This paper presents and attacks the argument that curriculum decision making is not a sufficiently recondite area to warrant helmsmanship by theorists, as is advocated by the neo-Platonic view that experts in a field should govern it. A different reason for rejecting control by experts is offered. (Author/SJL)

There has been a trend in state government toward tighter and tighter centralization that, though done in the name of greater economy and efficiency, is in large part a reach for political power. Not all services of the state can be performed well if integrated into a single monolithic administrative pyramid with all other state services and…

Examines some aspects of the control apparatus of the Ontario school system from both a historical and an operational perspective. (DM)

Using Texas's experience with standards and high-stakes testing, this critical sociocultural view of accountability illuminates hidden or neglected aspects of accountability-its meanings, consequences, and the processes by which it is institutionalized. Authority is moving to the state level; teachers, parents, and students have too little…

The author suggests that, as public agencies make more of our decisions, we lose our power. Soon citizens will no longer be able to continue to make their own choices in education, and large portions of our population will be deprived of fundamental political freedom by the year 2000. (KC)

A research program at Trinity College in Ireland is reported that focused on the decision-making process, particularly the committee structure. Described are the role of individuals within committees, centralized versus decentralized decision-making, costs, sources of rigidity, and problems of the concentration of power. (Author/LBH)

Every college should have a campuswide computer publishing policy. Policy options include (1) centralized publishing; (2) franchise, with a number of units doing their own publishing; or (3) limited, with the publications office producing the basics and assisting other units when feasible. To be successful, the policy must also be enforced. (MSE)

Based on 1,198 responses from chairmen in 38 state universities, this study focuses on the perception of chairmen on where major decisions are made (university, college, or departmental level), characteristics of departments by academic field, and selected personal attributes of chairmen. (Author/LBH)

Issues concerning whether to centralize or decentralize decision-making are addressed, with applications for colleges. Centralization/decentralization (C/D) must be analyzed with reference to a particular decision. Three components of C/D are locus of authority, breadth of participation, and relative contribution by the decision-maker's staff. C/D…

Two central features of Australian universities are a strong research base and structural organization reflecting a close relationship between teaching and research. Current policy deliberations have produced research policy recommendations for increased centralization, coordination, selectivity, and concentration of research and funding that are…

In the 1960s crisis, higher education is seen as having made some decisions that outlasted their usefulness: easy tenure, Ph.D. overproduction, overbuilt plants. In meeting today's crisis, there is the threat of creating new "policy dinosaurs," such as overcentralization, erosion of faculty quality, debasement of educational standards. (Author/MLW)

A study is presented to determine (1) where people influential in public university governance believe various typical decisions are being made and (2) where they believe those decisions should be made. The kinds of issues that bring about most disagreement as to proper authority in governance and administration are identified. Centralization of…

The changes and progress made under the new system of governance of the Montana university system are examined. The report compares progress made by the system in the five years preceeding the change of governance (1968-1973) with the progress made during the first five and one-half years of the new system (July, 1973 to December, 1978). Under the…

The paper compares aspects of decision making in health and education in the United States and Great Britain from 1890-1970. The major purpose is to demonstrate variety in the degree of centralization within the two policy areas during this period. Centralization is defined as the degree to which all resources of a given type are controlled by one…