Science grad programs don’t make the cut on annual rankings

U.S. News and World Report released its annual rankings earlier this year of more than 12,000 graduate programs, and eight IU-Bloomington schools were among the nation’s top 25.

Unfortunately, none of IU’s sciences programs were among the top schools.

But David Daleke, associate professor of biochemistry, said he thinks IU’s science programs are top notch.

“We have some excellent programs at IU,” Daleke said.

U.S. News gathers the rankings “based solely on the ratings of academic experts,” asking deans, program directors and senior faculty to judge the academic quality of the programs.

But professor Daleke is quick to point out that these rankings can be inaccurate.

“It is difficult, and inaccurate, to compare programs in different disciplines,” Daleke said. “The comparisons will greatly depend on the characteristics that are chosen.”

These rankings help universities recruit not only students, but also research projects and funding.

However the rankings might affect the public’s perception of the graduate schools, they don’t seem to faze IU students.

School of Optometry student Dean VanNasdale said he thinks IU’s grad programs are recognized around the world.

“I know that the researchers I work with are highly recognizable in their field, have a long track record of large, successfully funded projects resulting in many high-impact publications and are taken very seriously by the research community in general,” VanNasdale said. “I’ve had the opportunity to present my research at national meetings, and to collaborate internationally on presentations and publications.”

VanNasdale received his optometry degree at Ferris State University and is now working on his Ph.D. in the vision science program. He also has his own research study of the retina which is funded through the National Institutes of Health.

When asked about increasing the reputation of the school, VanNasdale said the University works hard to raise its professional perception.

“I think the optometry school and vision science department have done a significant amount of work recently to attract some of the best researchers from around the country to come here,” he said. “This effort has improved and diversified the research going on at IU.”

IU’s students also play a major role in increasing the reputation of the grad schools.

The Graduate and Professional Student Organization is one way students can get
involved and improve their graduate school experience. Similar to the IU Student Association, the group has been recognized as the official government for the more than 8,000 graduate and professional students on the Bloomington campus.

Nick Clark, president of the organization, said throughout the 90 professional and graduate programs, it’s hard to say one is better than another.

“I don’t know how they compare, but I have been thoroughly impressed by how well its staff and administration serve graduate students,” Clark said.