Princeton Review puts UMFK among best in Northeast

FORT KENT – The University of Maine at Fort Kent has a new slogan and a new Web site, but for the third year in a row, one thing hasn’t changed: the college’s listing by the prestigious Princeton Review.

Once again, the Fort Kent college has been listed as one of the best colleges in the Northeast for 2008 by the Princeton Review, the third consecutive year UMFK has garnered the honor.

The Princeton Review surveyed 62,000 students at the 222 colleges for the 2008 edition of the book. The 80-question survey asked students to rate their schools in several categories – from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food – and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and their campus life.

The Fort Kent university is one of the colleges and universities in the Northeast that the Princeton Review recommends to college applicants in the 2008 edition of its book “Best Northeastern Colleges.”

The Princeton Review profile says, “Learning while enjoying the northern Maine living experience is what the University of Maine at Fort Kent is all about. In addition to its rural location that gives unlimited opportunities for all things outdoorsy, UMFK provides a small, close-knit academic community that features students and faculty of varying ideas and cultures.”

Terence Kelly, director of university relations and alumni affairs for UMFK, said Monday that college officials were pleased to hear news of the ranking.

He noted that the accolade was especially meaningful because the Princeton Review selection is based on student input.

“The best thing about this is that it comes from our students, who are our customers,” he said. “Our students are talking about what we have here – a rural setting where you can get a great education, a small campus, and a place where the students and faculty are on a first-name basis. It’s wonderful, and we are proud of what we do here.”

UMFK President Dr. Richard Cost said he was “absolutely delighted” to hear that the university had received the recognition for the third straight year.

“The recognition shines a spotlight on our excellent faculty, our committed staff, this wonderful community and our outstanding students,” he said in a written statement.

“It means a great deal to all who work here to know that our students have expressed such a high degree of satisfaction,” he said. “This truly is a campus with a friendly community atmosphere and a global perspective.”

The university is currently preparing to welcome both new and returning students to campus. The students will arrive to see UMFK’s newly designed Web site and new slogan, “A Community Atmosphere – A Global Perspective.” Both were unveiled in June.

Classes at UMFK begin Sept. 5.