A study on the objective correlates of undergraduate quality ratings, state or regional biases, and other methodological issues relating to reputational ratings of undergraduate quality is reported. The subjective judgments of departmental quality made by college and university faculty were studied. Reputational ratings appear to be redundant with…

A Higher Education Research Institute pilot study of the reputations of undergraduate departments is discussed. The intent of the study was to quantify the subjective judgments of undergraduate departmental quality and to investigate the association of ratings on different criteria and for different types of institutions. (MLW)

A frequently used measure of comparative institutional achievement has been Ph.D. productivity. The National Research Council has collected data on the numbers of baccalaureate graduates from colleges and universities who have gone on to earn Ph.D.s. This report updates and substantially broadens the analysis of previous studies. (MLW)

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)

A study ranking private, undergraduate, four-year colleges according to the number of students subsequently receiving doctorates is outlined, and the revised ranking of the top 100 institutions, adjusted to reflect the proportion of the graduating class receiving doctorates, is presented. Selected time periods in the 1916-1976 span were used for…

A national survey of 212 colleges and universities investigated the strategies and characteristics of institutions that are able to maintain a strong emphasis on both research and undergraduate teaching. Results indicate those that are successful are unique in certain respects that distinguish them from research universities and liberal arts…

A national survey of liberal arts colleges' institutional policies and practices in evaluating faculty performance and classroom teaching, focusing on the changes in evaluation since 1978, is reported. Factors considered, their frequency of use, and sources of information for evaluation are examined. (MSE)

College costs, methods of payment, and how the pressure to make money may be shaping enrollment patterns are reviewed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. There is some evidence that students who take sizable loans may major in such fields as business, engineering, and allied health, which offer higher salaries. (MLW)

How to identify and measure educational quality pervades American education. The Higher Education Research Institute and the Council on Learning launched a study to identify broad quality indicators, particularly at the undergraduate level. Peer groups and indices of selectivity are among the facets used to measure quality of education. (MLW)

Data on undergraduate, graduate, and professional school minority enrollment from 1976 to 1980, and from 1980 to 1984 were examined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Minority access declines have been experienced by blacks, and Hispanics remain the least represented in higher education. (MLW)