FundSvcs Community

*From** Inside Higher Ed – **Full story is here <https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/05/23/university-oklahoma-stripped-us-news-ranking-supplying-false>* *.* *U.S. News & World Report *has stripped the University of Oklahoma <https://www.insidehighered.com/college/207500/university-oklahoma-norman-campus> of its ranking, citing incorrect information provided about alumni giving. The university told *U.S. News* that it has been supplying incorrect data since 1999. According to the magazine, the most recent report from Oklahoma claimed that its two-year rate of alumni giving was 14 percent, when it is actually 9.7 percent. Alumni giving counts for 5 percent of the methodology in the "Best Colleges" ranking by *U.S. News*. As a result, the magazine removed Oklahoma from that ranking and several others, including "best value" colleges, top public universities and best colleges for veterans. Colleges periodically lose their rankings because of false data, sometimes submitted incorrectly but without the intent to deceive. This marks the second time in two years that a college has been found to have submitted false data to *U.S. News* -- and to have done so intentionally -- for multiple years. Temple University last year admitted <https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/07/10/temple-ousts-business-dean-after-report-finds-online-mba-program-years-submitted> that its business school had submitted false data about its online M.B.A. program from 2015 to 2018. The data fraud at Oklahoma went on longer. The student newspaper at Oklahoma, *The OU Daily* <http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-employs-law-firm-to-investigate-misreporting-of-alumni-donations/article_36be23c6-fcd0-11e8-bc12-1f07baf0b20a.html>, reported in December that the university was investigating reports that false data had been submitted for years. A university spokeswoman confirmed the report to *Inside Higher Ed*, as well as the detail that the law firm Jones Day was investigating the issue. She also confirmed that the incorrect data was submitted with the intent to inflate the statistic. The incorrect data was submitted while David Boren was president. The university discovered the problem and reported it during the tenure of James L. Gallogly as president. He resigned this month <https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/13/oklahoma-president-announces-he-will-step-down-after-less-year-office> after less than a year in office. John H. Taylor Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting 2604 Sevier St. Durham, NC 27705 johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com 919.816.5903 (cell/text) Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987

I think the article speaks for itself. We have known that organizations have filed inaccurate data in this area for decades. I first spoke at a conference in '92 on this. And some period after Bob Burdenski and I met with US News & World Reports regarding the issue I wrote a paper on the topic: https://www.johnhtaylorconsulting.com/advancement-program-resources.html Look under the Policies, Procedures, and Protocol section - 2nd article. The article argues that it is past time to change to a different metric. But US News then - and now - explains that until a new national standard to track alumni engagement is available to measure accurately, there would not be a change. CASE's President wrote an editorial on the issue as well last September: https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/09/17/us-news-rankings-provide-profoundly-limited-view-alumni-relations-opinion And now we see there can be consequences for misreporting. I hope institutions take note. I will say that some misreporting is unintentional as some institutions misinterpret the calculation methodology. That methodology hasn't changed in 30+ years, but some still misunderstand. The article mentions the correct formula, FWIW. John John H. Taylor Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting 2604 Sevier St. Durham, NC 27705 johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com 919.816.5903 (cell/text) Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987 On Fri, May 24, 2019 at 5:44 AM Rodriguez, Stephen M < stephen_rodriguez@harvard.edu> wrote: > Thanks for posting John and I would welcome your commentary and thoughts > for Friday morning reading. > > > > Cheers, > > Stephen > > > > *Stephen Maxwell Rodriguez *| Senior Director, Leadership Giving > > Alumni Affairs & Development | Harvard University > > 124 Mt. Auburn Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 > > 617.495.9383| C 617.817.4051 | F 617.495.9383 > > > > alumni.harvard.edu > <https://alumni.harvard.edu/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_all_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> > > Find Harvard on: Facebook > <https://www.facebook.com/harvardalumniassoc/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_haa_staff_2018-07-12> > | Instagram > <https://www.instagram.com/harvard/?hl=en&utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> > | LinkedIn > <https://www.linkedin.com/school/harvard-university/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> > | Twitter > <https://twitter.com/harvard?