33. What Is a Medium-Sized University?

If you look at American higher education from the outside in, what does the country need from them? Our major deficits are not on the research side but on the training of undergrads.

—Patrick M. Callan, former director of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education

A few years ago, Cleveland State University decided it wanted to make a name for itself by becoming known for its research. Cleveland State was never going to achieve the reputation that Ohio State University or any other flagship enjoys, but it hoped to generate some prestige wattage of its own by hiring professors with potential star power.

With a stable of crackerjack academic researchers, the university’s aim was to attract ...

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