1. Hiring is designed to create an intellectual and philosophical balance so faculty can debate and hone their ideas about important issues. (At the other schools, intellectual diversity is threatening.)2. In hiring, the top of the class is valued over the identity of the school because at any school people who finish in the top 10 are smart, ambitious, and driven. (The other schools hire for credentials even though they are as reliable as cubic zirconium as an indicator of value.)
3. Discussion can be had about everything – class, race, sexuality, the Middle East – without the discussion becoming personal, or people pouting, or stomping out of the room. (At other schools these matter are taboo because of faint hearts and fears of being labeled.)
4. There is real collegiality as opposed to facial collegiality. (At other schools the appearance of being “nice” is sufficient and can be used to mask a great deal of self-dealing, externality production, and closed-door mischief.
5. The administration and faculty announce and internalize goals and stress accountability. (At other schools, the administration takes whatever happens and claims it means success.)
6. There is an on-going effort to match the efforts of the school with the needs and expectations stakeholders. (At other schools, there is no on-going assessment as long as there is any chance those assessed would object.)
7. The faculty abide by the real NYT rule: Don’t do anything you would not want reported on in the NYT. (Other schools go by the “other” NYT rule: Don’t put anything in writing that you would not want reported in the Times.)
8. The ideal curriculum is planned and professors make sure it is offered. (At other schools, teachers are asked what they are “willing” to teach and that is what is offered.)