2009 University Rankings

[bballholic]

_ In previous years, Tier 1 was the Top 50 schools.

The next 80 or so are Tier 2.

You're right, there's no Tier 2 this year.

That's because either a) there's a glitch on the website that lumps Tier 2 with Tier 1, or b) they did away with Tier 2.

Which is more likely?

So LSU is not Tier 1. They moved up to the bottom of Tier 2. _

Thanks for the history lesson. In past years, LSU would be considered Tier 2. Under the new system, they are Tier 1. Right?

[OldCajunFan]

_ Don't blame him. He's just doing what he has to do by law.

In fact, he is the only guy out there promoting the changing of the law so that ALL aspects of government are subject to cuts, not just health care and education. _

Don't hold your breath waiting for that change.

Remember, in the field of education, it is only HIGHER education that is unprotected against budget cuts; K-12 IS protected by the Constitution. Twenty or more years ago, the Legislature passed a constitutional amendment for public vote that would have given higher education the same protection as K-12. IIRC, the teachers' unions and other educators decided such a change would effectively weaken the protection for K-12 and campaigned actively against the amendment. There some logic to that I guess -- if everyone were protected, then no one would really be protected, because cuts have to come from somewhere.

I remember standing in line to vote for that amendment. Several women were standing in front of me, and one asked another something like, "Which amendment are we supposed to vote against? You know, the one that will reduce funding for the teachers?" During the next few menutes, my vote was canceled several times over.

Everyone wants more funding for education. But if it is perceived to come down to K-12 versus colleges, K-12 will win every time. Everyone has at least one brother, sister, cousin, etc. that is a K-12 school teacher. OTOH, probably a small minority of UL professors are from around here and therefore have no relatives to vote in their favor. (I am fortunate to be one that is Cajun by birth.)

[CajunFun]

_ Thanks for the history lesson. In past years, LSU would be considered Tier 2. Under the new system, they are Tier 1. Right? _

Not quite.

In past years, LSU was Tier 3.

For this year, I listed two explanations, knowing that one of them (they no longer have a Tier 2) didn't make sense.

Leaving only one possibility, the explanation I've maintained all along: it's a typo, and LSU is Tier 2, probably just barely.

Which is an improvement, but they aren't up with the big boys.

[tLSU]

_ Not quite.

In past years, LSU was Tier 3.

For this year, I listed two explanations, knowing that one of them (they no longer have a Tier 2) didn't make sense.

Leaving only one possibility, the explanation I've maintained all along: it's a typo, and LSU is Tier 2, probably just barely.

Which is an improvement, but they aren't up with the big boys. _

Yeah, it's a typo. Two years in a row. lol.

[cajunnexile]

_ Yeah, it's a typo. Two years in a row. lol. _

yeah, i doubt if mr fun would be quibbling about misprints if that ranking had UL in the same position. more likely screaming from the rooftops about its greatness.

hatred of LSU clouds the view of many on this board.

I think that we should all be ashamed that we have only one decently ranked public university. We should also be asking questions about that fact.

[CajunFun]

_ yeah, i doubt if mr fun would be quibbling about misprints if that ranking had UL in the same position. more likely screaming from the rooftops about its greatness.

hatred of LSU clouds the view of many on this board.

I think that we should all be ashamed that we have only one decently ranked public university. We should also be asking questions about that fact. _

hatred of UL draws many clouded minds to this board.