University of Wisconsin School of Education graduate program took the top spot in the U.S News and World Report rankings of public graduate schools for the third consecutive year.
Ranked fourth overall, UW’s Graduate School of Education moved up one spot from last year’s ranking. Harvard University, Stanford University and John Hopkins University take the top three spaces.
One of the graduate school’s programs, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has taken first place among all national universities since 2001, Elizabeth Graue, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, said.
“I’m just really proud to be here, and you would think that after 16 [times] it would get old, but it doesn’t,” she said. “It’s a thrill every time.”
Recent budget cuts have caused some setbacks for the school, forcing it to reduce its support staff, travel and teaching assistant budget, Graue said. Though the school will have to work “harder” and “smarter,” the budget will not impact the school’s reputation, she said.
One of the main reasons the School of Education has received the top ranking is its faculty, Graue said. Faculty members’ global connections offer students one of a kind opportunities and experiences, but they also prove the university’s prestige, Graue said.
“[The ranking] provides evidence of the quality not only of the individual faculty, but of the department as a whole,” she said. “This helps us recruit graduate students and recruit new faculty.”
Britta Pigorsch, president of School of Education Student Ambassadors, has been working with her team to support the education community in the midst of budget cuts.
$250 million cut to UW System remains as Assembly passes state budget
Pigorsch said her team creates a monthly newsletter that highlights School of Education accomplishments.
“We are here with our newsletter trying to spread the positive, even amidst these negative setbacks,” Pigorsch said. “The ranking just shows that regardless of everything that has happened in our state politically, we are still striving for excellence.”
Pigorsch said the school has been fortunate to receive funding from the Morgridge Match program, which allows donors to endow a professorship, chair or distinguished chair.
“To keep the best talent you need to pay the best talent, and I think this program will support our faculty in the future,” Pigorsch said.
A previous version of this article stated UW School of Education graduate program had been ranked number one 16 times instead of the graduate program’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been ranked number among all national universities since 2001. The Badger Herald regrets this error.
