Using advice from experienced higher education officials, discusses how colleges and universities can guide staff and colleagues through a tragedy with flexibility, good communication skills, and compassion. (EV)

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis is the first public institution to implement Responsibility Center Management (RCM), a comprehensive decentralized, incentive-base financial management system. RCM has strengthened academic planning, budget management, general accountability, and multiyear fiscal planning. Organizational…

Elements in the effort to make the annual Nova University (Florida) audit more time efficient included gaining agreement with the auditors for a specific closing date; coordinating efforts of various departments involved; identifying and eliminating major obstacles; streamlining procedures when needed; and continuous coordination and monitoring of…

An approach used at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) to explain the complexity of budget balancing to the institutional community is described. The model used facilitates the determination of necessary conditions for achieving budget equilibrium and suggests some approaches to restructuring expenses to ensure equilibrium. Four…

Steps and considerations in developing an institutional plan for emergency preparedness are discussed, including delineation of internal and external responsibilities, warning systems, a means for activating the plan, a command headquarters, medical facilities, housing and food, internal and external communications, transportation, and testing and…

Four experienced college business officers discuss how to communicate financial information to the college community. They focus on the importance of establishing trust within the institution; the role of the business officer in strategic planning; typical misunderstandings and how to avoid and correct them; supporting the president; and keeping…

Higher education institution business officers need to follow principles of presentation, judgment, and measurement in developing effective executive financial reports. Principles include (1) keep the statement simple; (2) be consistent in reporting from year to year; (3) determine user needs and interests; (4) limit data; (5) provide trend lines;…

The importance of and necessary procedures for evaluating noninstructional personnel are outlined. A performance appraisal system developed and implemented at Clemson University to help decentralize management of state personnel is described that uses communication and direction to establish personnel goals and expectations. (MSE)

A survey of 148 college and university risk management officers and college executives investigated attitudes concerning the added value that risk management brings to the institution; insurance functions critical to the institution; critical loss control functions; communication of risk management issues; and professional development of these…

For the College of Mt. Saint Joseph (Ohio) to remain financially sound and to inform decisions about resources and academic programs, college leaders needed to understand instructional costs: costs per credit hour; how these vary by department, program; and meaningful ratios of revenues to costs. A system of differential analysis was developed to…

When college budget problems lead to difficult decisions, the inherent differences between the business and academic areas may become exaggerated. Business affairs administrators are wise to make the effort to establish and maintain good communication with faculty. The rewards are trust and more effective administration. (MSE)

Several experts in the field of college financial administration offer their insights into the emerging relationship between high technology and financial management, focusing on the role of the institution's chief business officer. Topics include efficiency, cost effectiveness, organizational communication, homegrown vs. packaged software…

The program of voluntary separation at Smith College (Massachusetts), implemented as an alternative to forced staff layoffs, is described. The plan included generous separation benefits and counseling services. Related issues are discussed, including tax considerations, eligibility, cost estimation, the plan's timeline, information dissemination,…

The performance appraisal system for noninstructional personnel at Alverno College uses the self-assessment learning process used in the college's instructional programs and emphasizes accountability, employee development, and communication. (MSE)

A discussion of the professional isolation of college administrators, particularly presidents, presents several views of the phenomenon, examines sources of leadership isolation, and suggests ways of avoiding and removing barriers to it. Focus is on relationships between individuals, group dynamics, and establishing organizational systems that…