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Grade grubbing: Do university rankings really matter?
Colleges find problems with popular ranking system; some schools deem the system unfair, others embrace rank by marketing
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 7/4/07 Section: News
Many colleges around the nation have found a problem with the college ranking system of U.S. News and World Report.
CNN reports that some of the colleges, such as Sarah Lawrence College and Dickinson College, said the 'reputation survey' of the publication is nothing more then a "collegiate beauty contest." Also, it doesn't serve as a good platform to show the quality of education a school has to offer.
For Oregon State University, many on campus see the use of the ranks differently.
In the 2007 edition of U.S. News and World Report, OSU is ranked in the third tier - the same position as the previous year. However, OSU had some high points within other rankings with it's programs and colleges.
For graduate programs in community health, U.S. News and World Report ranks The Oregon Master of Public Health degree program from the College of Health and Human Sciences in second place.
Pat Newport, director of marketing and advancement for the College of Health and Human Sciences, said they're proud of their rank and it's a good method for marketing.
"If that draws students to us, that's all for the better, it's an excellent program." Newport said. "If it gets the word about it, that's great. It's good PR and we don't have to pay for it."
In contrast to the College of Health and Human Science is the College of Forestry.
Hal Salwasser, the dean of the College of Forestry, said he doesn't pay attention to the U.S. News and World report ranking and hasn't looked at in five or six years. Also, U.S. News and World Report doesn't have a ranking system for forestry. Although, the College of Forestry is in a different ranking system through the Journal of Forestry where it is ranked No. 1.
He said two professors from Auburn created their own ranking system for the U.S. forestry colleges.
"They did an assessment based on publication records and a survey of college and department leaders across the nation - of who they thought was the top research institution in North America," Salwasser said. "It was the first time that a formal assessment has been done."
CNN reports that some of the colleges, such as Sarah Lawrence College and Dickinson College, said the 'reputation survey' of the publication is nothing more then a "collegiate beauty contest." Also, it doesn't serve as a good platform to show the quality of education a school has to offer.
For Oregon State University, many on campus see the use of the ranks differently.
In the 2007 edition of U.S. News and World Report, OSU is ranked in the third tier - the same position as the previous year. However, OSU had some high points within other rankings with it's programs and colleges.
For graduate programs in community health, U.S. News and World Report ranks The Oregon Master of Public Health degree program from the College of Health and Human Sciences in second place.
Pat Newport, director of marketing and advancement for the College of Health and Human Sciences, said they're proud of their rank and it's a good method for marketing.
"If that draws students to us, that's all for the better, it's an excellent program." Newport said. "If it gets the word about it, that's great. It's good PR and we don't have to pay for it."
In contrast to the College of Health and Human Science is the College of Forestry.
Hal Salwasser, the dean of the College of Forestry, said he doesn't pay attention to the U.S. News and World report ranking and hasn't looked at in five or six years. Also, U.S. News and World Report doesn't have a ranking system for forestry. Although, the College of Forestry is in a different ranking system through the Journal of Forestry where it is ranked No. 1.
He said two professors from Auburn created their own ranking system for the U.S. forestry colleges.
"They did an assessment based on publication records and a survey of college and department leaders across the nation - of who they thought was the top research institution in North America," Salwasser said. "It was the first time that a formal assessment has been done."
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