This dissertation studies two distinct but equally essential industries: higher education and water utilities. In the context of higher education, I investigate the impact of subsidies on equilibrium prices and quality levels. For water utilities, I explore the differences between public and private providers in terms of productivity and…

The debate over whether the current mission-based, peer accreditation system in the U.S. is providing adequate accountability for student learning or whether it should be replaced with a federally managed accreditation system has grown more intense over the last decade. The purpose of this paper is to explain the author's position that…

In this HEPI paper, two authors with considerable expertise in evaluating higher education systems around the world assess higher education institutions that are not funded directly by taxpayers--known in the UK as alternative providers. Since the start of the century, alternative providers have been growing rapidly. This raises a number of…

The International Research and Studies Program supports surveys, studies, and instructional materials development to improve and strengthen instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields. The purpose of the program is to improve and strengthen instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies and other…

Institutional research (IR) offices on campus are not all alike, any more than campuses are all alike. They may differ in their reporting line, range of responsibilities, level in the campus hierarchy, and work emphasis. Institutions differ in complexity (number and level of programs, colleges, and schools), size of the student body, affiliation,…

This document describes the breadth of the research that the ETS (Educational Testing Service) Research & Development division is conducting in 2010. This portfolio will be updated in early 2011 to reflect changes to existing projects and new projects that were added after this document was completed. The research described in this portfolio falls…

The nature and origins of the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education are discussed. Emphasis is placed on origin; membership; relationship to Carnegie Corporation and to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; relationship to higher education and government; the commission's legitimacy; schedule and activities; and achievements,…

During the last 30 years, the state of California has had a great obsession with determining appropriate preparation programs for public school administrators. In all reform cases, the alterations have come in the name of strong leadership, school improvement, quality leadership, and instructional leadership. Political posturing has been evident,…

The independent, nonprofit research institute is a phenomenon of the twentieth century. These institutions now engage in research not only in industry, but also in national defense programs, public health, space exploration, atomic energy, education, economics, and public policy. The nonprofit research institutes are of particular interest because…

There are more defaults, more fast-buck artists, and in general more abuse in the educational sector. (Author/KE)

The federal government has traditionally relied on a variety of private accrediting bodies and state chartering and licensing authorities for determining eligibility and exercising direct supervision and consumer protection in education. As Federal financial assistance directly to students has expanded (3 million students received $6.4 million in…

There has been considerable debate about the impact of external quality assurance in higher education. This paper describes a discussion at the INQAAHE workshop in The Hague, attended by representatives of agencies, exploring the effects of external quality processes on institutions and programmes. The summary, probably for the first time,…

Analysis of Linking Intergenerational Networks in Communities (LINC), a 5-year collaboration among a university, private agency, and state offices of aging and education, resulted in the following lessons for collaboration: (1) establish individual and collaborative roles and responsibilities; (2) develop effective communication strategy; (3) use…

This publication is the result of a survey conducted to compile information from European and North American countries about the various agencies which decide or influence the policy concerning science in the particular nations. The information is categorized for each country on the basis of four criteria: state, higher education, private sector,…