U.S. News’ 2001 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” ranks Lyon No. 4 overall among regional liberal arts colleges in the South. It ranks Lyon the No. 3 “Best Value” among those same colleges.

Lyon has been ranked by U.S. News among the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges in the South for 10 consecutive years, and in the top four for the past five years. Lyon is the only Arkansas institution represented in the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges this year.

Lyon also has consistently ranked at or near the top of U.S. News’ list of colleges that offer the best higher education value. Lyon’s strong showing in this category began more than a decade ago when it was first listed as the best buy in the nation among regional liberal arts colleges.

“We are very pleased to retain our position among the leaders in higher education in the South,” said Dr. Walter B. Roettger, president of Lyon. “This is wonderful testimony to the talent and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, and to our collective commitment to making available a liberal arts education of the highest quality to the citizens of Arkansas and the region.”

Some of the criteria U.S. News uses to compile its rankings include: academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving rate.

Berea College in Kentucky was ranked No. 1 among regional liberal arts colleges in the South, Berry College of Georgia at No. 2, and Emory and Henry College of Virginia was No. 3. Last year, Lyon tied with Berry at No. 2 in this category.

Other Arkansas institutions ranked by U.S. News in the Southern region include Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia (11), John Brown University at Siloam Springs (18), and University of the Ozarks at Clarksville (26).

The value rankings relate the cost of attending a college or university to its quality.

Two other colleges in Arkansas were ranked in the top 10 in the “Best Value” category for regional liberal arts colleges – Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia (2) the the University of the Ozarks at Clarksville (4). Mississippi University for Women was ranked No. 1 best value this year.

U.S. News has posted all of the rankings and additional information from the “America’s Best Colleges” guide on its Web site, www.usnews.com/.

Faculty and staff are also eligible for a 10% discount on membership fees if you decide you would like to become a member. According to the Museum staff, “Approximately $250 per day is required to operate the Museum.” Lyon is happy to be a part of the local support network as the Museum approaches its second birthday on September 10.

One of the largest projects tackled this summer were improvements to the freshman quad, four residence halls housing Lyon’s freshmen.

According to John Cuny, vice president for business and finance, rooms in the four buildings -- Bryan Hall, Love Hall, Blandford Hall, and Spragins Hall -- were all carpeted and painted. Also, some new lounge furniture was added. Cuny noted that in Spragins Hall, “all air handlers were changed out” due to inefficiency. The new air handlers are more efficient and have better control of air in the rooms, according to Cuny.

As far as outside renovations, the common space of the freshman quad received improvements, including new awnings facing the common space added to the freshman residence halls.

Campus technology was also upgraded over the summer, according to Cuny. After the upgrade, the campus computer network system operates faster and includes more servers, he said.

In discussing other summer renovation projects, Cuny noted that roof work was completed on Edwards Commons, the elevator in the Mabee-Simpson Library was upgraded, a new van and automobiles were added to replace outdated campus vehicles, and classroom chairs were replaced in the Alphin Humanities Building.

Current projects which are in the process of being finished involve making the campus chapels more handicapped accessible. Brown Chapel will have handicapped-accessible restrooms, and the small chapel will have a ramp for handicapped access, according to Cuny.

The renovation projects are part of a continuation of improvements being made at Lyon, according to Cuny. He said this is “the second year of a three-year bond for $3 million for capital improvements on campus.” Further campus improvements are being planned for next summer. Cuny said he views the renovations done this summer as “another step” in improving the living conditions and educational experience of Lyon students.

Passage Session

There will be an informational session at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 11, at the Grigsby House to discuss Passage. (Please bring a blanket, towel or something to sit on.) This invitation is extended to any staff, faculty or student interested in finding out more about this year-long journey of exploration. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Barnett at ext. 4231, Diane Ellis at ext. 4319, or Jackie Wilson at ext. 4314.

Sports

The Lyon Pipers suffered defeat at Harding on Monday, falling 15-5, 15-8 and 15-13.

The Pipers lost Wednesday to Arkansas Tech University, 1-15, 8-15, 6-15

The Pipers are 2-5. They played five matches in a season-opening tournament over the weekend.

Courtney Guziewicz and Kelly Schafer were named to the all-tournament team last weekend at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. The Pipers tied for third.

The Pipers travel to Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., this weekend for a triangular match.

“It’s still early in the season, and we have time to improve. I feel with every game we are getting better and learning some things about ourselves as a team,” Coach Laura Kozella said.

Lyon College Campus Calendar

11:30 a.m. President’s Cup Meeting Union Conference Room

12 noon Catholic Campus Ministry EDH 002

7 p.m. Batesville Community Theatre auditions Brown Chapel

Saturday,  September 9

12:30-5 p.m. Harlequin Theatre Rehearsal (The Rivals) Holloway Theatre

4 p.m. Batesville Community Theatre auditions Brown Chapel

Sunday,  September 10

1 p.m. Batesville Community Theatre auditions Brown Chapel

5:30 p.m. Alpha Xi Delta Meeting Lyon, Rooms 200 & 202

6 p.m. Kappa Sigma Meeting Alphin, Arkansas Room

6 p.m. Phi Mu Sorority Meeting Lyon, Nucor Auditorium

7:30 p.m. Tau Kappa Epsilon Meeting Alphin, Patterson Room

Monday,  September 11

12 noon Alpha Chi Meeting EDH 002

12 noon Lyon Ambassadors Officers’ Meeting Union Conference Room

6 p.m. Lyon Ambassadors Meeting Lyon, Nucor Auditorium

6:30-10 p.m. Harlequin Theatre Rehearsal (The Rivals) Holloway Theatre

Tuesday, September 12

11 a.m. President’s Convocation Brown Chapel

12 noon Service Day Committee Meeting Union Conference Room

1 p.m. Curriculum Committee Meeting Lyon, Worthen Bank Room

3:30 p.m. Management Assembly Meeting Lyon, Nucor Auditorium

6:30-10 p.m. Harlequin Theatre Rehearsal (The Rivals) Holloway Theatre

Wednesday,  September 13

10 a.m. LATEC Meeting Lyon, Seminar West

12 noon TKE Meeting Union Conference Room

12 noon LRP&B Meeting Lyon, Worthen Bank Room

4 p.m. New Faculty Orientation Lyon, Worthen Bank Room

6:30-10 p.m. Harlequin Theatre Rehearsal (The Rivals) Holloway Theatre

7 p.m. Residence Life Staff Meeting Lyon, Citizens Bank Room

9 p.m. Baptist Student Union Meeting Morrow Building

Thursday,  September 14

11 a.m. Chapel Service, led by Teryn McDuff Small Chapel

12 noon Presbyterian Connections EDH 002

12 noon Black Students’ Association Meeting Union Conference Room

12 noon Panhellenic Council Meeting Lower Union

4 p.m. Institutional Assessment Committee Meeting Lyon, Seminar West

4 p.m. Spragins House Committee Meeting Union Conference Room

5 p.m. Residence Life & Mentor Information Session EDH 002

5 p.m. Campus Ministry Board Meeting Union Conference Room

6:30-10 p.m. Harlequin Theatre Rehearsal (The Rivals) Holloway Theatre

8 p.m. Coffeehouse Edibles, Edwards Commons

Friday,  September 15

12 noon Catholic Campus Ministry EDH 002