Before committing to the expense of consultancy, the college administrator needs to consider several basic questions: "what is the problem?" and "what is keeping the staff from solving the problem?" Certain kinds of problems are more likely than others to benefit from consultant expertise. (MSE)

Consultants and higher education clients have worked together for many years. The rapidly changing landscape of American higher education has produced continuing evolution in consulting practice and in the areas consultants serve. To use consultants effectively, institutions must learn about themselves, the consulting process, and available…

Methods by which the college, after 90 years, began long-range planning are described along with how it moved to the cyclical model after 12 more years. (Author/LBH)

The concept of environmental management to assure that the allocation of resources for facilities will be closely linked to the management of the financial resources and personnel of an institution is described. Change in the objectives and processes of resource allocation are seen as necessary for effective facility use. (Author/MLW)

Thirty-nine specific recommendations, adapted from a rigorous mission statement reached through a participatory process at Notre Dame University, indicate the range of the chief academic officer's involvements. (Author/MLW)

In the newly competitive realm of higher education, strategic planning offers a systematic method for defining colleges and universities in order to enhance their strengths and market positions and to shape their futures. The focal elements of strategic planning and benefits and limits of strategic planning are discussed. (MLW)

The key challenge to academic leadership is to restructure the allocation of academic assets, particularly the organization of the faculty, in ways that better serve emerging societal and scholarly needs.