Ranking confusion causes pamphlet recall

The University plans to recall and reprint copies of a University profile pamphlet containing what some have identified as misleading U.S. News and World Report rankings.

The pamphlet states that based on the University's academic programs, U.S. News and World Report ranked several of the University's graduate programs among the top schools in the country.

But academic reputation is only one of many factors used to compile the overall ranking, making the pamphlet's representation of the rankings ambiguous.

"We certainly have no reason to brag about the rankings in any way," said Director of News and Information Services Julie Peterson, adding that many University administrators, faculty and students have outwardly opposed the use of the rankings to evaluate schools.

The University's pamphlet claims that based on academic reputation, the Law School has a No. 1 ranking. But U.S. News and World Report ranked the school No. 7 overall.

Law Dean Jeffery Lehman said the Law School was not aware that the University had published the rankings.

"It's an embarrassing mistake," Lehman said. "This is not anything the Law School would say."

Yale Law School received the No. 1 overall spot in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Lehman said he tried to contact Yale Law Dean Anthony Kronman to discuss any misrepresentation of the rankings.

"I did try to place a courtesy call to my friend that's the dean," Lehman said. "He will get a chuckle out of this."

Catherine Cureton, the Law School's director of publications, said that not only were members of the Law School community unaware that the University was publishing parts of the U.S. News rankings, but also that many of them do not like to use the rankings to evaluate schools.

"I don't think applicants for admission are well-served solely relying on rankings," Cureton said. "The students I talk with that are here for school said they did not use rankings as the one decision-making consideration."

Celeste James, director of Media Relations for U.S. News and Report, said the University seems to be taking the steps necessary to clear up any misrepresentation.

"I maintain that it is misleading if there is no parenthetical information about where the information came from," James said. "So, if they're reprinting them, that seems appropriate to me."

Peterson said the 22,000 wallet-size informational guides cost about $7,000 to print, but will cost less than $1,000 to reprint. The profiles were published by Marketing Communications and distributed last week to various University departments, as well as members of the media.

"We certainly will replace as many are necessary to get the job done," Peterson said.

04-16-98