"I often feel like the skunk at a garden party. That's not uncommon for journalists: Our job frequently requires us to ask hard questions and to say what others might be too polite to say (out loud, at least). I can't blame it all on my vocation, though; I'm that way by nature, and this old dog isn't changing. Several times in the last couple years I've found myself at gatherings of college leaders that included representatives of highly selective, wealthy institutions."
"I started (rather obnoxiously, I'll admit) by reading a definition of the word: "a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society." I suggested, (dis)respectfully, that if we had some clear definition of "superior" that everybody could agree on, it might be reasonable to refer to the Yales and Amhersts and UVAs of the world that way."
Journalists often feel out of place when asking blunt questions. College leaders from highly selective, wealthy institutions frequently describe their campuses as "elite." Those self-descriptions prompt a challenge to the meaning of "elite," defined as a select group superior in ability or qualities. No clear, agreed standard of superiority exists in higher education. Perceived excellence often derives from longevity, wealth, selectivity, rankings that favor those attributes, and concentrated media attention. Rankings and media focus amplify reputations, shaping public perception of a small set of institutions while thousands of others receive little attention.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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