Ranking Construction Programs: The Academic Debate Begins

Abstract

The authors propose a methodology for the ranking of Construction programs and to use The Associated Schools of Construction as the forum to debate. Professional organizations, such as ACCE, AGC, NAHB, and ENR, are interested in ranking construction programs. U.S. News has ranked colleges, but not construction. Programs are transforming to more traditional academic programs with graduate education, research, fundraising, and faculty member production. The discipline needs to address these changes, and creation of a ranking system may be a means to discuss common issues. Participating in a ranking process will provide benchmark data for self analysis, identification of shortcomings, and information to justify change. The ranking system must be complicated enough to seem scientific and the results must match, more or less, people's nonscientific prejudices. First, it is necessary to establish a theoretical World Class goal and benchmark program against the standard before comparing rankings between programs. A series of “strawmen” rankings needs to be conducted before establishing a final set of metrics. The ranking model must be validated by a number of test runs. Papers about controversial topics provide new ideas and concepts, which need to be discussed and which may drive change.

Keywords:

• construction education
• performance metrics
• program rankings