Dear @Miranda, in Serbia we do not have such schools, Maybe in the future such praxis should be involved, as many distinct professors and researchers are recognized internationally, so their contribution would be fine. My area  regarding your question would be industrial automation!

I am attaching the fine paper about Colleges of distinction. Mostly, such practice is present in US! It is good to know that College of Distinction is strongly focused on teaching undergraduates.

http://collegesofdistinction.com/what-is-a-college-of-distinction/

I believe one of the ways to achieve the aim of being a college of distinction (COD) is through great collaborative teaching.  A professional learning community (PLC) may practice lesson study, where a lesson by 1 teacher is observed critically by experienced teachers who may be able to observe interactions in the classroom, and how students respond to the teacher.  But I do not know how many teachers are willing to be observed and have their teaching dissected and commented upon.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Has_anyone_conducted_research_on_lesson_studies_where_a_Professional_Learning_Community_aims_to_enhance_students_learning

Quality Education which enables students to develop their attributes and skills to achieve their potential as members of society. The future of teaching and learning depend on quality and excellence.

Cutting-edge research

University-wide focus on sustainability and renewable energies covering all disciplines

Quality education (improving teaching methods, Small class size ,etc)

Dear @Miranda, in Serbia we do not have such schools, Maybe in the future such praxis should be involved, as many distinct professors and researchers are recognized internationally, so their contribution would be fine. My area  regarding your question would be industrial automation!

I am attaching the fine paper about Colleges of distinction. Mostly, such practice is present in US! It is good to know that College of Distinction is strongly focused on teaching undergraduates.

http://collegesofdistinction.com/what-is-a-college-of-distinction/

Colleges of Distinction uses a "Four Distinctions" criteria based on the categories:

• Great teaching,
• Engaged students,
• Successful outcomes (Highly valued by graduate schools and employers for its outstanding preparation)
• Vibrant communities.

http://www.usfca.edu/Newsroom/Equipped_to_Lead_and_Succeed/USF_Selected_as_College_of_Distinction/

The dedicated faculty and enthusiastic students can work together in making of a College of Distinction. Always best teachers and learners the students required  for it. 

Quality of teachers

Quality of publications

Teaching methods

I like this, congrats to USF!

'USF has earned a place on the Colleges of Distinction list of top universities for the third consecutive year, thanks to the university’s exceptional faculty, engaged teaching, successful graduates, and vibrant campus life.

Beyond test scores

The Colleges of Distinction list, a college comparison tool for high school juniors and seniors, goes beyond simply comparing GPA and standardized test results, employing a holistic assessment of universities and colleges and taking into account the educational benefits of hands-on learning, as well as study abroad, internship, and undergraduate research opportunities.'

Thanks for your views.  (Sorry for late responses on several threads.   I worked since morning without a break, it's 5.28 pm now.)

This is also specific to University of San Francisco. Very exceptional!

'The large number of teaching faculty who hold doctoral degrees or the equivalent terminal degree in their specialty — 91 percent

An engaged learning style that connects students with the San Francisco Bay Area community as interns at tech startups, volunteers at nonprofits, and in immersion classes that allow them to meet and learn from migrant farm workers, the homeless, urban farmers, and others

Alumni who excel in their professions, including a former president of Peru, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, the former president and CEO of Intel, a California Supreme Court Justice, and many more

Campus life filled with student events, prominent speaker series, NCAA Div. I sports, concerts with headlining artists, as well as nearby San Francisco museums and nightlife

“At USF, success is about more than just getting a job,” said Kevin Schritter, executive editor of Colleges of Distinction. “The alumni are also good citizens and responsible family members.'

Here in  my college, a few persons are working so hard.  We stay inside.  Some lecturers supervise certain games like squash and volleyball or track activities.  Our college field is very much alive till 7pm every evening.  After dinner, many students go to the library.  Today is a public holiday (King's birthday), but I work.  Because I'm working on improving another paper.  My students also came to see me in the cubicle.  They got their first semester results yesterday.

Just like on the link Prof Ljubomir provided. 'These campuses don’t shut down at 6 p.m. Whether you want to build, dance, plan, explore, or just play ball, these schools offer activities and events that help students keep on learning even after the books are closed.  Most of these schools are highly residential; encouraging students to live on or near campus so that they can take advantage of all the school has to offer. That means great social opportunities and the chance to make good friends, the kind you can really bond with.'

http://collegesofdistinction.com/what-is-a-college-of-distinction/

Yes Prof Kamal and friends, I believe that research is really important, although it seems to be not mentioned among the 4 characteristics.  Perhaps some may think that teaching undergrads require less research.  But research goes hand in hand with great teaching.

