By Jeff Eldridge
Daily NSE Editor
The University of Michigan is holding steady at No. 24 in a prestigious ranking of undergraduate institutions, after falling in the last years from its peak at the No. 18 spot.
This is the second year the University of Michigan is rated 24th in the annual rankings released by U.S. News & World Report in its Sept. 16 issue.
But the undergraduate program at the School of Business climbed two points this year to capture the No. 1 spot, tying with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
"The quality of our undergraduate programs is exceptional," said Provost J. Bernard Machen. "The reason we rank only in the top 25 and not higher is the variables used in the rankings."
U.S. News weighs factors like student selectivity, academic reputation, alum donations and faculty-student ratios in assessing the quality of the nation's undergraduate programs.
For the first time in seven years, Harvard University gave up its claim to the No. 1 spot, sliding to three and giving way to Yale University and Princeton University in the No. 1 and 2 ranks, respectively.
Only three public universities - the University of Virginia, the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - were slotted in the magazine's top 25.
The University of Michigan is the second-highest ranked public university in the survey, falling three spots below the University of Virginia.
"We have been very concerned about the fact that there are so few public universities on the U.S. News top 25 list," said Lisa Baker, associate vice president for University relations.
Machen said the scarcity of public universities on the list is indicative of the magazine's polling flaws, not of institutional problems. For example, Michigan ranked 11th in the country in academic reputation - far ahead of schools including the University of Virginia and Georgetown - but 32nd in student selectivity and 134th inalum donations.
Chemistry Prof. Thomas Dunn, who chairs the faculty-composed Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, said Michigan's scope and atmosphere contrast with smaller, private institutions.
"You've got to remember that Michigan is a very freewheeling place in some respects," Dunn said. "There's such a large choice that sometimes (students) wonder if they've had the best out of it."
Dunn said that polls have limitations, but also have significance to faculty.
"I think faculty are aware of them, and would very much like our institution to be higher," Dunn said.
Business Dean B. Joseph White said in a statement that the commitment of faculty and students is the key to the Business School's success.
"I am proud of the students in our program, proud of our faculty and very confident in our graduates," White said. "Some of the best and most committed undergraduates in the nation become University of Michigan Business School students.
While popular local T-shirts declare Harvard "The Michigan of the East," the renowned Ivy League school relinquished the top spot in the poll.
"We're not very interested in non-academic surveys," said Alex Huppe, Harvard's director of public affairs.
"This is not of very great interest to us. The company we're in seems pretty good."
| Some of the poll's college rankings: |
|---|
| 1. Yale University |
| 2. Princeton University |
| 3. Harvard University |
| 4. Stanford University |
| 5. MIT |
| 21. University of Virginia |
| 24. University of Michigan |
| 25. University of North Carolina |
09-03-97
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |