An alternative view to a 1979 study on institutional quality done by Astin and Solomon is presented. The study indicates significant changes in rank have occurred among the 25 most selective four-year undergraduate institutions. Kuh proposes naturalistic inquiry research. A rebuttal by Astin is appended. (MLW)

An approach to organizational effectiveness in higher education developed in the United States was applied to institutions in the United Kingdom and Australia to establish a basis for policy and organizational analysis. Higher reliability was found for the United Kingdom than for Australia, apparently related to cultural differences regarding…

Early psychological studies of "genius" are examined, and reasons why European studies of eminent people never developed into true academic quality rankings are considered. In Europe, and especially England, France, and Germany, the ecological origins of eminent men and women were assessed: where they grew up, where they attended school,…

While it is a land-grant university with ambitious plans, the University of the District of Columbia faces the problems posed by its urban context, expectations, small endowment, administrative turnover, and administrative scandals. (MSE)

It is argued that research testing the reliability and validity of college and university reputational studies should be conducted, a concern not raised by consumers and publishers. Two studies of "America's Best Colleges," published by "U.S. News and World Report," raise questions about the guide's validity and suggest that…

The contribution of high school guidance counselors during the information and inquiry stages of students' selection of a college was assessed. A statewide population survey of all high school counselors in New York yielded 660 usable responses (20 percent). Attention is focused on quality estimations of four criteria for 15 institutions. Quality…

Debate grows over the validity and reliability of college and university rankings, which judge rather than describe institutions, as the public's willingness to accept them increases. While many institutional characteristics can be measured, measurement methods need improvement. One solution is to publish the peer studies that the institutions…

Selected comparisons of international and domestic undergraduates at the University of Southern California (USC) were undertaken, using data from the annual Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) and the Undergraduate Student Survey. On-campus enrollment data for these two student groups are presented by sex for Fall 1978, 1979, and…

Selected comparisons of first-time international and domestic freshmen at the University of Southern California (USC) were undertaken, using data from the annual Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) and the American Council on Education Freshman Survey. On-campus enrollment data for these two student groups are presented by sex for…

To obtain a demographic description of University of Texas at Austin (U.T. Austin) transfer students, to investigate transfer students' evaluations of the university and of their previous college, and to compare transfer students with non-transfer undergraduate students, 1,365 responses to a questionnaire were analyzed. The survey explored student…

Analysis of a survey, completed by 128 collection development librarians at 72 liberal arts colleges, ranked six university presses and 58 publishers associated with science and technology, humanities, and social sciences by their perceptions of familiarity, quality and academic relevance. Found that university presses are well respected:…

Analyzes interstate migration patterns of New England's college students, including patterns unique to each state and movement to states outside the region. Discusses factors affecting migration. Includes data on migration of freshmen to and from New England, net student migration to other states, and New England institutions and other…

The General Educational Development (GED) testing program has been a part of the Alberta High School Equivalency Program since 1981. Between December 1981 and December 1983, 4,333 applicants passed the GED in Alberta, and 802 applicants failed to pass the test. Random samples of 200 individuals from each of these groups were studied to determine…

The way in which faculty reward is linked to faculty evaluation is examined. It is contended that faculty reputations continue to be important to instructional images and professional advancement of the individual and are dominant in many systems of faculty evaluation. The contradiction when faculty are evaluated on the basis of performance and…

The emerging status of undergraduate business education in the United States was studied through a 1978 survey of deans of American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited undergraduate business programs, personnel executives from the largest U.S. corporations, and directors of AACSB accredited master of business…