'In planning instruction, effective teachers draw on a growing body of research knowledge about the nature of learning and on craft knowledge about teaching that has stood the test of time. Typically, they consider the special characteristics of the material to be learned, the background of their students, and the conditions under which the teaching and learning are to take place.'

http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/Chap13.htm

Research, teaching and community service, dear Miranda!

In my opinion, judgment of universities based on the 4 factors (engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes) is correct. Universities, in the first account, are places for learning & teaching so they are valued by the quality of the graduates they produce. Research is fine but it is an activity which comes after learning & that is why some universities give small projects to students in their final undergraduate year or the research is postponed to the postgraduate programs. In our region, most of the research is “really” of low quality. Nevertheless, the promotion systems give 10 points for a single research paper while 4 points only are given for 30 years of teaching at best. There is something wrong going on or I "may" be a wrong old man!

What distinguishes a university of excellence from a university in the standard? Because who goes in the best universities in the world, investing more in their education, can easily find work mostly occupying high offices?

What is the difference?

It 's all a question of method. The scientific method, academic, teaching in Italy has stagnated for over 40 years; yet the technology and progress are constantly evolving and this has changed the approach that the best academies have given to the study the results are beyond our imagination.

Progress and fantasy or just a perfect coupling with the Centers of Power?

Thanks Prof Marwan, I see that you agree with many of us.

Dear Dr Nizar, I don't see why 10 points should be given for a research that may be low-quality; and 4 points for faithful, dedicated teaching service of 30 years.  It's definitely not right!

Dear Enzo, I agree that students who study at good colleges find it more easy to get a good job.  It's so in my country.  I searched, and found that your university is ranked quite near the top among Italian varsities.  Congrats!

http://www.4icu.org/it/

Friends, a few days ago, our students got the results of the previous semester.  It's a good thing that we have a proactive deputy director.  He interviewed the students with a CGP less than 2.  Not a single student blamed the lecturers.  Among the reasons why students failed was that they were actively doing online business of clothes and head dresses!  What do you think dear friends?

The biochemistry and/or molecular biology of plant stress tolerance and/or human disease!

Period!

Dear Tobias, I don't understand your answer.  Please explain fully before the PERIOD :)

Biochemistry will include cellular respiration and/or respiratory metabolism!

Molecular biology will include genomics and/or proteomics!

Period!

Frostburg State University is celebrating its recognition by the Colleges of Distinction organization, which identifies colleges and universities that excel in four key areas: student engagement, quality of teaching, vibrancy of the college community and success of graduates. 

“These distinctions, which have long been the hallmark of a Frostburg State University education, highlight those vitally important parts of a student’s real college experience,” said FSU President Jonathan Gibralter.

“Schools designated as ‘Colleges of Distinction’ create well-rounded graduates and are among the very best in the country,” said Tyson Schritter, executive editor of Colleges of Distinction.

Colleges and universities are nominated for participation in Colleges of Distinction through high school counselors’ recommendations as well as quantitative research.

http://www.frostburg.edu/home/news/university-news-portal/frostburg-state-university-recognized-as-a-college-of-distinctionpifsu-admitted-to-group-of-institutions-lauded-for-well-rounded-educational-experienceip/

Chaminade University has been recognized as a College of Distinction by Student Horizons, Inc. The recognition by this highly esteemed organization allows Chaminade University to be listed in the reknown college guide, Colleges of Distinction. Only 200 colleges in the nation have received this high honor.

Colleges chosen for inclusion in the college guide must meet all four of the Colleges of Distinction criteria (Great teaching, Engaged students,Successful outcomes and Vibrant communities), undergo an application process and must be nationally recognized by the educational community. The colleges must also be valued by employers and graduate schools for outstanding preparation of its students.

British College of Applied Studies has been selected as the No. 1 Private Education Provider in Higher Education for Sri Lanka by an independent survey carried out by TNE. The participants of this survey were given 18 parameters to rate covering all the aspects of Higher Education Scenario in the country.

