The structure and process of college institutional research is compared with three different ways in which science is conceptualized. It is concluded that, although institutional research has much in common with science, it is distinct because the dynamic nature of institutional research prevents development of a cohesive body of knowledge.…

A discussion of the use of principles of business administration in university planning looks both at differences between businesses and universities and at broad and practical similarities, then presents a variety of corporate strategic techniques and suggests how they might be adapted to higher education. (MSE)

Two approaches to assessment of quality in higher education, the production-measurement and stakeholder-judgment perspectives, are described and compared in a review of literature. It is concluded that, although the production-measurement approach is dominant, it is too narrow a conceptualization and cannot accommodate the diversity of goals and…

An institution's educators legal liability policy can provide very broad or limited protection to a college and employees. The college or university's insurance buyer or risk manager must understand the terms and conditions of the policies available and evaluate their specific application to the institution, giving coverage as much weight as costs…

Two models of administering college and university alumni chapters--using volunteers or paid staff--are compared, based on comments from alumni directors who have addressed the issues. A flexible club structure, which integrates a fully structured, chartered-chapter model with two versions of predominantly staff-driven models, is proposed as…

A carefully orchestrated capital budget, an essential element of corporate management, is particularly important for a small college with limited resources. A simple management system can be adopted to achieve institutional goals. (MSE)

It is argued that recent changes in accounting standards only change the way in which institutions of higher education report finances, not necessarily the way transactions are accounted for. While fund accounting may no longer be an appropriate term for the accounting approach used, it represents appropriate concepts of stewardship and…

A study examined the appropriateness of two methods for relating the enhanced American College Testing Program (ACT) Assessment Composite and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) total scores: equipercentile concordance and regression. Study results, potential inaccuracies, and the usefulness of institutional concordances based on their own data are…

A national ranking of 508 colleges and universities, based on the size of their endowment funds and life-income-fund assets, is presented. Over 80% of endowment wealth is held by 124 institutions; 31 institutions have over $1 billion in endowment assets. Returns averaged 18% in the last fiscal year; there was little change in investment patterns.…

Discusses the use of peer institutions as a component in college and university financial and budgetary decision making. The use of peer institutions to establish points of reference is an inevitable outcome of pressures for increased input and accountability. The key factors to be used in determining the extent of a peer-institution match are…

Results of the National Association of College and University Business Officers' annual study of endowment funds and investment performance are summarized. Analysis focuses on size of investment holdings, expenditures, institutional investment patterns, and trends. Data are presented on investment pool asset allocation patterns and rank 495…

Colleges and universities should critically review their publications periodically to save money and also as a way to present a more cohesive institutional identity. Ten recommendations are made for conducting a productive publications audit; they include choosing an evaluation method, selecting participants, making the experience pleasant, and…

The makeup of college and university governing boards and the characteristics of board members were studied in 1985, as an update of a 1977 survey. A total of 215 single-campus boards and 157 multicampus boards provided information that was statistically adjusted to represent the traits of the 2,200 boards governing of the nation's 3,000 nonprofit…

Presents three different, complementary statistical models for predicting faculty tenure dynamics, using data from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts). The difference equation model exactly describes future behavior but requires complete specification. The Markov-chain model can predict the full life-cycle of tenure from initial age…

A comparative case study of 32 institutions of higher education indicated that 75 percent of newly appointed presidents, but only 25 percent of presidents with longer terms of office, enjoyed full faculty support. The tenure trajectories of exemplary, modal, and failed presidents are described, and presidents are encouraged to remain enthusiastic…