Well Fun, Tech ranked above us...

[RaginFan2]

In Fun's defense. I don't think he ever indicated that we were ahead of Tech on the metrics that US News and World Reports uses. I'm not trying to belittle Tech's accomplishments either, because believe me, I wish we were there. But here are the metrics per the Advocate...

"the oft-debated methodology for the annual U.S. News university rankings examines factors such as SAT scores, graduation rates, peer reputation and alumni giving."

Fun is constantly talking about research dollars. Tech has had slightly higher admin standards for awhile now, probably leading to improved graduation rates and SAT scores. When our admission requirements go up, maybe we can get within striking distance. We have to improve in these areas to get there. Student retention and graduation is the driving force behind dorms on campus etc.

Tech, out of necessity, has long had a majority of their students living on-campus. In Lafayette, there have always been an ample supply of rent houses and apartments near campus, so the need for on-campus housing wasn't given much of a priority. I have long thought that was a big mistake. In fact, I talked with T-Joe about that very thing years ago when he was the UL Alumni Association Director. As others have pointed out, more students living on campus generally means they are more involved in the university community and tend to stay more connected to the university after graduation. Dr. Savoie's strong and aggressive building program shows that he gets it. I am so glad to see this finally happening! It will do wonders for our university in the years to come.

[RaginFan2]

Looking at the rankings shown above, I question any ranking system or set of criteria that has LaTech ahead of Houston.

Yeah, I was really surprised to see that Houston was not in Tier 1 after all of the push and fund-raising efforts they have made to try to get to that level. I also think these rankings that rely on "peer reputation" are skewed. Not sure how much weight they bring to these rankings, but they should be very small, if at all.

[CajunT]

In Fun's defense. I don't think he ever indicated that we were ahead of Tech on the metrics that US News and World Reports uses. I'm not trying to belittle Tech's accomplishments either, because believe me, I wish we were there. But here are the metrics per the Advocate...

"the oft-debated methodology for the annual U.S. News university rankings examines factors such as SAT scores, graduation rates, peer reputation and alumni giving."

Fun is constantly talking about research dollars. Tech has had slightly higher admin standards for awhile now, probably leading to improved graduation rates and SAT scores. When our admission requirements go up, maybe we can get within striking distance. We have to improve in these areas to get there. Student retention and graduation is the driving force behind dorms on campus etc.

Tech does not have higher admission requirements. Here are the admission requirements as per the UL-System; UNO is not listed.


Louisiana Tech
Louisiana-Lafayette

Fall 2010

Completion of Regents Core (17.5 units)
AND
• No more than one developmental course
AND
• Minimum 2.0 HS GPA
• ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
o HS GPA of 2.5 or greater OR
o ACT composite of 23 or greater OR
o HS grad rank top 25%

Exceptions Pool: 7%

FaIl 2011 (ULS changes)*

• Completion of Regents Core (17.5 units)
AND
• No more than one developmental course
AND
• Minimum 2.0 HS GPA
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
o HS CPA of 2.6 or greater OR
o ACT composite of 24 or greater OR
o HS grad rank top 25%

Exceptions Pool: 7%

Fall 2012 (B0R changes)

• Completion of Regents Core (19 units)
And
• No developmental courses
And
• Minimum 2.0 HS GPA
• ONE OF THE FOI.LOW1NG:
o HS Core GPA of 2.5 or greater OR
o ACT composite of 23 or greater


No HS grad rank option
Exceptions Pool: 6%

[CajunFun]

Sorry, didn't see this thread.

Good for them.

They benefit from several things: they were permitted to go to selective admissions several years before we were, they've had higher tuitions than we have for some years, and they paid more attention to USN&WR metrics than we did. (BTW, now there is only Tier I and Tier II, and Tier I comprises 75% of all national universities.)

La Tech is ahead of us in some areas, but not by much. And they're way behind us in R&D and enrollments, they're dropping behind in graduate programs, and all of those gaps are going to grow.

In athletics, they're terrified. We have much larger local population and local wealth, much greater attendance, superior facilities, and Lafayette's a lot more attractive to recruits than Ruston.

Congrats to them. We're all going to more selective admissions, we will make Tier I fast enough, and in the next few years they will be way behind us.

[Cajunsmike]

In Fun's defense. I don't think he ever indicated that we were ahead of Tech on the metrics that US News and World Reports uses. I'm not trying to belittle Tech's accomplishments either, because believe me, I wish we were there. But here are the metrics per the Advocate...

"the oft-debated methodology for the annual U.S. News university rankings examines factors such as SAT scores, graduation rates, peer reputation and alumni giving."

Fun is constantly talking about research dollars. Tech has had slightly higher admin standards for awhile now, probably leading to improved graduation rates and SAT scores. When our admission requirements go up, maybe we can get within striking distance. We have to improve in these areas to get there. Student retention and graduation is the driving force behind dorms on campus etc.

This is a US News and World Report review. Their rankings are subjective. They are not an official
academic body. Note one of the standards they use is alumni donations; % of people who contribute and total contributions. We want to move up, get more people supporting us. Note, research dollars are not part of their criteria. Having said all that, I don't mean to belittle the ranking Tech has achieved. Congratulations to them. Finally, I work for one of the largest companies in the world. We recently stopped recruiting at Tech and cut our support. We still recruit at UL and are increasing support.

[CajunRed]

Mike...I know you can't say it, so I'll read between the lines and conclude...that their grads suck and y'all finally realized it.

:-)

This is a US News and World Report review. Their rankings are subjective. They are not an official
academic body. Note one of the standards they use is alumni donations; % of people who contribute and total contributions. We want to move up, get more people supporting us. Note, research dollars are not part of their criteria. Having said all that, I don't mean to belittle the ranking Tech has achieved. Congratulations to them. Finally, I work for one of the largest companies in the world. We recently stopped recruiting at Tech and cut our support. We still recruit at UL and are increasing support.

[Boomer]

How can we get a look at the criteria that the US N & W use to evaluate their rankings??? Can someone please post----Hey Fun where are you?????

[cajun4life]

How can we get a look at the criteria that the US N & W use to evaluate their rankings??? Can someone please post----Hey Fun where are you?????

Boomer La Tech kicks our ass in alumni donations which is a HUGE part of the US N&W rankings. We are rapidly approaching Tier I status in more than just one ranking system. We are now a designated "statewide" university along with La Tech and UNO. We are a top 100 research university in the NATION! It will come in good time Boomer, our noose has been loosened and you will soon see what the university's real potential Is under T-Joe.

[SlappyCajun]

How can we get a look at the criteria that the US N & W use to evaluate their rankings??? Can someone please post----Hey Fun where are you?????

Read the advocate article at the beginning of this thread.

[Cajunsmike]

Mike...I know you can't say it, so I'll read between the lines and conclude...that their grads suck and y'all finally realized it.

:-)

La Tech grads do not "suck". Employees from that school I have worked with are competent. There were strategic reasons for the decision. It is more a case of what UL is doing vs what Tech is not doing.