For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

The authors have systematically investigated the state of undergraduate learning in contemporary colleges and universities. Following several thousand traditional-age students as they enrolled in coursework from Fall 2005 to Spring 2009, across a wide range of four-year colleges and universities, the authors found a set of conditions suggesting…

Since 2004, IPEDS data has been diffused via a product known as the Data Feedback Report (DFR). Produced yearly for each institution in the IPEDS universe, the DFR is a print product that contrasts the IPEDS data submitted by an institution with its institutionally-defined comparison group. The DFR is free to all users, covers a wide range of…

The purpose of this paper is to offer an analytic perspective to policy makers and educational practitioners regarding how to use longitudinal achievement data to evaluate schools. The authors further discuss the potential practical applications of their models for superintendents, researchers, and policy makers. The premise of the study is that…

The widespread use of comparative data can lead to problems on a campus unless the data are systematically incorporated in the institutional planning cycle. A model has been developed to alleviate a number of problems and increase the power of comparison as a management tool. (MSE)

To determine objectively the difference between "committed teaching" and "nonteaching" institutions as ranked in "U.S. News and World Report" ratings of colleges and universities, 1,519 institutions were surveyed concerning their selection of faculty, faculty evaluation during probationary period, evaluation for…

Institutional comparison groups can be selected in several ways, depending on the comparison issue. The method chosen involves both technical and political considerations. (Author/MSE)

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…

Setting up a successful interinstitutional data-sharing project involves commonsense guidelines: be clear about what is wanted, take advantage of what already exists, use appropriate technology, staff adequately, recognize institutional differences, and concentrate on achieving insight rather than precision. (Author/MSE)

The use of instructional facilities at University of Alaska campuses was assessed in 1982 through a comparison of usage rates and prescribed standards. The objective was to assist the state legislature evaluate present and future capital improvements requested by the university and to enhance institutional managerial decisions regarding the need…

Comparison is inherent to system and state coordination activities and is valuable for overall review and for identifying differential needs. A variety of factors affect interinstitutional comparisons, and close cooperation between boards and institutions can increase the effectiveness of the process. (MSE)

A 1994 "U.S. News and World Report" ranking of professional schools of social work is examined and compared with the findings of 8 other attempts to rank social work schools in the last 20 years. Results indicate that the assessment measures used were primarily faculty products (for example, articles published), and that the reputational…

Based on data from the National Longitudinal Study of the Class of 1972, this study confirmed the financial value of the baccalaureate degree, in comparison with the high school diploma, and well-known differences in income to graduates by field of study. Differences by type of higher education institution were relatively smaller. (Author/MSE)