How much longer will Kent be Chancellor?

[ForCuseSake]

I don't think these rankings are the end all be all, but saying they're "meaningless" seems like an overstatement. A lot of students and parents and employers value the prestige that the rankings imply, even if they're able to be manipulated to an extent. I see US News rankings as similar to say 5 star Rivals recruiting class rankings or Michelin restaurant stars. Are they a perfect predictor of quality? No. But over the long haul I would rather have them than not have them.

Makes me wonder…

Why wouldn’t any/every university juke their stats to game the rankings as favorably as possible?

Especially the cadre of expensive private schools competing (or trying to compete) in the tier below Ivy.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Do you have a site to show that? Not saying I don't believe you at all. It's just my memory is that it is worse than that.

US News Ranking Graphing Tool (1984 - 2025) - Aron Frishberg

Uncover the evolution of college rankings with Aron Frishberg's interactive Graphing Tool for US News College Rankings from 1984 to 2025. Dive into historical data and trends across decades to analyze how universities have navigated the landscape of academic excellence. Perfect for educators...

www.aronfrishberg.com

 

[NJCuse97]

US News Ranking Graphing Tool (1984 - 2025) - Aron Frishberg

Uncover the evolution of college rankings with Aron Frishberg's interactive Graphing Tool for US News College Rankings from 1984 to 2025. Dive into historical data and trends across decades to analyze how universities have navigated the landscape of academic excellence. Perfect for educators...

www.aronfrishberg.com

Data is a bit hard to read with gaps, but essentially shows what I recall. Nancy went from about 30 to about 60. KS had a spike up but then COVID and we’ve dropped to about 75 since. Again, not to defend KS, but I believe they’ve changed a lot of the criteria to put greater emphasis on cost or “perceived value of the degree against tuition cost” and access, or availability of remote classes and scholarship opportunities. These things work against SU as they try to get more students on campus and need to raise tuition to make up for the challenges and struggles of doing so (lower enrollment due to cost and in-person requirements).

 

[dan7800]

The alums who are in the process of donating $1.5 billion in the latest campaign will attest to that. As evidence, note the establishment of an endowed chair in Engineering and Computer Science announced today. I happen to know the donor, a fellow ECS alum.

I thought that the chair had been endowed for a while. This is new as of today?

 

[dan7800]

Data is a bit hard to read with gaps, but essentially shows what I recall. Nancy went from about 30 to about 60. KS had a spike up but then COVID and we’ve dropped to about 75 since. Again, not to defend KS, but I believe they’ve changed a lot of the criteria to put greater emphasis on cost or “perceived value of the degree against tuition cost” and access, or availability of remote classes and scholarship opportunities. These things work against SU as they try to get more students on campus and need to raise tuition to make up for the challenges and struggles of doing so (lower enrollment due to cost and in-person requirements).

Yea, I'd say that people who say that they dont care about rankings are the ones who aren't doing so well. Basically everyone in academia that I've spoken to cares about them.

FWIW, RPI/UR are also dropping like rocks in NYS. The SUNYs (Binghamton, Stony Brook, UB) are doing ok I think -- maybe even improving a bit. The Ivy's and NYU are in a different league.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Data is a bit hard to read with gaps, but essentially shows what I recall. Nancy went from about 30 to about 60. KS had a spike up but then COVID and we’ve dropped to about 75 since. Again, not to defend KS, but I believe they’ve changed a lot of the criteria to put greater emphasis on cost or “perceived value of the degree against tuition cost” and access, or availability of remote classes and scholarship opportunities. These things work against SU as they try to get more students on campus and need to raise tuition to make up for the challenges and struggles of doing so (lower enrollment due to cost and in-person requirements).

Nancy showed up when we were ranked 55 in 2004 and left when we were 58 In 2013. We were 73 last year.

 

[dan7800]

Nancy showed up when we were ranked 55 in 2004 and left when we were 58 In 2013. We were 73 last year.

For context, SUNY Binghamton is tied at 73 and RIT isn't far behind at 91. SU isn't doing well.

 

[Orangefizz]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion about the precipitous rankings fall which has happened at the law school too, plus in the free speech rankings SU is near the bottom. Btw when Kent took over he said 53 was too low and he'd work to improve it.

My son just started law school and would have strongly considered Syracuse except the rankings were so low. Syracuse Law is ranked 120 out of 196 which is terrible.

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings

 

[dan7800]

Makes me wonder…

Why wouldn’t any/every university juke their stats to game the rankings as favorably as possible?

Especially the cadre of expensive private schools competing (or trying to compete) in the tier below Ivy.

I agree in principle. However, some schools (maybe driven by their board) want to emphasis specific things that may not specifically align with rankings. However, rankings are very important to all national institutions.

