Comments on: Are colleges and universities trying to “game” the college rankings game? http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/10/are-colleges-and-universities-trying-to-%e2%80%9cgame%e2%80%9d-the-college-rankings-game/ Working adults and the new world of higher education Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:48:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nnamdi http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/10/are-colleges-and-universities-trying-to-%e2%80%9cgame%e2%80%9d-the-college-rankings-game/comment-page-1/#comment-17166 Nnamdi Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:17:24 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=214#comment-17166 Mike, Capella is a relatively young brand in comparison to the top-ranked well-known universities. I think that Capella should break the mold by joining the AACSB schools as the first all-online university member of the group. This action would not only elevate the Capella brand, increase the university raking, but also, it would increase the enrollment. Currently, there is a glut of online programs and universities; hence, there are subtle noticeable differences between one online university and another. This is an opportunity for Capella to differentiate itself and position the university as online Ivy League. Given a choice, the other 85% would choose an online Ivy League over a generic online university. Perhaps, we can learn one or two things from Steve Jobs. Nnamdi Mike,

Capella is a relatively young brand in comparison to the top-ranked well-known universities. I think that Capella should break the mold by joining the AACSB schools as the first all-online university member of the group. This action would not only elevate the Capella brand, increase the university raking, but also, it would increase the enrollment. Currently, there is a glut of online programs and universities; hence, there are subtle noticeable differences between one online university and another. This is an opportunity for Capella to differentiate itself and position the university as online Ivy League. Given a choice, the other 85% would choose an online Ivy League over a generic online university. Perhaps, we can learn one or two things from Steve Jobs.

Nnamdi

]]> By: Mike Offerman http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/10/are-colleges-and-universities-trying-to-%e2%80%9cgame%e2%80%9d-the-college-rankings-game/comment-page-1/#comment-16089 Mike Offerman Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:08:55 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=214#comment-16089 Paul and Jeff, thanks for taking time to post your comments. I agree that smaller, non-brand-name institutions are leading the way in terms of outcomes. Mike Paul and Jeff, thanks for taking time to post your comments. I agree that smaller, non-brand-name institutions are leading the way in terms of outcomes.

Mike

]]> By: Dr. Michael "Jeff" LeHew, PhD http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/10/are-colleges-and-universities-trying-to-%e2%80%9cgame%e2%80%9d-the-college-rankings-game/comment-page-1/#comment-16042 Dr. Michael "Jeff" LeHew, PhD Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:06:00 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=214#comment-16042 Thank you for taking comments. I would first like to address the point of "rankings" as mostly a matter of "recruitment" as the overall goal; and the attraction of future students; not necessarily learners. I have worked in and around this "other 85%, received degrees out of several schools even". I also have been a director of a research project or two at a State Land Grant University System; and they fall short in "Academics" often; having seen the assignments of my 3 now grown children. My field is DATABASES; so I am a ravenous reader of data of all types. Open schools or "sunshine" schools are or usually fairly easy to assess. Those that "hide" from the public; have something to hide; and having "chaired" a department at one of those it is not for the "secret recipe" but for the mere fact that "outcomes" do not match hype. Enrollments, Government moneys and military especially GI Bill or veterans money being garnered based upon a "ranking" or Higher Learning assessment; well I will say this in closing-I CHOSE CAPELLA in the end for my OM-IT; dual PhD for a reason; it is providing "SUNSHINE RULE" or open to external review PhD education by PEERS and is without questios of a measurable quality comparable to in outcomes "any" school in the land; except those with "NO REVIEW" allowed. Some of those schools get ranked mysteriously; with no external review. Hmmmm? Thank you for taking comments. I would first like to address the point of “rankings” as mostly a matter of “recruitment” as the overall goal; and the attraction of future students; not necessarily learners. I have worked in and around this “other 85%, received degrees out of several schools even”. I also have been a director of a research project or two at a State Land Grant University System; and they fall short in “Academics” often; having seen the assignments of my 3 now grown children. My field is DATABASES; so I am a ravenous reader of data of all types. Open schools or “sunshine” schools are or usually fairly easy to assess. Those that “hide” from the public; have something to hide; and having “chaired” a department at one of those it is not for the “secret recipe” but for the mere fact that “outcomes” do not match hype. Enrollments, Government moneys and military especially GI Bill or veterans money being garnered based upon a “ranking” or Higher Learning assessment; well I will say this in closing-I CHOSE CAPELLA in the end for my OM-IT; dual PhD for a reason; it is providing “SUNSHINE RULE” or open to external review PhD education by PEERS and is without questios of a measurable quality comparable to in outcomes “any” school in the land; except those with “NO REVIEW” allowed. Some of those schools get ranked mysteriously; with no external review. Hmmmm?

]]> By: Paul http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/10/are-colleges-and-universities-trying-to-%e2%80%9cgame%e2%80%9d-the-college-rankings-game/comment-page-1/#comment-15679 Paul Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:07:47 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=214#comment-15679 Interesting. Like a lot of prestigious awards or rankings, this appears to be another that is sort of gamed by the participants each time it comes around. Concerning making the judging for this ranking based on learning outcomes, I think it's certainly something to aim for. Getting the magazine to change its rankings would be easy compared to the work needing to be done with colleges. I think that the movement toward measuring outcomes may rest with smaller isntitutions and their use of it first. I see the bigger more prominent schools being the last to adopt the method(s) due in part to size, and in part to traditionalism. Interesting. Like a lot of prestigious awards or rankings, this appears to be another that is sort of gamed by the participants each time it comes around. Concerning making the judging for this ranking based on learning outcomes, I think it’s certainly something to aim for. Getting the magazine to change its rankings would be easy compared to the work needing to be done with colleges. I think that the movement toward measuring outcomes may rest with smaller isntitutions and their use of it first. I see the bigger more prominent schools being the last to adopt the method(s) due in part to size, and in part to traditionalism.

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