Policy Implications Analysis (PIA) is a tool designed to maximize the likelihood that an evaluation report will have an impact on decision-making. PIA was designed to help people planning and conducting evaluations tailor their information so that it has optimal potential for being used and acted upon. This paper describes the development and…

This document contains revised policy and guidelines for the external evaluation of new graduate-level programs in the Oregon University System. Each institution in the Oregon University System that requests a new graduate-level or graduate degree program or a significant new option within an existing graduate program must complete an external…

Written to guide librarians and staff in all types of libraries, this manual describes steps in the processes of writing collection development statements and assessing library collections. The first section focuses on the collection development policy--the benefits of a written policy, who should write the statement, and elements to be included.…

To enable decision makers to become more aware of the levels of confidence that can be placed in the results of particular computerized decision models, methods for establishing confidence levels are discussed. The U.S. General Accounting Office has developed criteria and review procedures for evaluating computerized policy analysis models.…

The purpose of this paper is to assist school district decision makers in formation of computer policy by: (1) developing a framework for analyzing the policy making process; (2) reviewing national and local policies on computer use; (3) analyzing current practice as de facto policy; and (4) evaluating the effects of written and/or de facto…

Evaluation is a part of political process, but public policy decisions are not always based on evaluations. The following steps should be used to enhance this process: (1) develop policy questions; (2) translate them into evaluation questions; (3) conduct the evaluation; (4) answer the policy questions; and (5) use the results to generate new…

In 1997, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation requiring local school boards to conduct school safety audits for each school under their jurisdiction. Guidelines for helping educators conduct these audits are presented here. This guide is designed to help administrators chart an informed, responsible, and proactive course toward…

Up until now Hispanics have not gotten involved in the policy analysis field. By learning to specifically assess the actual or potential impact of alternate policies or programs, it will be possible to help decision makers adopt policies which are more equitable to Hispanics. The following steps may help an individual carry out policy analysis:…

The governance options matrix is provided to offer a way for state and university policymakers to examine the functioning environments of specific university-owned public teaching hospitals. With it, they can consider the benefits and problems involved with different options for governance. The issues related to the environmental factors affecting…

Suggests five questions for trustees to consider as they evaluate the costs and contributions of using part-time instructors. Questions address: (1) proportion of instruction assigned to part-time faculty; (2) type of program taught by part-time faculty; (3) comparability of qualifications for part-time and full-time faculty; (4) comparability of…

Provides models helpful to policymakers at state and institutional levels involved in academic program review and discontinuation, outlines levels of policy decisions for program discontinuation, and examines models that may be effective at each level. Concludes with program discontinuation-related recommendations. (Author/MSE)

This resource guide for initiating assessments of educational needs provides perspectives concerning possible and feasible ways to plan, organize, and implement such an assessment. The essence of needs assessment is discussed and a perspective on the effort is given. Crucial planning processes for a needs assessment are outlined and illustrative…

Effective evaluation of college student recruitment and retention programs is critical to any enrollment management strategy as a strategic tool and a policymaking tool. Meaningful evaluation is based on setting clear goals, asking the right questions, and establishing a context for interpretation of results. (Author/MSE)

One of the mandates of Quebec's Commission d'evaluation de l'enseignement collegial is to assess institutional policies on program evaluation (IPPE's), and their implementation frameworks. This document examines the Commission's mandate, aims and approach; Commission guidelines on the formulation of institutional policy on program evaluation; and…

Prepared as a guide for community college trustees, this monograph discusses issues involved in the legislatively mandated annual evaluation of community college presidents in Florida. Following a general overview of presidential evaluation and legal bases for evaluation, eight issues, phrased as questions relating to presidential evaluation, are…