Using data strategically to guide decisions and actions can have a positive effect on education practices and processes. This facilitation guide shows education data teams how to move beyond simply reporting data to applying data to direct strategic action. Using guiding questions, suggested activities, and activity forms, this guide provides…

Briefly summarizes topics discussed at the annual conference of the Canadian Library Association, including the goals and objectives of the organization, the findings of a commission which examined the decision making processes of the association, and the establishment of a task force to review association publications. (CLB)

A model of proactive planning is presented in this paper which incorporates the latest research findings related to: (1) environmental scanning (external); (2) long-range planning (internal); (3) strategic planning; and (4) educational management. Proactive planning as it occurs in the private sector is analyzed and valuable lessons which can be…

This paper focuses on key strategic decisions taken at Tufts University (Massachusetts) under President Jean Mayer noting the role of formal planning and institutional research. Initiatives in the following areas are described: the School of Veterinary Medicine, nutrition, environmental management, entrepreneurial liberation, fund raising, and a…

Examples of retrenchment at colleges and universities are given as are five principles such as the need to reconsider institutional mission. Both strategic and tactical perspectives are applied to retrenchment decisions of college leadership. (DB)

Higher education differs from other service enterprises in its social responsibility and the context for decision making. An integrated marketing strategy based on the identified positioning of the institution plays a crucial role in successful enrollment and long-term institutional development. Marketing can make a significant contribution to…

Four university joint big decisions committees (JBDCs) were investigated to learn why they were established, their relationship with the traditional governance structure, functions within standard models of campus organization, and impact on institutional planning. The JBDC is seen as a growing governing force on campus, especially during periods…

This booklet is a guide to the planning process for members of governing boards of institutions of higher education. Generally, it sees the role of the board in planning as ensuring that planning takes place and insisting that plans are used regularly for decision making. The publication discusses the following five specific tasks related to this…

This booklet, intended for trustees of institutions of higher education, offers some instruction on the principles of risk management. Introductory information provides a definition of risk management, which is seen as a planning and strategic function, not solely as a financial or safety assessment. Individual sections then address the following…

Describes the emphasis of decision support systems as being on the decision making process itself, rather than the flow of information; reviews the uses of microcomputers in libraries in recent years; and compares five decision modeling software packages. An appendix lists the name, manufacturer's address, price, and hardware requirements of each…

Planning can shield a small development office from scattershot demands. Priorities should be set and an office assessment should be done. An assessment should outline the elements of a successful development program, review the current program's progress, and propose a three- to five-year plan for moving the program ahead. (MLW)

Planning in higher education has evolved as a response to changes in the environment, such as expanding enrollments, student unrest, economic recession, and pressures for financial accountability. Strategic planning has emerged as one way institutions can handle and overcome the adversities of the future. Definitions of strategic planning are…

The extent to which a college has been engaged in strategic planning was studied with a sample of 96 institutions which had been identified as using strategic planning in a 1985 study. Survey questions consisted of a mixture of: (1) activities proper and essential to strategic planning; and (2) approaches and views of strategic planning that have…

Bradford College (Massachusetts), a small liberal arts college, used creative planning to revitalize the institution despite fiscal constraints. Decisions and actions since 1981 are reviewed in terms of first steps (revitalizing faculty affairs), finding a new president, reorganizing the curriculum, planning noncurricular changes, and developing…

A methodology for developing a strategic, long-range organizational information architecture is described. The development of a plan to identify key categories of information to enhance decision making and operational productivity is detailed. Figures and tables detail the methodology's application at the University of Minnesota. (DB)