August 11, 2022
Rankings of Colleges are a Joke: Says Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona
M Miguel A. Cardona, the secretary of education, recently referred to college rankings as "a joke" and mocked selective colleges for their fixation on them. On Thursday, he made a larger pitch for bridging the country's enduring equity gaps in college graduation rates.
Cardona cited the president of a historically Black college who said, "Many institutions spend enormous time and money chasing rankings they feel carry prestige, but in truth do little more than Xerox privilege," to substantiate his claim.
Moving up the rankings involves a complex science that yields incorrect priorities. He went on to say that the colleges with the best resources prioritise measures that really matter rather than competing for prestige.
The Education Secretary specifically criticised media rankings' use of test scores, peer reviews, and alumni donations as key metrics.
…you compete for the most affluent students by luring them with generous aid, because the most well-prepared students have the best SAT scores and graduate on time…
“You compete for the most affluent students by luring them with generous aid, because the most well-prepared students have the best SAT scores and graduate on time. You seek favour from your peers, from other elite schools, with expensive dinners and lavish events because their opinions carry clout in surveys,” he said.
Cardona advocated for a "culture change" in higher education rather than rankings so that institutions would value inclusivity, use data to assist students before they dropped out, and develop more accessible pathways for adult learners, students from rural areas, and first-generation college students.
The secretary of education spoke at a summit on completing college, where representatives from the California Community College system, Arizona State University, Davidson College, and about 40 other institutions discussed how to raise attainment rates and what support systems are necessary for students from underrepresented backgrounds to succeed.
In addition, the source informed us that their teachers would gain from being able to participate in global learning communities with a focus on sustainability, reading, STEAM education, and outdoor learning that meet frequently online. This opens up opportunities for group members to exchange and absorb best practices.
Posted in News and tagged News, USA, Miguel A. Cardona, Rankings, SAT Scores, Culture Change, Higher Education
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