Westmont News

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has ranked Westmont in the top 100 liberal arts colleges in its Best Values in Private Colleges list. The report, which named Westmont #88, ranked the schools based on outstanding academics and great economic value.

Erin Thomason, a doctoral student in anthropology at UCLA, speaks about women working in the sex industry in China during a free, public lecture Thursday, Nov. 10, at 3:30 p.m. in Founders Room in the lower level of Westmont’s Kerr Student Center.

Westmont student composers, vocalists and instrumentalists showcase their talents in several concerts this November. All performances are free and open to the public.

Students in Westmont’s Music Drama Workshop Class perform 18 different songs from eight operas in Opera Scene’s “Nameless Show” Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m. in Westmont’s Deane Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public.

While the number of borrowers defaulting on federal student loans has jumped sharply, Westmont is bucking the trend. The national two-year cohort default rate rose to 8.8 percent last year, from 7 percent in fiscal 2008, according to the Department of Education, which released the figures Sept. 12.

Once again, Forbes has recognized Westmont in their 2012 America’s Top Colleges list, which includes 650 institutions. Westmont ranks 76^th, up from 81^st last year.