in a multi-institution accounting consortium that gives accounting majors an inside track on internships and jobs. And in the past four years, 100% of Thiel’s education graduates have gotten education jobs or graduate school placements. Approximately 94% of the members of the Class of 2017 who reported were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating.

As part of the College’s honor, it will be included in the Colleges of Distinction’s 2018-19 guidebook, which features colleges selected for excellence in undergraduate education.

“Thiel College has proven itself to be at the forefront of American higher education with a modern, student-centered approach to teaching. With a unique learning environment, its programming engages students with a character-building first-year experience, as well as internship and practicum opportunities, service-learning programs, intensive writing and digital literacy courses, and undergraduate research and study abroad programs,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction. “We are absolutely thrilled to recognize Thiel College as a College of Distinction for its dedication to student success.”

Colleges of Distinction’s selection process consists of a review of each institution’s first-year experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, alumni success, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more. Schools are accepted on the basis that they adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes.

“Colleges of Distinction is far more than a ranking list of colleges and universities,” Schritter said. “We seek out the schools that are wholly focused on the student experience, constantly working to produce graduates who are prepared for a rapidly changing global society.”

Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Elizabeth Frombgen, Ph.D., said Colleges of Distinction’s acknowledgment is an affirmation of the hard work and dedication of Thiel’s faculty and staff.

“Thiel’s campus is an open, inclusive and welcoming environment that encourages learning and student success. Thiel students and faculty are working together in a community where students learn in classrooms, studios, laboratories and internships,” Frombgen said. “The learning continues outside those traditional venues and extends to every facet of student life. Athletics, performance, and student life activities are all common grounds for students to meet and learn from those with different life experiences. Each one of these micro-level experiences adds up to a life-changing macro-level experience that prepares our students for future success.”