Colleges boycott 'U.S. News' rankings
By: Chris Sannino
Issue date: 5/11/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 2:51 AM EST
Last update: 5/11/07 at 5:45 PM EST
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 2:51 AM EST
Last update: 5/11/07 at 5:45 PM EST
More and more schools are beginning to view the rankings as a mere "beauty pageant."
A petition is making its way throughout the collegiate circuit. A petition created by a dozen college presidents and an educational activist, calls upon schools to refrain from both partaking in the survey and from utilizing the results in advertising releases.
"Asking other college presidents what they think of a number of other schools doesn't say anything about the quality of an institution," said Daniel Steinberg, a senior majoring in graphic design and president of Drexel's Undergraduate Student Association. "It brings back the high school days of popularity contests for homecoming court. They need to stick to the hard data and relate that to the quality of an institution. Numbers don't lie."
A reported 70 percent of the surveys were returned last year. If numbers dwindle, Brian Kelly says that he could consult department chairmen, high school guidance counselors and other reliable sources.
A petition is making its way throughout the collegiate circuit. A petition created by a dozen college presidents and an educational activist, calls upon schools to refrain from both partaking in the survey and from utilizing the results in advertising releases.
"Asking other college presidents what they think of a number of other schools doesn't say anything about the quality of an institution," said Daniel Steinberg, a senior majoring in graphic design and president of Drexel's Undergraduate Student Association. "It brings back the high school days of popularity contests for homecoming court. They need to stick to the hard data and relate that to the quality of an institution. Numbers don't lie."
A reported 70 percent of the surveys were returned last year. If numbers dwindle, Brian Kelly says that he could consult department chairmen, high school guidance counselors and other reliable sources.
