Bragging points: scholars, volunteers, pharmacy funds, research

KU 12TH IN NATION: KU has moved up four spots to 12th among American public universities for number of freshman National Merit scholars enrolled in 2005. KU enrolled 71 freshman National Merit scholars—51 from Kansas—in 2005, up from 57 in 2004.

More than 250 National Merit scholars are now studying at KU, which enrolls the most National Merit scholars in the state. This year the average ACT composite score for first-time freshmen is 24.4, the best level in four years. Read more.

TOP 20 IN THE PEACE CORPS: KU also has jumped up into the top 20 nationally among large colleges and universities for the number of alumni who serve in the Peace Corps. KU now ranks 18th in the nation with 52 alumni serving as volunteers. KU’s jump in the rankings was the largest among universities with more than 15,000 enrolled students.

 KU ranked 23rd in the nation in 2004 with 41 volunteers serving in the Peace Corps, a marked increase over 2002’s 29.  When ranked according to the number of alumni volunteers with advanced degrees, KU ranks 15th in the nation with nine alumni. Read more.

PHARMACY NO. 3 IN NATION:  KU’s School of Pharmacy ranks third among the nation’s best schools for securing funding from the prestigious National Institutes of Health, securing more than $16 million in fiscal year 2005, a $3 million increase from the previous year and moving KU within $100,000 of second place Utah.

The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for the nation’s pharmacy schools. NIH support is considered an important validation of a pharmacy school’s national reputation. Read more.

ANOTHER RECORD RESEARCH YEAR: Research expenditures at KU again increased in fiscal year 2005, reaching the highest level in history. The university’s total research expenditures in fiscal year 2005 for all projects, including sponsored research, training and service grants in all fields, were $281 million, a 3 percent increase over 2004.

Federally funded science and engineering research expenditures at the Lawrence and medical center campuses climbed to $110.8 million in the year ending June 30. This was an 8.7 percent increase over the prior year in this most closely watched funding category. KU’s research expenditures funded from grants and contracts reached $187.6 million last year, a 3 percent increase over 2004. Read more

JOURNALISM SCHOOL IS NO. 1: KU currently ranks first in the 46th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program, with the highest accumulated school points from the first four, out of six, writing competitions. More than 100 undergraduate accredited journalism programs in colleges and universities across the nation participate in the prestigious awards program. University Daily Kansan staff members have placed first and ninth in in-depth reporting; sixth and ninth in sports writing; 11th in feature writing; and 20th in editorial writing.

KU HAS CORNER ON TOP PROFS:  Distinguished professor Paul Willhite has become the fourth KU professor elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, the highest professional distinction accorded to an engineer. KU is the only university in the state with faculty members in the academy.

Willhite joins Stan Rolfe, Albert P. Learned Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, and professors emeriti Dick Moore and Ross McKinney as KU faculty members elected to the academy. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education, and membership stands as a benchmark of quality for academic institutions.

The academy has more than 2,000 peer-elected members who are among the world’s most accomplished engineers. Read more.

A VIRTUOUS SPRING BREAK: This year 68 KU students will be spending their spring break March 18-25 on service-learning projects at 10 Alternative Spring Breaks sites nationwide, a 13 percent increase over last year.

The students will work with agencies in 10 states that address such issues as animal rescue, urban homelessness, health care, linguistics, environmental preservation, education and help for people with disabilities. KU’s student-run Alternative Spring Breaks program offers students a unique opportunity to make service part of their university educational experience. After students are selected for the program, they are required to attend the Special Projects in the Community course. If they complete all course requirements, they can earn two college credit hours.