Thanks for your posts @Tobia, Umachandran, Behrouz and Shakir.  I have been very busy (in relation to this question) to prepare a conceptual framework for great teaching.  Just 1 of the distinctive features of a college of distinction, because I'm the coordinator of English in Teaching of Science and Maths.  Does anyone have a conceptual framework for good teaching?  I found one interesting pic, that I have to modify and work upon.  Do you have something better, or a research paper, if possible?

Dear @Miranda, here are some of the relevant resources!

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-004-6779-5#page-1

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03075070701476100#.VL_DONLF9As

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03269.x/full

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09500690305016?journalCode=tsed20#.VL_DQdLF9As

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-004-0006-x#page-1

Survey attributes identified & used to rank Educational Institutes, university or college is recognized as a college of distinction:

• Locally and globally recognised degrees

• Reputation

• Affiliations to reputed foreign universities

• Content and course material

• Duration of programmes

• Qualifications and recognition of lecturers

• Subjects on offer

• Available facilities

• Sports and extracurricular activities

• Fees and fee structures

• Availability of scholarships

• Institutional culture

• Campus-like atmosphere

• Pass rates and awards

• Prospect of international opportunities

• Qualifications required for admission

• Entrance exams

• Availability of internship programmes

• Student engagement,
• Quality of teaching,
• Vibrancy of the college community and
• Success of graduates.

http://blogs.lcms.org/2014/colleges-of-distinction

Thanks @Prof Ljubomir, Shakir, Umachandran.  Prof Ljubomir, this is such a short abstract, and it has less benefit to me, when I compare to the abstracts that I write so that it may be useful to others, even before they read my full paper.   From your 5th link:

'A conceptual framework for assessing student motivation and self-regulated learning in the college classroom is presented. The framework is based on a self-regulatory (SRL) perspective on student motivation and learning in contrast to a student approaches to learning (SAL) perspective. The differences between SRL and SAL approaches are discussed, as are the implications of the SRL conceptual framework for developing instruments to assess college student motivation and learning. The conceptual framework may be useful in guiding future research on college student motivation and learning.'

@Shakir, perhaps you can provide a useful link?  Thanks @Umachandran, you have stated the same 4 points seen in a college of distinction.  

Does ANYONE THINK that a college of distinction may produce GREAT LEADERS, ETHICAL LEADERS??? PERHAPS I'M WORKING HARD BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THAT OUTCOME, 5TH OUTCOME OF A C.O.D.

For an university or a college to be recognized as a college of distinction, we need to have:

1. Quality and motivated students

2. Dedicated teachers and researchers

3. Excellent placement of students

4. Effective governance

5. To remain competitive

6. Etc. ... .

Dear @Miranda, there is fine presentation/page Colleges of Distinction at FB! Many fine posts, links, resources, examples, people, case studies are available.

https://www.facebook.com/CollegesofDistinction

Here in Greece we have a strange relation with Distinction itself. Some times we want it and all try to by so and other times we keep away from it! I really don't know something about Distinction in my University...

Besides my previous contribution, I like to add: A university of distinction will be characterized by the 4 features mentioned in the question with an emphasis upon the last pragmatic one. Successful outcomes imply that the students will become good representatives of the university from which they graduated convincing the others that they are of high quality thanks to the university. When they get a job in teaching or industry or research or service, they have to demonstrate efficiency. Raw advertising for a university will not work if the graduated students fail to be up to expectations.

In India University Grants Commision has established  National Acredition Centre(NAC) which minitor overall impact of a university or college in field of education. Several criteria like strength of students, number of departments, faculty strength and their contribution in teaching and research, infrastrucure facilities, tie up with industries, extra mural activites etc. are used to evaluate an dgive grade to a n institution.

Thanks for your posts, dear friends.  Thanks, Brenda for the link to Canada's  top 50 research universities.  Yes, we should be less insular, and more COLLABORATIVE.

 Thanks Prof Ljubomir.  I got this quote from your link, that I like very much:

'Here's to Great Teaching! "Life-long learning is a form of worship, and the pursuit of truth is the human calling."

I am hoping to have students that will be ethical leaders in the future, to put right the many problems faced by our country.  My director has told me to go ahead with my ideas.  We have problems like other countries with decreasing resources, and we have problems because our own people do not like to be involved in doing heavy work like construction.  Construction  has been handed out to foreign workers (Indonesian and Bangladesh), but years ago our people were willing to do this.  Even car wash is using foreign labor.  It's bad for our country, in several aspects.

