<p>I can’t help but wonder whether AU faculty, many of whom have been practitioners in their fields instead of lifelong teachers, might be deemed less worthy by their academician peers at other institutions. </p>
<p>From USN&WR:</p>
<p>“The U.S. News ranking formula gives greatest weight to the opinions of those in a position to judge a school’s undergraduate academic excellence. The peer assessment survey allows the top academics we consult—presidents, provosts, and deans of admissions—to account for intangibles such as faculty dedication to teaching.”</p>
<p>Academicians respect other academicians, but according to ratemyprofessor.com, AU students appear to like their teachers just fine.</p>
<p>Compare AU’s overall rating (3.46) to, say, Cornell (3.17), Emory (3.29), or Duke (3.32).</p>
<p>Sure, ratemyprofessor.com is not scientific, but neither are the opinions of unnamed professors polled on mysterious intangibles by USN&WR.</p>
<p>Rankings are driven by reputation, and reputation is driven by rankings. The whole affair is (for want of a better term) a gigantic circle-jerk.</p>