University of Lethbridge students and faculty continue to excel as leaders in research and innovation, their successes reflected in the annual Maclean’s University Rankings report.

The U of L earned a fifth-place overall ranking amongst 19 schools from across the country in the Primarily Undergraduate category, a standing that has been consistent over the past several years and speaks to the University’s continuing focus on students and student outcomes.

“We know who we are and what we are trying to accomplish, and that’s to provide an accessible, quality educational experience for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “These sorts of rankings can offer a glimpse at aspects of a university’s operation and while we continue to fare extremely well comparatively across the country, data alone cannot define the experience we provide and the impact our students and faculty are making in the world.”

Of the 14 main markers used by Maclean’s, the U of L was buoyed by the performance of its students and faculty. Student awards improved to fourth overall and medical and science grants (the average size and number of peer adjudicated grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Canadian Institutes for Health Research) jumped to first overall. Faculty awards also jumped up a spot and total research dollars improved by one ranking place to put the U of L seventh overall in the category.

“Our faculty members are amongst the world’s leading researchers in a breadth of fields and what sets us apart is that they are not just working in the lab, they are also in the classroom, teaching their students and involving their students in that research work from the time they are undergraduate students through their graduate programs,” says Mahon. “The opening of Science Commons this fall will further enhance this experience and allow even more students the opportunity to be involved in hands-on research from the beginning of their academic journey.”

The U of L was ranked fourth of 19 schools in the percentage of its total operating expenditures devoted to student services and saw both its student retention rate and percentage of students who graduate (undergraduate students who receive a degree within seven years) improve. The U of L was ranked 10th overall in terms of student satisfaction, consistent with previous years. One area of improvement, as indicated by students, was in the steps to prevent sexual assault category where the University moved up four spots to seventh, reflecting the U of L’s new sexual violence policy — an initiative led by student input.

Reputationally, the U of L is ranked 35th in the entire country, which also includes comprehensive and medical/doctoral institutions. U of L students, meanwhile, were ranked 24th across the country as leaders of tomorrow, a jump of four ranking spots.

The complete Maclean’s University Rankings report is available online: https://www.macleans.ca/education/university-rankings-2020-canadas-top-primarily-undergraduate-schools/