Improving California State University Los Angeles' rankings through student selectivity

Education-Higher

Higher Education and Rankings

Identify key business goals

Education is a business in the sense that it involves customers (students) who receive a satisfactory product, namely an education that is, hopefully, both intellectually enriching yet also marketable in the 'real world.' College rankings in the media have an impact on how a degree is perceived by potential employers.

Thus it is the stated goal of the CA State Los Angeles President that the president will attempt to increase the 2003 CSLA's USNWR performance rating of the third tier to the first tier, over the course of the next ensuing years of the school's existence.

Identify individual performance goals

To improve the university's rating, the median SATs of entering freshman as well as the attendance of desirable accepted students must increase. Also, less quantifiable but other attributes that rankings attempt to measure such as overall student satisfaction, and prestige of faculty members must improve

Step 4: Analyze gaps to determine causes

Desirable students often use the institution in question as a 'safety' and the reputation of the school suffers in comparison to other California State schools.

Step 5a: Identify knowledge skill solutions

Award merit-based full tuition scholarships to the most competitive students. Establish an Honors program, with new, desirable faculty members emphasizing small classes and perhaps even special dormitory faculties

5b: Identify motivation solutions

Motivating factors include advertising such new programs as a merit-based, full scholarship Honors program, stressing the accomplishments of current faculty 'stars' and conducting an intensive outreach program in highly selective secondary schools across the state

5c. Identify organizational processes

Change the organization of the university to emphasize smaller classes, more diverse course offerings, and also encourage the promotion of professors with strong publishing records that can increase the intellectual prestige of the university, according to the 'tier' ranking system so popular today.

Step 6: Evaluate results

Although college ranks may not be the most desirable way to truly value a college potential education, their importance in college selection amongst high school students is a reality today that all institutions of higher learning must face. Furthermore, the suggested solutions can only contribute to the improvement of the education at the university in question, as well as more superficial elements such as the school's perceptual reputation.