Increasing use of credit on college campuses raises important policy questions and planning needs. Credit and debit card use varies, and most institutions are studying, experimenting, and inventing uses. Although use of credit improves cash flow, streamlines payments and services, and increases income, there are also costs to the institution. (MSE)

This article discusses proposed U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) that will apply to educational institutions that contract with or receive grants from the federal government. It focuses on the history of CAS, the impact of CAS on colleges and universities, and recommendations for the administration of CAS…

The first two stages of the financial audit required by federal Circular A-133, for nonprofit institutions receiving $100,000 or more in federal funding and cost-type contracts, as implemented by the University of Southern California, are described. Audit observations, issues emerging from the experience, and recommendations for other colleges and…

Investment of time and funds by New Zealand students was appraised in five specific tertiary education courses, namely Accountancy, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy. The study used the Internal Rate of Return Method and data from the 1981 census on income and hours of work. Results indicated the courses were "profitable" even when…

Because law firms' legal bills frequently are complex, clients often have a difficult time examining them. Management accountants should read the retention letter between the law firm and the school district and assess the reasonableness of professional fees. Costs that require particular attention include travel time, photocopying, secretarial…

This article argues that the information fund accounts provide about a college's financial health is too limited and that global accounting provides more complete and accessible records of institutional performance, including total income and spending. The experience of Williams College (Massachusetts) is used as an example. (MSE)

An ongoing system of short-term budget controls that test actual performance against budget forecasts is essential for enrollment-dependent independent colleges. The budget control model presented here is a tool to inform the management continuously of changes in the all-important tuition revenue stream. (Author/MSE)

A recent report of the National Association of College and University Business Officers finds that colleges must contain athletic budgets. However, this will require more accurate financial data than current accounting practices provide. Recommended reforms include more careful record keeping, more need-based aid instead of scholarships, and…

The use of several college classroom assessment techniques to evaluate the processes and products of accounting instruction through cooperative learning is described. The discussion looks at considerations in planning classroom assessment, choosing initial assessment techniques and adapting them, and blending cooperative learning structures with…

Describes a communication course given at the Nanyang Technological Institute in Singapore to accountancy and commerce students who are nonnative English speakers. The ability to communicate effectively in a business environment, orally and in writing, is emphasized rather than English proficiency. The course includes lectures, writing…

According to responses from 254 of 400 certified public accountants (133 practitioners, 121 educators), 91% believe that mandatory continuing professional education is beneficial and enhances professional image. Most believe it improves the quality of their work; practitioners feel more strongly about the benefits than do educators. (SK)

Effective financial management of school food service observes the following credos: (1) recognize that school food service is a business; (2) manage for productivity; (3) establish and maintain cost controls; (4) focus on expenses but not to the neglect of managing revenue; (5) balance near-term gain with long-term viability; and (6) reinvest…

Discusses ways to use the Internet as a pedagogical tool in higher education, with illustrations from techniques and resources used in a graduate course in accounting information systems. Examples include use of an online textbook, an Internet-based project, electronic mail, a class Web page, and Internet searching to find course-related…

Reviews issues surrounding college tuition discounting, and outlines sources of confusion, defines various discount types, provides historical background prior to recent changes in fund accounting rules, describes the new rules' impact, outlines different uses of tuition discounting by three groups, and applies the accumulated definitions to an…

The National Income and Product Accounts provided by the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis and similar accounts in other nations in accord with the System of National Accounts, useful for many types of economic analysis, should be revised to cover investment in education and the production and consumption of education services. (SLD)