The first academic quality ranking of American colleges and universities was produced by the U.S. Bureau of Education in 1911. The institutions were stratified into five levels according to their presumed quality. However, because protests led to this work's being suppressed before its official publication, very little is known about it. (RM)

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,…

This report focuses on changes affecting all colleges and universities, as well as changes affecting the following institutional types: two- and four-year public institutions and four-year independent institutions. Tables show the results of a survey of 411 colleges and universities concerning academic and administrative practices. Special…