The level of the academic quality of a university is a very important measure of its value as an institutions of higher learning. Although this characteristic of a good university is axiomatic, a precise description of academic quality is illusive. In the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the following characteristics are used to define the state of academic quality:

• A primary focus on academic pursuits.
• Resource allocation based on these academic pursuits.
• A belief that teaching-learning is central to the mission.
• A philosophy that instructional delivery remains contemporary.
• A sense of being an intellectual community.
• Interaction among faculty of different disciplines.
• Student-teacher collaborative learning.
• Intellectual conversations among students.
• Diverse, intellectual experiences beyond the classroom.
• Demanding programs based on a sound liberal arts foundation.
• Qualified students serious about scholarship.
• Faculty who care about student achievement.
• Well-educated, recognized alumni.
• Use of computer-aided instruction in many disciplines.
• Involvement of undergraduate students in research activities and internships.
• Emphasis on mathematical concepts in addition to mathematical skills.
• Specific writing-intensive courses across the curriculum.
• Emphasis on modern technology in most disciplines