Globe and Mail ranks universities

Jamie Ross – The Aquinian

The Globe and Mail gave St. Thomas an A grade for student satisfaction in its university rankings released last week.

STU also scored A’s in quality of education, student-faculty interaction, teaching, libraries (which it shares with UNB) and campus atmosphere.

“It is gratifying that St. Thomas University students, year after year, reward us with such favorable survey results,” Jason Humphrey, acting director of communications for St. Thomas said in an email. “St. Thomas University most certainly takes the survey results seriously.”

The school also scored one A+ for its class sizes.

But there were downfalls within STU’s report card.

Environmental commitment and career preparation earned STU its lowest ratings, at a C- and C+ respectively.

Both of those marks were good for last place among very small universities in Canada, which represents schools with enrollment under 4, 000.

Humphrey said St. Thomas is taking steps to bolster career preparation for its graduates, who already have a hard enough time as arts students finding employment related to their field of study.

“This is an area that St. Thomas University had already identified needed to improve,” he said. “In fact, a position has been created (Employment and Student Life Coordinator) and applications are presently being accepted to fill the job.”

As for environmental commitment, Humphrey said STU recognizes the need to protect the environment, and is always looking for ways to be environmentally friendly.

He acknowledged that the administration has received a recommendation from an on campus group -The Coalition for a Bottled Water Free Campus-relating to the banning of bottled water, but wouldn’t say whether or not the school would comply with their request.

“This is done through the President’s Advisory Committee to the Environment,” he said. “The group consists of members of faculty, facilities management as well as students and exists in order to make sound recommendations to the president on strategic sustainability improvements.”

Humphrey also noted that STU’s environmental commitment is demonstrated through the first ever 100 Mile Diet Dinner, a meal comprised of locally produced food.