Criteria for 'Most Innovative Colleges' by US News?

I know innovation is a buzz word these days, but I'm a bit confused about its meaning when it comes to college rankings. On US News and World Report's ranking for 'most innovative' colleges, what exactly determines a college's 'innovativeness'? Any insights would be appreciated!

The 'Most Innovative Schools' ranking by US News and World Report is designed to highlight institutions that are making inventive improvements in terms of campus life, curriculum, facilities, faculty, students, or technology.

To compile this list, US News asks top college officials to nominate institutions that they believe are making the most innovative advancements. More specifically, this means the universities that are doing cutting-edge research, rapidly evolving their curriculum to meet the needs of an evolving workforce, using technology in interesting ways to improve the student's experience, or finding inventive solutions to meet the needs of their students, faculty, and communities.

It's important to note that this category is purely based on the reputational survey and reflects the opinions of those in the higher education world, rather than being based on quantitative measures or objective data.

College innovation can have real-world impacts, with advances in research potentially leading to breakthroughs in a variety of fields or innovative pedagogical methods improving education. However, what constitutes "innovation" can vary from school to school. For instance, one university might be seen as innovative for its unique approach to interdisciplinary learning, while another might be viewed as such for its technological advancements or research breakthroughs.

In conclusion, while the ranking gives an idea of what schools are perceived as innovative by their peers in the higher education world, it's always a good idea to research each college individually to understand in what ways they are considered innovative since what is innovative to some might not be to others.