Ower's Letter - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 21, 2004

RE: RE: RE: Ower's Letter

Date: Dec 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: The Shadow
" What is now the "peer assessment" score used to be the "academic reputation" score. When USM was in tier 3, its academic reputation score was among the lowest in that tier."

Then if USM used to be among the lowest in tier 3, and it is now among the lowest in tier 4, that means we have not gone just part of a tier - we might actually be down a whole tier! That would be a whopping drop.

Date: Dec 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Crying
"Then if USM used to be among the lowest in tier 3, and it is now among the lowest in tier 4, that means we have not gone just part of a tier - we might actually be down a whole tier! That would be a whopping drop."

The rankings come from many variables, and the process is tweaked a bit most years. This year "student selectivity" looked heavily at test scores of incoming students (bad for USM) and the percentage of freshman graduating in the top 10% of their high school class (missing data for USM). I seem to recall that greater emphasis used to be placed on rejection rate. That helped USM because many weak students apply who do not meet state minimums. This gave USM a substantially higher rejection rate than State or Ole Miss. The acceptance rate for USM in the 2005 book (fall 2003 class) was 49%, for State is was 75%, and for Ole Miss it was 80% using the same standard at all three schools. This year the acceptance rate was only 1.5% (10%X15%) of the selectivity score.

Date: Dec 21, 2004

one factor that is looked at is retention rate. USM does not do well. however, USM passed a policy that although well meaning, works against retention rates. this is the policy that a student who is suspended at the end of the spring semester must sit out the following fall semester (summer semester does not count). sounds like a good "tough love" policy. problem is that when a student does not return the fall semester, they are considered by the data reporting agencies as having dropped out. they could return the spring semester and do fine the rest of their academic career, but as far as the data mavens (not USM's) are concerned they were not retained. doesn't help in the USNWR ratings.

Date: Dec 22, 2004

The measure of retention in the 2005 ratings was freshman retention. Very few students at USM are suspended during the spring of their freshman year.

Date: Dec 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"I don't know John Ower, but I think it is interesting that he is able to change his mind. Unless I am mistaken, his earliest letters to the editor (about this time a year ago) were in support of the president's authority -- some of that "let the administrators administer and the teachers stick to teaching" line of thinking. Apparently, Dr. Ower has come to see things in a different light over time."

Someone can check my failing memory, but I remember all of Dr. Ower's letters as being good, and very supportive of faculty. He is a retired professor, is he not?

Date: Dec 22, 2004

he did write one saying the liberal arts are a luxury. questioned the need for the center for writers.