Spring Break
Student responsiveness would improve rankings
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Editorials
A representative of Princeton Review, the company that provides details and rankings of colleges for prospective students, will visit Miami University's campus in September. The goal, according to Miami's office of admissions, is to give the review a better glimpse into the reality of conditions at Miami's campus. The university also wants to question the representative about how rankings are determined. This proactive effort of the university is a good step in the advancement of Miami's reputation in areas where it is trying to improve.
Miami was ranked high on lists such as "Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative," "Homogeneous Student Population" and "Little Race/Class Interaction."Â This is all despite the school's efforts under President David Hodge to increase diversity. The class of 2012 is the most ethnically diverse class in its history, yet while the numbers are changing, the perception doesn't seem to be.
Attempts to mimic the Princeton Review survey by Miami administrators in order to get an up-to-date reading of the perception of diversity on campus have failed due to lack of student response. By collaborating with Princeton Review, Miami can begin to understand how sound the statistical data upon which the rankings are based. After that, Miami can take even more strides to assess the climate of diversity on campus.
Officials voiced concern that the rankings would sway prospective students from applying to or attending Miami because of its supposed lack of inclusiveness. On one hand, some students look at the numbers and decide to come to Miami because it appears to be upper-class and generally homogenous. But on the other hand, for students who want to work with peers from diverse backgrounds, there are many opportunities of which they can take advantage.
In such a global world, students should be willing to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds. They should be responsive to surveys sent out by the university to assess the climate of diversity on campus. Without measurable conditions, its hard for Miami to gauge the situation and make goals for the future. And with only Princeton Review rankings and the image they render for prospective students, Miami is fighting an uphill battle trying to diversify the student body.
In holding a dialogue with Princeton Review, Miami is making the right decision not only to increase diversity in terms of numbers but to tackle image problems the university has on- and off-campus. The university realizes student perception is key to positive change on campus. And although this is one step forward, it is nowhere near a final step in what is going to be a long-term issue of diversifying Miami.
Miami was ranked high on lists such as "Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative," "Homogeneous Student Population" and "Little Race/Class Interaction."Â This is all despite the school's efforts under President David Hodge to increase diversity. The class of 2012 is the most ethnically diverse class in its history, yet while the numbers are changing, the perception doesn't seem to be.
Attempts to mimic the Princeton Review survey by Miami administrators in order to get an up-to-date reading of the perception of diversity on campus have failed due to lack of student response. By collaborating with Princeton Review, Miami can begin to understand how sound the statistical data upon which the rankings are based. After that, Miami can take even more strides to assess the climate of diversity on campus.
Officials voiced concern that the rankings would sway prospective students from applying to or attending Miami because of its supposed lack of inclusiveness. On one hand, some students look at the numbers and decide to come to Miami because it appears to be upper-class and generally homogenous. But on the other hand, for students who want to work with peers from diverse backgrounds, there are many opportunities of which they can take advantage.
In such a global world, students should be willing to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds. They should be responsive to surveys sent out by the university to assess the climate of diversity on campus. Without measurable conditions, its hard for Miami to gauge the situation and make goals for the future. And with only Princeton Review rankings and the image they render for prospective students, Miami is fighting an uphill battle trying to diversify the student body.
In holding a dialogue with Princeton Review, Miami is making the right decision not only to increase diversity in terms of numbers but to tackle image problems the university has on- and off-campus. The university realizes student perception is key to positive change on campus. And although this is one step forward, it is nowhere near a final step in what is going to be a long-term issue of diversifying Miami.
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