The last decade has seen tremendous growth in the proportion of students of color among undergraduates in the United States, and yet racial inequalities persist when it comes to enrollment at top-tier universities, college completion rates, and the concentration of student loan debt following college graduation. In this article, the authors point…

Each year for the past 13 years, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has conducted a survey of graduate management education students in their final year of business school. The Global Management Education Graduate Survey is distributed to students at participating schools. The survey allows students to express their opinions about…

This article presents a case study at Oakmont University where a presidential debate will be held on campus. Oakmont University is a large public research institution located in the Southeastern United States. This Carnegie Doctoral/Research I institution enrolls more than 35,000, 75% undergraduate and 25% graduate students. Located in somewhat of…

A good reputation goes hand in hand with a university's "brand," which in essence is the promise the institution makes to all of its constituencies. A brand is appreciably more than an attractive logo, reinforcing colors, and compelling admission brochures (though all of these reflect it). If properly thought through and developed from the inside…

In this article, the author argues that American higher education is allowing itself to be held hostage by the rankings industry, which can lead institutions to consider actions harmful to the public interest and encourage the public's infatuation with celebrity at the expense of substance. Instead of sitting quietly by during the upcoming ratings…

Different types of donors may respond better to different types of approaches. Models built for four major donor groups (alumni, nonalumni individuals, business organizations) are described. (MLW)

This paper presents two ways that schools can enhance their reputation: the annual back-to-school night and recognition programs for alumni. For back-to-school night, guests should be welcomed with enthusiasm and parents should be informed of the school's achievements. Since many staff members have never been coached on parent-friendly behavior,…

A study of 291 freshmen from "invisible" colleges and 239 from 6 prestigious colleges and universities and their parents investigated how the 2 sets of families with obvious different college preferences had made their choice. Geography, parental influence and approval, the "second choice" concept, and institutional…

Describes the way in which Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), an institution that had worked hard to improve its programs and reputation, addressed a disappointing ranking in a national news magazine. In cooperation with other educators, administrators, and institutional researchers, the university undertook a successful project to have the…

A study investigated the perceptions of human resource managers (n=243) concerning graduates from 9 area colleges, using 40 criteria to differentiate potential employees. The results support use of the methodology by colleges and universities to investigate factors contributing to institutional image within the business community. (MSE)

A study investigated the validity of eight indicators (acceptance rate, mean entrance test score, matriculants' class standing, faculty/student ratio, faculty background, instructional budget, retention, graduation rate) for assessing quality in higher education institutions. Indicators were more predictive of retention, graduation, and reputation…

A 1989 survey of 1,800 first-year pharmacy students from 18 schools identified factors in pharmacy school selection and compared findings with 1985 data. Factors considered include institutional reputation, academic environment, finances, degrees offered, curricular options, advising, and student characteristics. Institutional reputation and…

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…