A humorous guide advises scholars on how to channel their intellectual energies into becoming "distinguished scholars." Four suggestions include invent a continuum; learn more about something than anybody else has; compare the unrelated works of famous people; and draw upon knowledge from other disciplines. (MLW)

Opinions about quality are seen as the only relevant measures of quality that can be collected. A different view of quality in higher education, and a different set of university rankings are proposed. A system that draws pairwise comparisons of university performance across nine disciplines is described. (MLW)

A variety of issues associated with resistance to or necessity for author-anonymous reviewing of scholarly work are examined: sex, age, and even name stereotyping; tradition; institutionalization of egalitarianism; promotion of newer scholars; and power politics. (MSE)

A discussion of the National Research Council's 1995 ranking of research-doctorate programs in the United States criticizes the report for what it does not address, particularly comparisons with the information it disseminated in a 1982 report, some data discrepancies, and central issues such as an institution's available methods of instruction,…

The "U.S. News and World Report" rankings of colleges do not affect institutions equally; the schools impacted most are those that have the most to lose because they benefit from, even rely on, the rankings for prestige and visibility. The magazine relies on the rankings for substantial sales revenues, and has garnered considerable power…

The National Academy of Education is described as a loose federation of prominent educational and social science researchers, which has never pretended to be a think tank or a lobbying organization. Its influence is indirectly felt through the prestige and quality research of its members. (MLW)

Values and beliefs that govern educational practices are discussed, as is an alternative value perspective more consistent with the spirit of reform suggested by national reports. Reputational and resource views of excellence are described. Curriculum, teaching, grading, testing, and faculty personnel policies are discussed. (MLW)

The following five common myths about college education are examined: (1) that institutional reputation reflects educational quality; (2) that traditional teaching methods are proven effective; (3) that good teachers are good researchers; (4) that faculty influence students only in class; and (5) that student academic and nonacademic experiences…

Mount Holyoke College was examined to see how it manages itself, how it raises and spends money. Holyoke's president understood that, in a competitive age, the key was not so much educating as it was positioning. Marketing and price fixing are discussed. (MLW)

A sampling of "Change" readers taken to identify higher education's most admired people, literature, and institutions, is presented. Included are ratings for three major reports on undergraduate education, confidence in organizations that play key roles in higher education, and best book about higher education. (MLW)