In addition, all of the classrooms on the main campus are connected to the network and the Internet. Robinson says the extensive services provided by Northwestern's website to prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni and current students also played a role in the school's high ranking. Students can apply for admission online, and current students can check their grades, register for classes and request transcripts on the web. The computing services department continues to make improvements to Northwestern's technological assets. This summer, the e-mail system will be upgraded so students, faculty and staff can check their messages anywhere in the world.
Plans also are under way to make more information for alumni and parents available on the web.
Internet Life rankings considered more than 40 factors, divided into the general areas of access and infrastructure, administrative services, general resources and student support. More than 3,600 accredited institutions were invited to participate in the survey, and nearly 1,300 institutions completed the online survey, collected by Peterson's.