Penn College Web Site Rated Best in North, Second in Nation

Pennsylvania College of Technology was the highest-rated school in the North and second among the top 10 rated schools in the nation in the National Research Center for College & University Admissions annual rankings of admissions Web sites.

A research-based analysis of 3,087 postsecondary institutions, NRCCUA's Enrollment Power Index rates the functionality and design of college and university Web sites to determine how well the sites provide information to potential students. The ratings are not specific to geography, institution size or funding source; all college and university sites are rated on the same scale.

Among the criteria that are evaluated on each site are prominence of an admissions link on the institution's home page, Web-page design and ease of navigation, online access to admissions materials and information, and ability to contact admissions.

Also rated as important were interactive functions of the site, presence of information about the local community, and the ability to apply online and track the status of the application through the review/acceptance process.

In addition to information about programs, cost, financial aid and other admissions-related information, the Penn College Web site includes special features for future students. These include online video clips featuring students who describe their college experience, a virtual tour of campus, photographic features of student projects, checklists to assist in the application process, and links to college news and community information.

The Web site gives prospective students interested in receiving more information the opportunity to sign up to receive regular information and updates via e-mail. Students may complete their application for admission online and use the online Student Information System to check the status of their application through the review process.

Penn College's Admissions Web development and design work is done exclusively in-house by staff in College Information and Community Relations, supported by Admissions and Information Technology Services.

Judy A. Fink is manager of web design, overseeing a team of four web designers: Shawn P. McGehean, Phillip C. Warner, Spyke M. Krepshaw and Michael Richards. Online videos are produced by Christopher J. Leigh, video production coordinator, and Thomas F. Speicher, video production developer. Other components of the site, including news, information and photo images, are provided by other members of the College Information and Community Relations staff.

College Information and Community Relations Director Elaine J. Lambert said: "To be named second in the nation underscores the commitment Penn College has made to using technology to its fullest potential in reaching future students. It is creatively challenging to develop personal communications in a virtual environment. This national recognition tells us that our staff is doing the job well."

The National Research Center for College & University Admissions is a nonprofit education-research organization based in Lee's Summit, Mo. The full announcement of the NRCCUA admissions Web-site rankings is available online .

Penn College, located in Williamsport, is a special mission affiliate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education.