universities in the Southeast for 2010, the Princeton Review
announced on July 27.
The education services company selected the school
as one of 141 institutions it recommends in its "Best in the
Southeast" section of its Web site feature 2010 Best Col-
leges: Region by Region.
Robert Franek, Princeton Review's vice president for
publishing, said the "best colleges" are selected based on
data, visits and surveys of school counselors and students.
"We chose UNCP and the other terrific schools we
recommend as our regional best colleges primarily for their
excellent academic programs," Franek said. "We also work
to have our roster of best colleges feature a range of institu-
tions by size, selectivity, character and locale.
"We choose the schools based on institutional data we
collect from several hundred schools in each region, our
visits to schools over the years and the opinions of inde-
pendent and high school-based college advisors whose
recommendations we invite," he continued. "We also take
into account what each school's customers their
students report to us about their campus experiences on
our 80-question student survey."
UNCP Chancellor Charles Jenkins said the national
recognition is an honor.
"The student-focused faculty and staff of UNC Pem-
broke are honored to be included in the Princeton Review's
prestigious list of best colleges," Chancellor Jenkins said.
"This recognition is very gratifying because it includes the
feedback of our students, who indicate that our focus on
helps them succeed."
The 141 colleges Princeton Review selected in the
Southeast are located in 12 states. The Princeton Review
also designated 218 colleges in the Northeast, 123 in the
West, and 158 in the Midwest as best in their locales on
the company's 2010 Best Colleges: Region by Region sec-
tion of its site. The 640 colleges named "regional best(s)"
represent only about 25 percent (one out of four) of the
nation's 2,500 four-year colleges.
The Princeton Review survey for this project asks stu-
dents to rate their own schools on several issues - from the
accessibility of professors to quality of campus dining - and
answer questions about themselves, fellow students and
campus life. Actual comments from surveyed students pep-
per each Princeton Review college profile on its site.
Some UNCP student comments quoted in the profile:
· "UNC Pembroke offered me the opportunity to rein-
vent myself, to become the person I always wanted to
be. I got the feeling that I could blossom here. From a
terrified freshman, I am a confident upperclassman."
· "I considered several schools and UNCP was one of
them. I talked to friends who go to big schools, and
when they tell me they sometimes feel alone and just
a number I know I made the right decision for me by
coming to UNC Pembroke."
The Princeton Review is known for its tutoring and
classroom test preparation courses, books and college and
graduate school admission services.
apartment development, the UNCP community has more
housing choices.
On July 22, University, community and company
officials dedicated phase II of Pembroke Pointe, which
includes 116 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Kenney Companies, the owner, expects the units to be
attractive to faculty, staff and single and married graduate
students.
With the addition, Pembroke Pointe may house as many
as 426 students. The addition was constructed in just 10
months to be ready for the 2009-10 school year.
Brandon Hammond, community manager for Pembroke
Pointe, said that the company will stay in front of demand
for off-campus housing.
"We were one of the first private student-housing com-
offer one-bedroom apartments, and we are the first com-
munity to provide housing for University faculty and staff,
as well."
Steve Kenney, president and CEO of Kenney Compa-
nies, presented a donation of $2,500 to UNCP's Support
our Students Campaign.
"We are pleased to have a close working collaboration
with the University," Kenney said. "We operate in many
college towns, but I have to say Pembroke is our favorite."
Town and University officials praised the company for
its support of the University and community.
"You've had an impact on this town," said Pembroke
Mayor Milton Hunt. "This kind of growth is always wel-
come, and, on behalf of the town, thank you for having
faith in Pembroke."