Thanks @dear Dr Nizar and Rasbindu. I agree entirely:

'Successful outcomes imply that the students will become good representatives of the university from which they graduated convincing the others that they are of high quality thanks to the university. When they get a job in teaching or industry or research or service, they have to demonstrate efficiency. Raw advertising for a university will not work if the graduated students fail to be up to expectations.'

Recently, there was a big emotional response when someone posted that some of our civil servants went out for a meal and do their shopping during office hours. Terrible!

Improving work culture, upgrading research & consultancy culture, and collaborations with excellent institutions may pay a lot.

Thanks for your posts.  I have been too busy with my teaching and examination duties, besides other obligations.

@Brenda, Subhash, Eraldo and all, my college is 5 years old and we have been benchmarking other colleges and universities.  Recently some of my friends went to UK to carry out more benchmarking.  I WOULD BE HAPPY ENOUGH TO BENCHMARK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN SINGAPORE.  WHO WOULD YOU BENCHMARK?  FINLAND?  SOUTH KOREA?  AUSTRALIA?  WHY??

http://www.nus.edu.sg/

Dear @Miranda, here it is a A Florida Success Story on Colleges of Distinction that were awarded and recognized! 

The second story: Where you go is not who you will be is wonderful article. MUST reading! "College is a singular opportunity to rummage through and luxuriate in ideas, to give your brain a vigorous workout and your soul a thorough investigation, to realize how very large the world is and to contemplate your desired place in it. And that’s being lost in the admissions mania, which sends the message that college is a sanctum to be breached—a border to be crossed—rather than a land to be in- habited and tilled for all that it’s worth.... Education is indeed everything, but it happens across a spectrum of settings and in infinite ways. It starts well before college. It continues long after college. College has no monopoly on the ingredients for professional success or for a life well lived...."

http://chronicle.com/article/Aspen-Prize-Honors-Colleges/228607/

http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/where-you-go-not-who-youll-be-excerpt-frank-bruni

Thanks dear Ljubomir.  Wonderful links!!  THANKS.

From the first, 'Santa Fe College, an institution in Gainesville, Fla., whose 62-percent graduation and transfer rate far eclipses the 40-percent national average for community colleges, will take home $800,000.

The two "finalists with distinction" are Lake Area Technical Institute, in South Dakota, where 98 percent of graduates are employed or continuing their education six months after graduation, and West Kentucky Community and Technical College, where highly structured block schedules and hands-on learning have helped erase achievement gaps between minority and white students. Each college will receive $100,000 out of the $1.1-million prize.'

- - -

And this, from your second link, should be placed on this thread:

'But your worth as a person, a student and our son is not diminished or influenced in the least by what these colleges have decided.  If it does not go your way, you’ll take a different route to get where you want. There is not a single college in this country that would not be lucky to have you, and you are capable of succeeding at any of them.'

Today, I found a free research paper to share with you, dear friends.  It's not every day that we get free papers!  Very useful paper!

'Abstract

Can social media be used to enhance the process of learning by students in higher education? Social media have become widely adopted by students in their personal lives. However, the application of social media to teaching and learning remains to be fully explored. In this study, the use of the social media tool Twitter for teaching was considered. Undergraduate students in Business and Management (n = 252) were encouraged to use Twitter for communicating with their tutor and each other during a 12-week course. Their involvement was evaluated using a survey considering amount of Twitter usage and students' attitudes and experiences. The data were analysed using factor analyses, which revealed a single usage construct and three attitudinal factors. Three findings emerged. Firstly, a positive correlation was found between amount of Twitter usage and student engagement in university-associated activities including organising their social lives and sharing information. Secondly, course-related tweeting was not related to interpersonal relationships between students and their tutor. Thirdly, Twitter usage did not impact class attendance. The results are salient for educational practitioners wishing to introduce social media into their teaching.'

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/bjet.12099/?dmmsmid=94041&dmmspid=25753203&dmmsuid=2448695

Social media can enhance the learning provided it is used consciously.

Its we teachers make the difference than the institution (as an asset). Distinction is felt by students

My class of 2015 Personnel Management and Industrial Relations 2015 batch @ Madras School of Social Work.

Just be as better as you can in your scientific field and recognition will come through. Your institution will benefit.