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> > > > > > > *From: *Advancement Services Discussion List < > FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> on behalf of John Taylor < > johntaylorconsulting@GMAIL.COM> > *Reply-To: *"fundsvcs@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" < > FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> > *Date: *Friday, May 24, 2019 at 8:06 AM > *To: *"FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> > *Subject: *[FUNDSVCS] University of Oklahoma Loses US News Ranking > Because of Incorrect Alumni Giving Data > > > > *From** Inside Higher Ed – **Full story is here > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_admissions_article_2019_05_23_university-2Doklahoma-2Dstripped-2Dus-2Dnews-2Dranking-2Dsupplying-2Dfalse&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=EtZ8paDoRn5N5wbqNN6RTAteO8V4ZuYx5cOmIBGonGI&e=>* > *.* > > > > *U.S. News & World Report *has stripped the University of Oklahoma > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_college_207500_university-2Doklahoma-2Dnorman-2Dcampus&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Gx-N7vOJgDWrUhNO9K6FvZT4gWjmHOc8OTwVt_ujSzc&e=> of > its ranking, citing incorrect information provided about alumni giving. The > university told *U.S. News* that it has been supplying incorrect data > since 1999. > > According to the magazine, the most recent report from Oklahoma claimed > that its two-year rate of alumni giving was 14 percent, when it is actually > 9.7 percent. Alumni giving counts for 5 percent of the methodology in the > "Best Colleges" ranking by *U.S. News*. As a result, the magazine removed > Oklahoma from that ranking and several others, including "best value" > colleges, top public universities and best colleges for veterans. > > > > Colleges periodically lose their rankings because of false data, sometimes > submitted incorrectly but without the intent to deceive. > > > > This marks the second time in two years that a college has been found to > have submitted false data to *U.S. News* -- and to have done so > intentionally -- for multiple years. Temple University last year admitted > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2018_07_10_temple-2Dousts-2Dbusiness-2Ddean-2Dafter-2Dreport-2Dfinds-2Donline-2Dmba-2Dprogram-2Dyears-2Dsubmitted&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Fz-sYl9gp0Ysy8cqS4mbFuUluCDwXZrldaHvvn6M9GU&e=> that > its business school had submitted false data about its online M.B.A. > program from 2015 to 2018. The data fraud at Oklahoma went on longer. > > > > The student newspaper at Oklahoma, *The OU Daily* > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.oudaily.com_news_ou-2Demploys-2Dlaw-2Dfirm-2Dto-2Dinvestigate-2Dmisreporting-2Dof-2Dalumni-2Ddonations_article-5F36be23c6-2Dfcd0-2D11e8-2Dbc12-2D1f07baf0b20a.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=OsNuiFyipujcA70_c040MenIWWFO4sWXtzcfeHZppkw&e=>, > reported in December that the university was investigating reports that > false data had been submitted for years. A university spokeswoman confirmed > the report to *Inside Higher Ed*, as well as the detail that the law firm > Jones Day was investigating the issue. She also confirmed that the > incorrect data was submitted with the intent to inflate the statistic. > > > > The incorrect data was submitted while David Boren was president. > > > > The university discovered the problem and reported it during the tenure of > James L. Gallogly as president. He resigned this month > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2019_05_13_oklahoma-2Dpresident-2Dannounces-2Dhe-2Dwill-2Dstep-2Ddown-2Dafter-2Dless-2Dyear-2Doffice&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=rnfXcO0IdDRpCjbh0zQYpTkLBOf_ATBTcKNJYJ1xPao&e=> after > less than a year in office. > > John H. Taylor > > Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting > > 2604 Sevier St. > > Durham, NC 27705 > > johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com > > 919.816.5903 (cell/text) > > > > Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987 >

This is a sad story for many reasons. As the article points out, the alumni giving rate represents only 5% of a university’s overall ranking in U.S. News and World Report, making the benefit of falsifying the numbers pretty marginal. What’s more, Oklahoma undoubtedly has many excellent faculty and administrators who had no role to play in this, and all of them are now going to suffer the consequences. It’s ironic that the decision was made to inflate these numbers for reputational reasons, and now the reputational harm has far exceeded any “benefit” that would have been gained by cheating in the first place. One of the things that concerns me in our profession is the increasing pressure on individuals responsible for entering and maintaining alumni and donor data to make decisions that may boost annual giving rates in the short term but, ultimately, hurt the institution in the long term. I’m sure many of us know places where database stewards are encouraged not to find lost alumni so that the denominator used in calculating the alumni participation rate may be kept artificially low. This falls in the category of other ethical “shortcuts” we see in our field, including decisions to count gifts of negligible charitable value and/or with insufficient documentation. As seen in this instance, at some point the house of cards always falls, hurting the institution far more than it would have been “hurt” by having to report lower, but accurate, giving numbers. It’s a good reminder to all of us that we are right to insist on doing things properly, even if we may have to have occasional uncomfortable conversations with our colleagues who would like “good news” to report. Thanks so much, John, for sharing this article and for all you do to affirm ethical decision making in our field! Erin Erin Lynch Moran Partner The Solas Group www.thesolasgroup.com 800-573-5010 708-289-0914

