“Penn State rises in THE World University Rankings; places 20th among US publics”

[BobPSU92]

We Are…Rising!

See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State rose to 20th among U.S. public universities, and placed 42nd in the nation overall, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released Sept. 27. Penn State placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions, rising 29 places to No. 122 in the world.

“Times Higher Education is one of the foremost rankings for international higher education,” noted Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global. “International students, parents, alumni and prospective partners use these global rankings as one of the many indicators of Penn State’s strength as a world-class academic and research institution. I am pleased to see that the institution’s excellence continues to be recognized around the world. This is a testament to those faculty who conduct extraordinary research around the critical challenges we face in society today, while leading exemplary learning communities in our classrooms and labs.”

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to Brindley.”

https://www.psu.edu/news/academics/story/penn-state-rises-world-university-rankings-places-20th-among-us-publics/

THE.

To what do we attribute our rise? Neeli? Groundbreaking NIL? Allar?

 

[UncleRoyBiggins]

We Are…Rising!

See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State rose to 20th among U.S. public universities, and placed 42nd in the nation overall, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released Sept. 27. Penn State placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions, rising 29 places to No. 122 in the world.

“Times Higher Education is one of the foremost rankings for international higher education,” noted Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global. “International students, parents, alumni and prospective partners use these global rankings as one of the many indicators of Penn State’s strength as a world-class academic and research institution. I am pleased to see that the institution’s excellence continues to be recognized around the world. This is a testament to those faculty who conduct extraordinary research around the critical challenges we face in society today, while leading exemplary learning communities in our classrooms and labs.”

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to Brindley.”

https://www.psu.edu/news/academics/story/penn-state-rises-world-university-rankings-places-20th-among-us-publics/

THE.

To what do we attribute our rise? Neeli? Groundbreaking NIL? Allar?

DEIB

 

[Midnighter]

We Are…Rising!

See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State rose to 20th among U.S. public universities, and placed 42nd in the nation overall, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released Sept. 27. Penn State placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions, rising 29 places to No. 122 in the world.

“Times Higher Education is one of the foremost rankings for international higher education,” noted Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global. “International students, parents, alumni and prospective partners use these global rankings as one of the many indicators of Penn State’s strength as a world-class academic and research institution. I am pleased to see that the institution’s excellence continues to be recognized around the world. This is a testament to those faculty who conduct extraordinary research around the critical challenges we face in society today, while leading exemplary learning communities in our classrooms and labs.”

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to Brindley.”

https://www.psu.edu/news/academics/story/penn-state-rises-world-university-rankings-places-20th-among-us-publics/

THE.

To what do we attribute our rise? Neeli? Groundbreaking NIL? Allar?

How about favorable metrics for a school like Penn State? Notice value, return on investment, cost, etc. are not considered in these rankings...

 

[BobPSU92]

DEIB

Duh. Of course!

 

[GrimReaper]

We Are…Rising!

See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State rose to 20th among U.S. public universities, and placed 42nd in the nation overall, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released Sept. 27. Penn State placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions, rising 29 places to No. 122 in the world.

“Times Higher Education is one of the foremost rankings for international higher education,” noted Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global. “International students, parents, alumni and prospective partners use these global rankings as one of the many indicators of Penn State’s strength as a world-class academic and research institution. I am pleased to see that the institution’s excellence continues to be recognized around the world. This is a testament to those faculty who conduct extraordinary research around the critical challenges we face in society today, while leading exemplary learning communities in our classrooms and labs.”

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to Brindley.”

https://www.psu.edu/news/academics/story/penn-state-rises-world-university-rankings-places-20th-among-us-publics/

THE.

To what do we attribute our rise? Neeli? Groundbreaking NIL? Allar?

Good question. I'm of the opinion that large institutions do not undergo dramatic changes over the course of one year. So why the fairly significant shift in rank?

1. Change in methodology;

2. Submission of more or less accurate data (though not necessarily to job the rankings);

3. Margin between ranking positions is fairly narrow and small changes at institutions can result in unexpectedly large shifts for one.

 

[BobPSU92]

How about favorable metrics for a school like Penn State? Notice value, return on investment, cost, etc. are not considered in these rankings...

Academia laughs at value, ROI, and cost.

 

[BobPSU92]

Good question. I'm of the opinion that large institutions do not undergo dramatic changes over the course of one year. So why the fairly significant shift in rank?

1. Change in methodology;

2. Submission of more or less accurate data (though not necessarily to job the rankings);

3. Margin between ranking positions is fairly narrow and small changes at institutions can result in unexpectedly large shifts for one.

Your points are compelling, but I am going to invoke Occam’s Razor and attribute the rise in the academic ranking to Allar.

 

[Midnighter]

Academia laughs at value, ROI, and cost.

Acaademia:

 

[GrimReaper]

How about favorable metrics for a school like Penn State? Notice value, return on investment, cost, etc. are not considered in these rankings...

Which raises the question of how relevant are these rankings to the end-user. If the user is someone applying as an undergraduate, not so much given the heavy weight on research. Not particularly useful for someone applying as a grad student whose research interest is focused on a specific area. How about a university president who gets a bonus based on rankings?

I go back to an experience that I had years ago with my eldest on a college visit. During a Q & A with the admissions director of the school a parent asked what he thought of the school's USNews number one ranking among small. liberal arts colleges. He dismissed it by saying "We're in the business of education. USNews is in the business of selling magazines."

 

[GrimReaper]

Your points are compelling, but I am going to invoke Occam’s Razor and attribute the rise in the academic ranking to Allar.

So how much does that increase his NIL valuation?

 

[LB99]

Which raises the question of how relevant are these rankings to the end-user. If the user is someone applying as an undergraduate, not so much given the heavy weight on research. Not particularly useful for someone applying as a grad student whose research interest is focused on a specific area. How about a university president who gets a bonus based on rankings?

I go back to an experience that I had years ago with my eldest on a college visit. During a Q & A with the admissions director of the school a parent asked what he thought of the school's USNews number one ranking among small. liberal arts colleges. He dismissed it by saying "We're in the business of education. USNews is in the business of selling magazines."

So, what you’re saying is, there’s no need to complain about negative rankings either?

 

[GrimReaper]

So, what you’re saying is, there’s no need to complain about negative rankings either?

No, I'm saying not to take any ranking at face value. That, of course won't stop the PSU spin machine from highlighting only the positive ones (as opposed to many schools that don't feel compelled to publicize them at all).

 

[LB99]

No, I'm saying not to take any ranking at face value. That, of course won't stop the PSU spin machine from highlighting only the positive ones (as opposed to many schools that don't feel compelled to publicize them at all).

Or the negative nellie spin machine on here spinning other reports as bad as they possibly can and coming up with conspiracy theories as to why.

 

[GrimReaper]

Or the negative nellie spin machine on here spinning other reports as bad as they possibly can and coming up with conspiracy theories as to why.

Maybe if PSU spin machine didn't open the door by falling all over itself every time a positive ranking came out, it wouldn't have it slammed on its fingers with the negative.

You can call it negative. I call it:

 

[PrtLng Lion]

These rankings seem to come out more frequently than I would have expected. Wasn't PSU in the 50's or 60's last time?

it has to be the 4-0 start, 6th place in AP poll.

 

[fairgambit]

Maybe if PSU spin machine didn't open the door by falling all over itself every time a positive ranking came out, it wouldn't have it slammed on its fingers with the negative.

You can call it negative. I call it:

I call it 10th in the BigTen. Take pride Nittany brothers and sisters! We are ahead of Rutgers, Indiana, Nebraska and Iowa!!!

 

[LB99]

Maybe if PSU spin machine didn't open the door by falling all over itself every time a positive ranking came out, it wouldn't have it slammed on its fingers with the negative.

You can call it negative. I call it:

Who at PSU posted this ranking? Where are they falling all over themselves? The negative crew here likes to cherry pick the negative reports, but ignore he positive ones. Is that fair and balanced? Anybody can turn numbers into whatever agenda they have. Several on here have made it a daily occurrence. I’m not really sure what a certain subset of posters here think they have to gain by constantly bashing all things PSU? Seems like a gigantic waste of time to me. If it’s such a poorly run, miserable place, why not just move onto something else in your life that would make you happy? Or are some just miserable all the time and that’s what makes them happy?

 

[OaktonDave]

Which raises the question of how relevant are these rankings to the end-user. If the user is someone applying as an undergraduate, not so much given the heavy weight on research. Not particularly useful for someone applying as a grad student whose research interest is focused on a specific area. How about a university president who gets a bonus based on rankings?

I go back to an experience that I had years ago with my eldest on a college visit. During a Q & A with the admissions director of the school a parent asked what he thought of the school's USNews number one ranking among small. liberal arts colleges. He dismissed it by saying "We're in the business of education. USNews is in the business of selling magazines."

Excellent point. If you are an undergrad or the parents of an undergrad, how important is it that a faculty member is a leading researcher in a field? How much time to they spend in the classroom? How motivated and skilled are they as instructors? Are they involved with the students or do they see them as a hinderance to the work they want to do? Having recently been through the college selection process with my son, student success and learning opportunities were far more important considerations than what faculty members did that would have little to no impact the educational experience of the students.

 

[fairgambit]

Who at PSU posted this ranking? Where are they falling all over themselves? The negative crew here likes to cherry pick the negative reports, but ignore he positive ones. Is that fair and balanced? Anybody can turn numbers into whatever agenda they have. Several on here have made it a daily occurrence.

I certainly understand that we will never be Harvard, Stanford, or Duke. I do expect us to strive to be, at minimum, in the top half of the BigTen. We will never be Michigan, or Northwestern, either, but we should be better than schools like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Maryland, yet these ratings, and others, say we are not. If that is a reason to rejoice, then let me join others here in a rousing chorus of Huzzahs!

 

[LB99]

I certainly understand that we will never be Harvard, Stanford, or Duke. I do expect us to strive to be, at minimum, in the top half of the BigTen. We will never be Michigan, or Northwestern, either, but we should be better than schools like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Maryland, yet these ratings, and others, say we are not. If that is a reason to rejoice, then let me join others here in a rousing chorus of Huzzahs!

Again, are you cherry picking certain rankings and ignoring others? And for the record, I dislike Ohio State immensely, but they have always been a reputable academic school. Their med school is very highly regarded.

 

[PSUFTG2]

What people should be concerned with - good or bad - is the data (not rankings). Unfortunately, very few folks ever get that far. Alas.

BTW: PSU's Yield, which a couple years back dropped to under 20% (lowest in the Big Ten) is now down to around 16%. That may not even resonate with a lot of folks - most of whom are unlikely to even know what implications that creates - but c'est la vie.

 

[fairgambit]

Again, are you cherry picking certain rankings and ignoring others? And for the record, I dislike Ohio State immensely, but they have always been a reputable academic school. Their med school is very highly regarded.

I am not cherry picking. I always compare us to our BigTen bretheren. I think its a fair comparison. Perhaps there are ratings that place us in the top half of the BigTen. If so, I will celebrate them.

 

[PSUFTG2]

I call it 10th in the BigTen. Take pride Nittany brothers and sisters! We are ahead of Rutgers, Indiana, Nebraska and Iowa!!!

You are correct. 10th in the Big Ten (same as last year). 13th if one includes new Big Ten members UCLA, USC, UW.
FWIW.
BTW: Only UP included (doesn't include Commonwealth Campuses)

 

[LB99]

I am not cherry picking. I always compare us to our BigTen bretheren. I think its a fair comparison. Perhaps there are ratings that place us in the top half of the BigTen. If so, I will celebrate them.

You are correct. That is a fair assessment. I’m just tired of the few here that latch on to any remotely negative thing posted and decide to go on an antiPSU rant. It must be exhausting living life with that outlook on things.

 

[LB99]

You are correct. 10th in the Big Ten (same as last year). 13th if one includes new Big Ten members UCLA, USC, UW.
FWIW.
BTW: Only UP included (doesn't include Commonwealth Campuses)

Aren’t you on the BOT? Instead of posting negatively about it here then, get to work. Do something about it. I say that jokingly, but seriously, what is your assessment of the situation then? What is the root of the problem, if there is one, and what are you proposing to fix it? How are you going to go about improving the situation?

 

[fairgambit]

Aren’t you on the BOT? Instead of posting negatively about it here then, get to work. Do something about it.

In fairness, I think he does what he can. His power is limited but his voice is not. I appreciate his postings here.

 

[LB99]

In fairness, I think he does what he can. His power is limited but his voice is not. I appreciate his postings here.

I can appreciate his postings also, but I think then it is fair to ask what is being done behind the scenes to improve things.

 

[Nitt1300]

I can appreciate his postings also, but I think then it is fair to ask what is being done behind the scenes to improve things.

It is fair to ask. I think that the answer is somewhere between not much and nothing.

 

[PSUFTG2]

It is fair to ask. I think that the answer is somewhere between not much and nothing.

"Primum nil nocere" would be a step in the right direction. That may be a challenge in and of itself.
The least - and the most - one can do is try.

​

 

[GrimReaper]

Who at PSU posted this ranking? Where are they falling all over themselves? The negative crew here likes to cherry pick the negative reports, but ignore he positive ones. Is that fair and balanced? Anybody can turn numbers into whatever agenda they have. Several on here have made it a daily occurrence. I’m not really sure what a certain subset of posters here think they have to gain by constantly bashing all things PSU? Seems like a gigantic waste of time to me. If it’s such a poorly run, miserable place, why not just move onto something else in your life that would make you happy? Or are some just miserable all the time and that’s what makes them happy?

Who specifically posted it I cannot say, though the link BobPSU92 provided is from the psu.edu domain.

Waste of time? Not hardly, pilgrim.

 

[LB99]

Who specifically posted it I cannot say, though the link BobPSU92 provided is from the psu.edu domain.

Waste of time? Not hardly, pilgrim.

You have a wonderful weekend trying to figure out all the problems of the world. Good luck.

 

[fairgambit]

Who at PSU posted this ranking? Where are they falling all over themselves? The negative crew here likes to cherry pick the negative reports, but ignore he positive ones. Is that fair and balanced? Anybody can turn numbers into whatever agenda they have. Several on here have made it a daily occurrence. I’m not really sure what a certain subset of posters here think they have to gain by constantly bashing all things PSU? Seems like a gigantic waste of time to me. If it’s such a poorly run, miserable place, why not just move onto something else in your life that would make you happy? Or are some just miserable all the time and that’s what makes them happy?

Penn State is a good university but it could be a great one. It has the resources but lacks the leadership. I consider myself among those who consider this rating just more pablum for the masses. 10th in the Big Ten tells me that we have a lot of work to do. I graduated from Penn State as did both of my daughters. We want Penn State to strive to be an elite university. Failing that, top 5 in the BigTen is not asking too much. Lest you ask "what are you doing to make that happen?" I will just say, over 50 years, I have given substantial time and treasure to the quest. Sadly, my efforts have limits. That said, I will continue to offer my opinion, as warranted, on all Penn State matters, but especially on those that reflect our standing in the BigTen. If those opinions are perceived as negative, so be it. My goal is improvement, not disparagement.

 

[fairgambit]

"Primum nil nocere" would be a step in the right direction. That may be a challenge in and of itself.​

The least - and the most - one can do is try.​

​

​

Indeed. First, do no harm.
After years of struggling with it, I have come to love Latin. No language is as majestic or powerful.
And as for Penn State's future...Dum vita est, spes est.

 

[PSUFTG2]

Indeed. First, do no harm.
After years of struggling with it, I have come to love Latin. No language is as majestic or powerful.
And as for Penn State's future...Dum vita est, spes est.

 

[GrimReaper]

You have a wonderful weekend trying to figure out all the problems of the world. Good luck.

Problems? I'm going to $1 Slice Day.

 

[Nitwit]

Penn State is a good university but it could be a great one. It has the resources but lacks the leadership. I consider myself among those who consider this rating just more pablum for the masses. 10th in the Big Ten tells me that we have a lot of work to do. I graduated from Penn State as did both of my daughters. We want Penn State to strive to be an elite university. Failing that, top 5 in the BigTen is not asking to much. Lest you ask "what are you doing to make that happen?" I will just say, over 50 years, I have given substantial time and treasure to the quest. Sadly, my efforts have limits. That said, I will continue to offer my opinion, as warranted, on all Penn State matters, but especially on those that reflect our standing in the BigTen. If those opinions are perceived as negative, so be it. My goal is improvement, not disparagement.

Leave it to some on this board to complain about being the 20th best public university in the country. Who cares if the other 19 are from the Big10 or other conferences? It’s like when we win 31-0, and fans are upset that we didn’t win by 40-0. The simple fact is that achieving a ranking of #20 in the country is an outstanding accomplishment. Accept it.

 

[fairgambit]

Leave it to some on this board to complain about being the 20th best public university in the country. Who cares if the other 19 are from the Big10 or other conferences? It’s like when we win 31-0, and fans are upset that we didn’t win by 40-0. The simple fact is that achieving a ranking of #20 is an outstanding accomplishment. Accept it.

Some may take pride in being ranked ahead of the University of Buffalo and the University of South Florida, but behind Maryland, and Minnesota. I do not. We are in the BigTen and that is my measuring stick. 10th there is not acceptable to me, but reasonable men may differ. So be it.

 

[Nitt1300]

We're not here to play school.

 

[GrimReaper]

These rankings seem to come out more frequently than I would have expected. Wasn't PSU in the 50's or 60's last time?

it has to be the 4-0 start, 6th place in AP poll.

Everybody is in the academic rankings business. Lots of magazines to sell.

 

[Nitwit]

Some may take pride in being ranked ahead of the University of Buffalo and the University of South Florida, but behind Maryland, and Minnesota. I do not. We are in the BigTen and that is my measuring stick. 10th there is not acceptable to me, but reasonable men may differ. So be it.

Reasonable men would have chosen schools other than Buffalo and South Florida for their comparison. I wonder how Pitt, Temple, WVa, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, UMass, Clemson, UConn, Cincinnati, Miami of Ohio, Kent State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio University were ranked for example. What? None were as good as Penn State?