 

[Bulldog04]

Yea, I'd say that people who say that they dont care about rankings are the ones who aren't doing so well. Basically everyone in academia that I've spoken to cares about them.

FWIW, RPI/UR are also dropping like rocks in NYS. The SUNYs (Binghamton, Stony Brook, UB) are doing ok I think -- maybe even improving a bit. The Ivy's and NYU are in a different league.

Hey hey hey proud BU Bearcat here. We are an Ivy League school (cough I wouldn’t have gotten in if I didn’t play golf) I don’t care what any ranking says

 

[NKR1978]

Data is a bit hard to read with gaps, but essentially shows what I recall. Nancy went from about 30 to about 60. KS had a spike up but then COVID and we’ve dropped to about 75 since. Again, not to defend KS, but I believe they’ve changed a lot of the criteria to put greater emphasis on cost or “perceived value of the degree against tuition cost” and access, or availability of remote classes and scholarship opportunities. These things work against SU as they try to get more students on campus and need to raise tuition to make up for the challenges and struggles of doing so (lower enrollment due to cost and in-person requirements).

In 2004-05 we were ranked 52. We were sinking before Nancy got here and we only dropped to 53 by the time she left?Arguably Buzz and Kent had way more negative movement than she did.

Complete 'US News' Rankings

Complete 'US News' Rankings

www.thedp.com

 

[Bulldog04]

And on a serious note, couldn’t agree with dasher more. This guy has not put the school on the proper trajectory for the next person to take over. I can’t wait for this dork to be gone

 

[Cusefan0307]

In 2004-05 we were ranked 52. We were sinking before Nancy got here and we only dropped to 53 by the time she left?Arguably Buzz and Kent had way more negative movement than she did.

Complete 'US News' Rankings

Complete 'US News' Rankings

www.thedp.com

By most accounts Buzz was cheap. Nancy at least got us into the ACC. I have zero idea what Kent’s top accomplishments are. He’s built a bunch of buildings. Syracuse was always going to expand in the tech space with New York becoming a leader in computer chip manufacturing. I don’t give him much credit there.

 

[HyattsCuse]

Hey hey hey proud BU Bearcat here. We are an Ivy League school (cough I wouldn’t have gotten in if I didn’t play golf) I don’t care what any ranking says

We were named a “Public Ivy” by Forbes last year!

Binghamton ranked as top ’Public Ivy’ school by Forbes - Binghamton News

Binghamton is ranked among the ’New Ivies’ for ’producing smart, driven graduates craved by employers of all types.’

www.binghamton.edu

I wasn’t happy about it at the time, but I went to Binghamton instead of U of R because of the cost. In hindsight, I’m very happy I made that choice.

 

[Bulldog04]

We were named a “Public Ivy” by Forbes last year!

Binghamton ranked as top ’Public Ivy’ school by Forbes - Binghamton News

Binghamton is ranked among the ’New Ivies’ for ’producing smart, driven graduates craved by employers of all types.’

www.binghamton.edu

I wasn’t happy about it at the time, but I went to Binghamton instead of U of R because of the cost. In hindsight, I’m very happy I made that choice.

I committed to Maryland to play golf there, but my dad got sick so decided to stay closer to home. I truly enjoyed every minute of my time there even though it was 7th on my list.
I tried to have SU get a golf team going again and met with with a few people bc I was working out with Coach Hicks for a few years and he was lobbying for it too but they didnt want to have a team. I was bummed so BU it was

 

[dasher]

My son just started law school and would have strongly considered Syracuse except the rankings were so low. Syracuse Law is ranked 120 out of 196 which is terrible. My son ended up at Boston College Law, ranked 28th.

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings

They were about 20 spots higher just a few years ago

 

[Tango32]

Have heard some murmurs they may look internal when Kent goes, those hoping for change may be disappointed if that comes to fruition.

 

[007]

Have heard some murmurs they may look internal when Kent goes, those hoping for change may be disappointed if that comes to fruition.

Are you implying that Red could be named Chancellor?

 

[Tango32]

Are you implying that Red could be named Chancellor?

The ultimate continuity hire

 

[AZOrange]

Are you implying that Red could be named Chancellor?

JB

 

[721Comstock]

JB

Yeah, why not put yet another octogenarian in a top position?

what could possibly go wrong?

 

[kcsu]

No question Cantor got the ball rolling in the wrong direction. But 11 years is a long time.

Cantor was a complete disaster

 

[Willy75]

They were about 20 spots higher just a few years ago

More like 30, and this despite the new facility.

 

[llandz]

I spent time with him and his wife in San Diego. No real insight, but one conversation we had made me think he may be getting closer to retirement. I'm not really going to comment any further.

 

[Chicago44s]