RELATED ARTICLE: PUBLISHER'S NOTE
Why We Avoid Subjective Rankings
With the notoriety surrounding the recent publication of Black Enterprise's ranking of the "50 Best Institutions for African Americans," many of you asked why Black Issues didn't undertake such a project? Back in 1990, as we prepared our first Top 100 edition, we considered alternative ranking methods. After much consultation and consideration we decided that the only legitimate measure was the number and percentage of Black students who actually graduate and are retained at the over 3,400 colleges and universities in America.
For instance, the retention rates for Black students at Harvard University, the University of Virginia and Bennett College compare favorably to the retention rates of the majority of the schools on the Black Enterprise list.
We applaud any and all efforts that result in a heightened awareness of the issues surrounding Black access and success in higher education, and congratulate those schools that made the Black Enterprise list. But as far as certifying them as being the "best," we'll pass.
Frank L. Matthews, Publisher
William E. Cox, President
COPYRIGHT 1998 Cox, Matthews & Associates© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
