A recent report released by U.S. News & World Report ranks Indiana University East as the 56th most connected four-year campus in the United States, the highest among all Indiana institutions based on internet speed, internet access, applications, and resources. The U.S. News Most Connected Colleges report measures schools’ effectiveness in providing online services, including online courses, student technology and social networking.

According to U.S. News, the schools were ranked based on responses to the Best Colleges statistical survey collected during the spring and summer of 2012. Schools responded to questions on the technological offerings during the 2011-2012 academic year. The answers were then used to compute a Connectivity Index for each school: the sum of all point values awarded to schools based on their responses to the technology questions.

Todd Duke, director of Information Technology, said this is a great accomplishment for IU East.

“The dedication of the staff and the level of service IU East provides to its students is second to none.  Coupled with IU East’s membership and connection to the I-Light network, students can take full advantage of the vast array of resources Indiana University and the Internet provides and can access this information at an unprecedented speed.”

U.S. News published ranks for all schools scoring 50 or higher, a total of 278 schools across the country, nine in Indiana. In all there were 1,471 schools that provided connectivity data, according to U.S. News.

IU East Interim Chancellor Larry Richards observed that “this is significant, but not surprising. IU East has been a leader nationally in undergraduate online education and in the use of social networking to connect current, prospective and graduating students.”

IU East scored 60.7 on the Connectivity Index. “Students at IU East have the opportunity to access state-of-the art technology in order to connect with each other for educational, co-curricular or just social purposes,” said Richards. “The importance of being connected has grown and will continue to grow as the world becomes a virtual village.”