This article proposes a conceptual decision-making framework for college and university offices of institutional research during times when budgetary retrenchment and reallocation of resources is necessary. Key issues the office should consider include understanding the institution's purpose, strategy selection, evaluation activities, student…

Small increases in research and development funding and the state of the economy pose serious challenges to research universities. It is unlikely that the financial pressures will moderate. Research universities will be challenged to downsize by restructuring resources without compromising their quality. (Author/MSE)

Resources for higher education over the last 40 years are reviewed, with special emphasis on the abundance of the 1980s and crisis of the 1990s. Trends in government support are examined, and ways in which individual institutions can measure the adequacy of their resources to pursue their policy goals are discussed. (Author/MSE)