Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, comprises three primary units that each serve a distinct population: the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is a residential college for roughly 2,800 traditional-age undergraduates; the College of Adult and Professional Studies and Graduate School (CAPS/GS) serves roughly 2,200 adult learners at both the…

The appropriate relationship and interaction between technical staff, specifically scientists and engineers in research and development, and the administrative support staff, both generally and in key support units, are discussed. Suggestions for time saving include dealing directly with purchasing, facilities, employee relations, office support,…

An experienced university fund raiser discusses the staff's role in dealing with potential donors, including developing donor awareness, knowledge, interest, involvement, and commitment; maintaining constant contact; using an effective tracking system to manage, coordinate, communicate, and stimulate major fund-raising activity; and encouraging…

The location of the institutional research unit within the organizational structure influences the role it plays in supporting effective decision making. A theoretical framework of organizational structure based on division of labor can be applied to higher education institutions, with implications for staffing and expectations for performance.…

The Teaching Allocation and Management Model (TAMM) designed to help university department administrators assign faculty to courses is described, noting its strengths and limitations. The model has been used in business departments, but is seen as adaptable to any discipline. Formulas for budgeting are included in the model. (MSE)

College and university public relations professionals have cultivated faculty volunteers and developed new ways to bring the classroom to alumni by involving faculty in homecoming, reunion activities; requesting nominations for alumni awards; informing faculty how their participation affects former students; socializing with faculty to discover…

College public relations professionals offer advice to make the most of a small staff. Ideas include effective use of available technology, media services, and student intern and worker skills; use of external services; carefully planned dissemination of information; staff training in media relations; and setting priorities. (MSE)

An approach to developing external sources of funds for teaching, research, and public service uses institutional resources to encourage the activities of entrepreneurs within the institution. The concerns, considerations, and benefits are outlined. (MSE)

Although volunteers serve many useful functions in fund raising, soliciting gifts should be left to staff. Volunteers are hard to recruit, keep, motivate, are unreliable, lacking in expertise, and they can balk at the realities of development tasks. Development offices should carefully think through the appropriate roles for these individuals.…

Effective fund raising among graduate school alumni requires efforts that differ from those used with undergraduate alumni. Working with school-based or umbrella alumni organizations, staffing, and development of services and programs appropriate to this population are keys to success. Reunions, career roundtables, orientation, mentor programs,…

College and university libraries can work together to enhance library access and share resources, but there are problems inherent in such alliances. Existing library consortia illustrate some important considerations in forging a new library consortium, including complexity of organizational processes, funding issues, technology for sharing both…

Successful use of college and university World Wide Web sites for institutional development requires attention to use of staff/staff time and to site design/content/maintenance. Suggestions include using student volunteers for insight into what makes a site attractive; presenting a development viewpoint; considering users' technological…

Increased responsibilities placed on financial aid offices and the results of a survey of Georgia public two-year colleges suggests the need for a staffing formula based not on the number of aid applicants but on standards more clearly reflecting the institution's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for all students. (MSE)

Five tactics used by the University of Massachusetts to make alumni operations effective with minimal cost include assuring the campus administration's commitment to alumni club programming, training chapter volunteers on campus and through regional visits, controlling mailing costs, planning events in a cost-effective manner, and deciding whether…

Offers a checklist for implementing sustainable learning communities in colleges and universities. Addresses issues including determining focus and design, use of faculty resources, coordination with current institutional initiatives, administrative support needed, resources needed, promotion and marketing, institutionalization of the concept, and…