A growing number of college and university leaders believe that "U.S. News & World Report" college rankings can be misleading gauges of institutional effectiveness and do not adequately serve the interests of prospective students. Heading a list of specific presidential concerns are that the rankings "imply a false precision and…

In this introduction to the papers in this volume, the author argues that the central role of contingent appointees in undergraduate education is beyond dispute, and, yet, the implications for undergraduate learning are very much in dispute. Understanding of this issue and correction of such problems as may exist begin by focusing discussion of…