Thanks for posting John and I would welcome your commentary and thoughts for Friday morning reading. Cheers, Stephen Stephen Maxwell Rodriguez | Senior Director, Leadership Giving Alumni Affairs & Development | Harvard University 124 Mt. Auburn Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 617.495.9383| C 617.817.4051 | F 617.495.9383 alumni.harvard.edu<https://alumni.harvard.edu/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_all_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> Find Harvard on: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/harvardalumniassoc/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_haa_staff_2018-07-12> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/harvard/?hl=en&utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/school/harvard-university/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/harvard?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> on behalf of John Taylor <johntaylorconsulting@GMAIL.COM> Reply-To: "fundsvcs@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> Date: Friday, May 24, 2019 at 8:06 AM To: "FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> Subject: [FUNDSVCS] University of Oklahoma Loses US News Ranking Because of Incorrect Alumni Giving Data From Inside Higher Ed – Full story is here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_admissions_article_2019_05_23_university-2Doklahoma-2Dstripped-2Dus-2Dnews-2Dranking-2Dsupplying-2Dfalse&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=EtZ8paDoRn5N5wbqNN6RTAteO8V4ZuYx5cOmIBGonGI&e=>. U.S. News & World Report has stripped the University of Oklahoma<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_college_207500_university-2Doklahoma-2Dnorman-2Dcampus&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Gx-N7vOJgDWrUhNO9K6FvZT4gWjmHOc8OTwVt_ujSzc&e=> of its ranking, citing incorrect information provided about alumni giving. The university told U.S. News that it has been supplying incorrect data since 1999. According to the magazine, the most recent report from Oklahoma claimed that its two-year rate of alumni giving was 14 percent, when it is actually 9.7 percent. Alumni giving counts for 5 percent of the methodology in the "Best Colleges" ranking by U.S. News. As a result, the magazine removed Oklahoma from that ranking and several others, including "best value" colleges, top public universities and best colleges for veterans. Colleges periodically lose their rankings because of false data, sometimes submitted incorrectly but without the intent to deceive. This marks the second time in two years that a college has been found to have submitted false data to U.S. News -- and to have done so intentionally -- for multiple years. Temple University last year admitted<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2018_07_10_temple-2Dousts-2Dbusiness-2Ddean-2Dafter-2Dreport-2Dfinds-2Donline-2Dmba-2Dprogram-2Dyears-2Dsubmitted&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Fz-sYl9gp0Ysy8cqS4mbFuUluCDwXZrldaHvvn6M9GU&e=> that its business school had submitted false data about its online M.B.A. program from 2015 to 2018. The data fraud at Oklahoma went on longer. The student newspaper at Oklahoma, The OU Daily<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.oudaily.com_news_ou-2Demploys-2Dlaw-2Dfirm-2Dto-2Dinvestigate-2Dmisreporting-2Dof-2Dalumni-2Ddonations_article-5F36be23c6-2Dfcd0-2D11e8-2Dbc12-2D1f07baf0b20a.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=OsNuiFyipujcA70_c040MenIWWFO4sWXtzcfeHZppkw&e=>, reported in December that the university was investigating reports that false data had been submitted for years. A university spokeswoman confirmed the report to Inside Higher Ed, as well as the detail that the law firm Jones Day was investigating the issue. She also confirmed that the incorrect data was submitted with the intent to inflate the statistic. The incorrect data was submitted while David Boren was president. The university discovered the problem and reported it during the tenure of James L. Gallogly as president. He resigned this month<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2019_05_13_oklahoma-2Dpresident-2Dannounces-2Dhe-2Dwill-2Dstep-2Ddown-2Dafter-2Dless-2Dyear-2Doffice&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=rnfXcO0IdDRpCjbh0zQYpTkLBOf_ATBTcKNJYJ1xPao&e=> after less than a year in office. John H. Taylor Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting 2604 Sevier St. Durham, NC 27705 johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com<mailto:johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com> 919.816.5903 (cell/text) Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987

