<p>Chicago is #1 in Evolutionary Biology, just thought I would throw that into the mix. My guess is, however, most of these type of rankings are for graduate programs. One can get an excellent undergrad biology education many places, including LAC’s. In fact, Nobel winner Thomas R. Cech argues it may be better to study science at an LAC!</p>
<p>One cannot speak to any one incident of criticism, but in regards to critical questioning in general I like this entry from the the Faculty Handbook of 1999, citing the words of the Faculty Committee for a Year of Reflection: </p>
<p>“Chicago has developed a celebrated–some would say notorious–brand of academic civility. It is a place where one is always in principle allowed to pose the hardest question possible–of a student, a teacher, or a colleague–and feel entitled to expect gratitude rather than resentment for one’s effort.”</p>
<p>(As quoted in Levine: <a href=“http://iotu.uchicago.edu/levine.html[/url]”>http://iotu.uchicago.edu/levine.html</a>)</p>