The University of Missouri-Rolla is one of the nation’s “most connected” campuses, according to a new report from the Princeton Review and Forbes.com.

UMR is one of 25 colleges and universities to make the list, released today on Forbes magazine’s website, Forbes.com. Schools were judged on the basis of the breadth of their computer science curriculum, the sophistication of campus technology, wireless Internet access on campus, support for handheld computing, and other related criteria.

According to Rob Franek, vice president and publisher of the Princeton Review, “The schools on our list have demonstrated leadership in preparing and supporting students for life in the digital age. Students who understand the value of technology to both their career prospects and overall quality of life will want to pay special attention the schools on our list.”

“Today’s college students are more tech-savvy – and more connected – than any previous generation,” says Randy Tucker, UMR’s chief information officer. “The Internet plays an important role in our students’ lives – not only in their education and research, but also in their social lives and for their leisure time. It’s becoming more important for our students to be connected, because they’ll be entering a work place and society in which their understanding of technology will become increasingly important to their success.

“This recognition from the Princeton Review and Forbes reflects UMR’s commitment to fostering the kind of environment that keeps our students connected and nearer the cutting edge,” Tucker says.

UMR’s innovations in incorporating information technology into the academic and social spheres of campus include providing online degree programs through the School of Extended Learning, a network server devoted to multi-user gaming, wireless access throughout campus, and a digital music download service. As a member of the Internet2 consortium of universities, UMR also has broader Internet bandwidth than many universities, allowing for faster access to online resources.

The schools listed in the report are not ranked numerically. A complete listing of the schools is online at www.forbes.com/connected.