Thanks John for all the good work and advocacy you do. I particularly appreciate your last paragraph – the need for transparency and apples to apples comparisons will hopefully motivate better practices across the industry. Having worked on various annual giving teams at a few different institutions I can say there wasn’t a common reporting practice and perhaps efforts to inflate participation rates for very short-sighted goals (including US news & world submissions). I think this concept can translate to campaign accounting as well – it would behoove more adoption of standards across different institutions so that we focus more on the work being done and the impact we have on our students and faculty versus the numbers we tout and celebrate. Stephen Maxwell Rodriguez | Senior Director, Leadership Giving Alumni Affairs & Development | Harvard University 124 Mt. Auburn Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 617.495.9383| C 617.817.4051 | F 617.495.9383 alumni.harvard.edu<https://alumni.harvard.edu/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_all_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> Find Harvard on: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/harvardalumniassoc/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_haa_staff_2018-07-12> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/harvard/?hl=en&utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/school/harvard-university/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/harvard?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> on behalf of John Taylor <johntaylorconsulting@GMAIL.COM> Reply-To: "fundsvcs@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> Date: Friday, May 24, 2019 at 10:37 AM To: "FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> Subject: Re: [FUNDSVCS] University of Oklahoma Loses US News Ranking Because of Incorrect Alumni Giving Data I think the article speaks for itself. We have known that organizations have filed inaccurate data in this area for decades. I first spoke at a conference in '92 on this. And some period after Bob Burdenski and I met with US News & World Reports regarding the issue I wrote a paper on the topic: https://www.johnhtaylorconsulting.com/advancement-program-resources.html<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.johnhtaylorconsulting.com_advancement-2Dprogram-2Dresources.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=Rktcpf8lJaJR1nahTl4mxeQVsSEsFsPoJ7g58J4Pj84&e=> Look under the Policies, Procedures, and Protocol section - 2nd article. The article argues that it is past time to change to a different metric. But US News then - and now - explains that until a new national standard to track alumni engagement is available to measure accurately, there would not be a change. CASE's President wrote an editorial on the issue as well last September: https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/09/17/us-news-rankings-provide-profoundly-limited-view-alumni-relations-opinion<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_views_2018_09_17_us-2Dnews-2Drankings-2Dprovide-2Dprofoundly-2Dlimited-2Dview-2Dalumni-2Drelations-2Dopinion&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=dD2IZHD97oN5gp6xSXQoO8IqvlNTQ9ffLfZE9D_Sd_Q&e=> And now we see there can be consequences for misreporting. I hope institutions take note. I will say that some misreporting is unintentional as some institutions misinterpret the calculation methodology. That methodology hasn't changed in 30+ years, but some still misunderstand. The article mentions the correct formula, FWIW. John John H. Taylor Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting 2604 Sevier St. Durham, NC 27705 johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com<mailto:johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com> 919.816.5903 (cell/text) Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987 On Fri, May 24, 2019 at 5:44 AM Rodriguez, Stephen M <stephen_rodriguez@harvard.edu<mailto:stephen_rodriguez@harvard.edu>> wrote: Thanks for posting John and I would welcome your commentary and thoughts for Friday morning reading. Cheers, Stephen Stephen Maxwell Rodriguez | Senior Director, Leadership Giving Alumni Affairs & Development | Harvard University 124 Mt. Auburn Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 617.495.9383| C 617.817.4051 | F 617.495.9383 alumni.harvard.edu<https://alumni.harvard.edu/?utm_source=email_ad&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=email_signature&utm_content=aad_all_aa&d_staff_2018-07-12> Find Harvard on: Facebook<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.facebook.com_harvardalumniassoc_-3Futm-5Fsource-3Demail-5Fad-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dreferral-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Demail-5Fsignature-26utm-5Fcontent-3Daad-5Fhaa-5Fstaff-5F2018-2D07-2D12&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=q7bS9L7uVz9Si0xpTxeMdHHh8luTTDFDYTzWr15uYnM&e=> | Instagram<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_harvard_-3Fhl-3Den-26utm-5Fsource-3Demail-5Fad-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dreferral-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Demail-5Fsignature-26utm-5Fcontent-3Daad-5Faa-26d-5Fstaff-5F2018-2D07-2D12&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=NW8qCi-JadNlYHWKaY26HRPBmEh9FfCa_sKGulOWpdM&e=> | LinkedIn<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_school_harvard-2Duniversity_-3Futm-5Fsource-3Demail-5Fad-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dreferral-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Demail-5Fsignature-26utm-5Fcontent-3Daad-5Faa-26d-5Fstaff-5F2018-2D07-2D12&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=zTnzIorDHevfsFx__GeUwyW6phc5wyTV6Odxl8UCtCQ&e=> | Twitter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_harvard-3Futm-5Fsource-3Demail-5Fad-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dreferral-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Demail-5Fsignature-26utm-5Fcontent-3Daad-5Faa-26d-5Fstaff-5F2018-2D07-2D12&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=0xsG-nZj-fkOJlKxAFwh1IlrhdyNcRhmXClrmXI8k_8&s=iT5o87j8B6mrJfoaLG6crVYNavBMOTz4H4wQKPxRPuI&e=> From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>> on behalf of John Taylor <johntaylorconsulting@GMAIL.COM<mailto:johntaylorconsulting@GMAIL.COM>> Reply-To: "fundsvcs@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:fundsvcs@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>> Date: Friday, May 24, 2019 at 8:06 AM To: "FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>" <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>> Subject: [FUNDSVCS] University of Oklahoma Loses US News Ranking Because of Incorrect Alumni Giving Data From Inside Higher Ed – Full story is here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_admissions_article_2019_05_23_university-2Doklahoma-2Dstripped-2Dus-2Dnews-2Dranking-2Dsupplying-2Dfalse&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=EtZ8paDoRn5N5wbqNN6RTAteO8V4ZuYx5cOmIBGonGI&e=>. U.S. News & World Report has stripped the University of Oklahoma<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_college_207500_university-2Doklahoma-2Dnorman-2Dcampus&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Gx-N7vOJgDWrUhNO9K6FvZT4gWjmHOc8OTwVt_ujSzc&e=> of its ranking, citing incorrect information provided about alumni giving. The university told U.S. News that it has been supplying incorrect data since 1999. According to the magazine, the most recent report from Oklahoma claimed that its two-year rate of alumni giving was 14 percent, when it is actually 9.7 percent. Alumni giving counts for 5 percent of the methodology in the "Best Colleges" ranking by U.S. News. As a result, the magazine removed Oklahoma from that ranking and several others, including "best value" colleges, top public universities and best colleges for veterans. Colleges periodically lose their rankings because of false data, sometimes submitted incorrectly but without the intent to deceive. This marks the second time in two years that a college has been found to have submitted false data to U.S. News -- and to have done so intentionally -- for multiple years. Temple University last year admitted<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2018_07_10_temple-2Dousts-2Dbusiness-2Ddean-2Dafter-2Dreport-2Dfinds-2Donline-2Dmba-2Dprogram-2Dyears-2Dsubmitted&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=Fz-sYl9gp0Ysy8cqS4mbFuUluCDwXZrldaHvvn6M9GU&e=> that its business school had submitted false data about its online M.B.A. program from 2015 to 2018. The data fraud at Oklahoma went on longer. The student newspaper at Oklahoma, The OU Daily<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.oudaily.com_news_ou-2Demploys-2Dlaw-2Dfirm-2Dto-2Dinvestigate-2Dmisreporting-2Dof-2Dalumni-2Ddonations_article-5F36be23c6-2Dfcd0-2D11e8-2Dbc12-2D1f07baf0b20a.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=OsNuiFyipujcA70_c040MenIWWFO4sWXtzcfeHZppkw&e=>, reported in December that the university was investigating reports that false data had been submitted for years. A university spokeswoman confirmed the report to Inside Higher Ed, as well as the detail that the law firm Jones Day was investigating the issue. She also confirmed that the incorrect data was submitted with the intent to inflate the statistic. The incorrect data was submitted while David Boren was president. The university discovered the problem and reported it during the tenure of James L. Gallogly as president. He resigned this month<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.insidehighered.com_news_2019_05_13_oklahoma-2Dpresident-2Dannounces-2Dhe-2Dwill-2Dstep-2Ddown-2Dafter-2Dless-2Dyear-2Doffice&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=-kHmJeLASOSJn6a_FC4jQK6pbojhkz1eRgXFSts6U_4&m=Hr0y12QffApfApV0FSxa3JWpLvcFU7GMkX8mdV02IsQ&s=rnfXcO0IdDRpCjbh0zQYpTkLBOf_ATBTcKNJYJ1xPao&e=> after less than a year in office. John H. Taylor Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting 2604 Sevier St. Durham, NC 27705 johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com<mailto:johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com> 919.816.5903 (cell/text) Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987