ACE Report: Quality Ratings in the Academic Marketplace

In Wolfle's editorial (27 May, p. 1189) about the report, "An Assessment of Quality in Graduate Education," published by the American Council on Education, the conclusion is reached that "the ratings are highly dependable statements of the quality of graduate departments, as judged by informed peers." It is further concluded that "the tabulated ratings can be used as the quality equivalent of a social register." In his article (News and Comment, p. 1226), John Walsh refers to this report "as a new Consumer's Guide to the academic marketplace." As a member of an institution which has come out relatively unscathed by the report, I feel that I can comment without personal bitterness on the inequities of the original study, some of its failures and pernicious effects, and on the further failure of your editorial and article to evaluate the meaning of such a report.