GOTO Rankings Considered Helpful

Abstract

Rankings are a fact of life. Whether or not one likes them, they exist and are influential. Within academia, and in computer science in particular, rankings not only capture our attention but also widely influence people who have a limited understanding of computing science research, including prospective students, university administrators, and policy-makers. In short, rankings matter. This position paper advocates for the adoption of "GOTO rankings": rankings that use Good data, are Open, Transparent, and Objective, and the rejection of rankings that do not meet these criteria.