SUNY Geneseo ranks first in U.S. News’ “Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs” 2023 list

On Monday, Sept. 12, SUNY Geneseo posted a news update that Geneseo was ranked #1 in U.S. News’ list of 2022-2023 “Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs.” The announcement, posted by Manager of Editorial Services Kris Dreessen, explained the importance of this recognition and other achievements that the university has recently accrued.

“This year’s rankings and information will be published in the ‘Best Colleges’ 2023 guidebook this fall,” the post reads. “In addition to the U.S. News & World Report’s lists, Geneseo recently earned high rankings from Washington Monthly in several categories and from the Princeton Review.”

The post went on to cite SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah Stanley’s acknowledgment of Geneseo’s high placement, as well as the high rankings of SUNY Oswego, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Brockport, and SUNY Oneonta, all of which placed in the top twenty best undergraduate teaching programs.

“‘SUNY campuses that are educating the next generation of healthcare heroes, leaders, engineers, and acclaimed artists are celebrated in this year’s listing. I heartily applaud those included—and all our campuses—for the work they do,’ said SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah Stanley. ‘I am proud of our talented, experienced, and caring faculty who inspire and challenge our students each day. They are researchers, performers, and innovators who lead by example. And, I thank every member of our campus community who contribute to making the SUNY experience second to none.’”

Interim Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of History Joseph Cope elaborated on some processes and reasons for Geneseo’s recent attention, including high graduation and retention rates, as well as job placement after graduation.

“U.S. News and World Reports ask for a standardized set of data archives from all campuses that participate,” Cope said, regarding the procedure for deliberating the institutions recognized on this list. Cope noted high graduation and retention rates (80.1% and 85%, respectively) as a significant contributing factor to Geneseo’s multitude of recent honors. These statistics and reports are typically released in Aug. or Sept. to be made accessible for prospective students researching Geneseo.

As an established professor and faculty member, Cope was able to reflect on the changes he has witnessed over his many years in the Geneseo community. He said that the recent positive reviews of the college are due to a definitive effort by the college to cater to undergraduate students. 

“I’ve been at Geneseo for 21 years [and] we’ve always done very well in these rankings,” Cope said. “I think that they really reflect the institution’s focus on solid undergraduate teaching, the care that we take with matching students with things like undergraduate research and other learning experiences that really allow students to kind of enhance their academic experiences. So, I think that the rankings are really reflective of what we’ve built here together as a really undergraduate-centered institution.”

Cope went on to explain the changes and progress he has noticed at Geneseo between 2001 and 2022.

​​“One of the things that I’m really proud of the institution [for] is the new curriculum—that was a product of many, many years of discussion. But we ended up with a model for a Geneseo education that is distinctive and really represents the collective work of everybody on campus, not just in academics, but also in student campus life and other divisions, to really kind of reimagine what undergraduate education for the 21st century looks like.”

Solidifying his commitment to Geneseo’s continued growth and confidence in Geneseo’s past accomplishments, Cope expressed excitement about the upcoming changes in Geneseo’s curriculum and graduation requirements.

“I think the new curriculum…is taking effect for students entering this fall, [and] it’s a really dynamic, exciting approach to undergraduate learning.”

For more information on Geneseo’s most recent awards and rankings, be sure to reference Washington Monthly and The Princeton Review.