The University of Montana's University Planning Council is an illustration of the integration of the planning and budgeting process into the institution's decision-making process, with broad constituent participation. (MSE)

Search committee members can help improve the likelihood that senior vacancies will be filled on time, within budget, and without unpleasant surprises. Methods include creating a job description, position criteria, and an institution profile; setting a timetable; using consultants; clarifying needs for candidate information; maintaining…

Doctoral students often select one of four common research methodologies that are popular in the social sciences and education today: positivist; interpretive; ideological; and pragmatic. But choice of methodology also influences the student's choice of course work, membership of dissertation committee, and the form and structure of the…

A decentralized administrative environment can help ensure the effective allocation of resources through particpative decision making. The decentralized structure at Washburn University is described along with how it helps integrate the planning and budgeting process and the effectiveness of the resulting resource allocations. (MLW)

A formal environmental scanning system designed to identify emerging issues, events, or trends threatening or bringing opportunity to an institution is discussed that uses a committee to systematically collect and analyze data from a variety of sources. (MSE)

A survey of 52 public research universities revealed great variety in the depth of faculty involvement in budgeting and in structures through which faculty participate. Faculty do not, in general, have major roles in resource allocation decisions. The concept of shared authority should be reconsidered in light of current reality. (MSE)

Four case studies concerning joint faculty-administration committees established to make major decisions (Princeton University, New Jersey; Northwestern University, Illinois; Teacher's College Columbia University, New York; Ohio University) suggest that, although the committees have potential to improve campus management, they are neither as…

Revision of a college mission statement through a broadly participatory process can provide a new and sharpened sense of direction and priorities and a powerful mechanism for institutional change. Although institutional circumstances and processes may differ, the experience of Wittenberg University (Ohio) serves as an example of a model for…

Building an effective board requires attention to trustees' roles and responsibilities, selection of new trustees, board organization, and criteria for measuring trustees' performance. Full participation is essential for effective decision-making, and six committees can be helpful: executive, nominating, finance, development, academic affairs, and…

It is argued that modification to a college's promotion and tenure system requires commitment and participation by both faculty and administration. The roles of the president, administration, and committees are examined, a four-step process of change is outlined, and specific issues to address in creating a climate for change are enumerated. (MSE)

A persistent and pressing problem in higher education is the "us versus them" mentality between faculty and administrators. Although the tension between faculty and administrators can have a healthy dimension (promoting the advice and consent of shared governance), by and large the tension is unproductive because it is based on misunderstandings…

A professor and dean emeritus at a school of social services describes a typical day, highlighting the variety of constituencies served (administrative services, academic vice president, faculty, student association, donors, city administration, public service organizations, local hospital, alumni), tasks to be accomplished, issues to be…