If you're a prospective college student or parent looking for a national information resource on colleges and universities, a new website that debuted Sept. 26 may be just what you're looking for.

U-CAN, or University & College Accountability Network, has been launched at www.ucan-network.org as a consumer resource created by colleges and universities specifically for students and parents. The purpose is to offer profiles of individual institutions in a consistent, attractive format that also allows schools to highlight their special nature.

Warren Wilson College is among the nearly 600 private colleges and universities nationwide who have signed on to participate in the initiative, coordinated by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). More than a dozen colleges and universities across North Carolina have joined U-CAN.

"U-CAN should prove to be a tremendous resource for prospective students and parents," said Richard Blomgren, dean of admission at Warren Wilson. "Finding reliable information on colleges and universities can sometimes be difficult and frustrating, and Warren Wilson College is excited to be part of an initiative that cuts through the clutter."

More information on U-CAN, as well as a current list of participating schools, can be found here.