Shenandoah University has received national recognition as a College of Distinction for its individualized and engaging education and its student success and satisfaction.
The Colleges of Distinction award is unique among popular college guide classifications, which typically rank schools on factors such as the size of endowment, selectivity and faculty salaries.
Shenandoah, like other Colleges of Distinction, earns recognition for its many student-centered programs, including first-year seminars; programs in service-learning and diversity and global learning; interdisciplinary programs; collaborative assignments and projects; capstone projects; and study abroad programs and internships.
Programs of note include:
- Shenandoah Conversations
- The annual Global Citizenship Project
- internships and work-study opportunities
- Experiential trips to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea and at the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff National Championship games
- A weeklong celebration of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- the College of Arts & Sciences honors program
- national and international spiritual life trips
We are so proud to see Shenandoah University walking the walk. Colleges of Distinction knows that a truly valuable education can’t be measured by rank or reputation. Students learn and thrive best when they embrace hands-on learning in a vibrant, welcoming community. That’s why it’s so encouraging to find Shenandoah take such an innovative approach with its curriculum: its high-impact educational practices ensure that the undergraduate experience is worthwhile and unique.”
Tyson Schritter | Chief operating officer for Colleges of Distinction
Colleges of Distinction’s selection process consists of detailed interviews and research for each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts, along with its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more. Schools are accepted if they adhere to four distinctions:
- engaged students
- great teaching
- a vibrant community
- successful outcomes
Colleges of Distinction doesn’t rank schools, because we know that every student is different in what they need to best learn, grow and succeed. Instead, we value schools that embrace those differences. Shenandoah University puts the student experience first, providing all the tools and opportunities students need to become lifelong learners who are ready to take on any challenge in today’s ever-evolving society.”
Tyson Schritter | Chief operating officer for Colleges of Distinction
Learn more about Shenandoah — A College of Distinction
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, the Colleges of Distinction website and guidebook have honored schools throughout the U.S. for their excellence in undergraduate-focused higher education. The cohort of schools in the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguishes itself through a focus on the undergraduate experience. The website and annual guidebooks provide dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents and high school counselors. For more information and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.
