WASHINGTON – Howard University climbed 10 points to rank 30th in the latest U.S. News & World Report 2022 ranking of the most innovative schools. The positive ranking increase represents the success of the Howard Forward strategic plan, which emphasizes resource-saving measures through improved technology and automation; initiatives that expand the campus footprint through facility improvements and real estate development; and processes that promote excellence in customer service and the delivery of products and services. The University remains ranked in the top 100 schools on U.S. News & World Report’s Top National Universities list with a ranking of #89.
“Howard University embodies excellence in teaching, research and service. Our faculty, staff and students are tasked with finding innovative solutions to today’s most pressing issues as they continue to impact their fields,” said President Wayne AI Frederick. “Our University community deserves to fulfill its mission within a framework that offers the best support and that includes access to robust operational and administrative processes and superior facilities that provide a solid foundation for the essential work they do. We are proud to be recognized by US News and World Report for these efforts.
Under Dr. Frederick’s leadership, the University implemented Howard Forward in 2019, guided by five strategic pillars. In line with the fourth pillar, “Improving Effectiveness and Efficiency”, the University has begun a strategic investment in state-of-the-art technology that helps reduce resource and cost inefficiencies in administrative and operational systems and processes, leading to significant advancements in key University divisions such as Human Resources, Enterprise Technology Solutions (ETS), and the University’s Office of Real Estate Development and Capital Management (REDCAM). Howard’s ranking on the Most Innovative Schools list represents an increase of nearly 100% over the University’s ranking in the same category two years ago.
The University maintained its No. 2 ranking among historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). In the list of best engineering graduate programs, Howard ranked No. 94 in the nation. Howard also gained a place in the rankings for undergraduate education among national universities. Additionally, US News recognized Howard in other major categories, including:
Social mobility, national universities: No. 29;
Most Innovative Schools: No. 30;
Best Value, National Universities: #64;
Best Undergraduate Business Programs: #86;
Best National Universities: No. 89; and
Best Computer Science Undergraduate: #121.
Several factors contribute to Howard’s rise to the list of most innovative schools. In July 2021, the University set up Working day, a multi-year technology initiative to improve business operations. This decision has improved the efficiency of research grant management, employee evaluation, and financial reporting, among other improvements. The platform facilitates essential financial functions such as departmental budgeting, integrated payroll and human resources activities, procurement and grant distribution. Implementing Workday has enhanced data integrity and efficiency, while reducing administrative costs and increasing sustainability by reducing paper consumption.
The Center of Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment (CETLA) and the Office of Digital and Online Learning received significant upgrades, strengthening its ability to provide faculty development resources over the past year. Howard faculty have access to courses on learning management tools and receive training on best practices in distance learning through CETLA. The center received a $240,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create the new digital learning center, equipped with touch screens, Mac and PC computers, and a digital recording studio in alongside a suite of green screens where Howard faculty and staff can create rich media content in-house.
The University Corporate Technology Services Office Significantly boosted the institution’s cybersecurity profile with network security upgrades like multi-factor authorization for all users and mandatory network security training. New phishing detection systems and campus-wide campaigns to raise awareness of digital citizenship have reduced network vulnerability and incidents of compromised user accounts. Howard announced an initiative this year to launch a campus-exclusive private broadband network. The initiative improves Internet connectivity and reliability across campus and forms the basis for contactless and wireless building access and security monitoring in most academic and residential facilities. The security upgrades complement the campus Bison SAFE initiative, a mobile app-based program that facilitates COVID-19 attestation and gives the campus community access to test results. The app also serves as an official emergency communications tool, providing emergency alerts, GPS tracking software to help students monitor the movements and safety of peers in transit, and a mobile blue light feature. who can contact campus public safety and provide a location in the event of an emergency.
The University has made significant progress in implementing its Campus Master Plan when he announced a landmark $785 million real estate initiative to accelerate campus building renovations and build three new academic centers. The University also implemented its Hyper Care initiative which expanded on-campus housing monitoring and maintenance to provide deep cleaning and repair of building infrastructure in student residences. The University also completed a complete renovation of the undergraduate library and reopened Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall.
The U.S. News & World Report’s Most Innovative Schools list is a survey-based ranking assessed on the basis of schools named for having the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, life on the campus, technology or facilities. For more information on U.S. News & World Report’s Most Innovative Schools Ranking, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/innovative.
About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private research university comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students follow more than 140 study programs leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to excellence in truth and service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Scholars, and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard is also producing more African-American doctorates on campus. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.
###
Media Contact: Misha Cornelius; Misha.cornelius@howard.edu
