The Pinnacle awards are presented annually by the Association of School Business Officials International to four members who have created an outstanding practice, proposal, or publication that enhances the school business management profession. Presents summaries of each of the 1994 recipients' award-winning projects. (MLF)

The costs of outpatient training for medical residents in a community health center (CHC) are analyzed, based on a family practice residency of one medical school. The model used a computer spreadsheet program to determine the financial impact of the program on the CHC. Sensitivity analyses determined the effects of changing productivity, nursing…

Ten years ago Wayne State University (WSU) libraries assimilated the university's media services unit. An analysis of its present facilities, services, collections, goals, and cost-recovery elements demonstrates the full-service WSU media center is a cost-effective, integral part of WSU library service. (Author/AEF)

Provides an overview of a district-wide computer network created by the Mankato (Minnesota) public school district that allows all its staff and students full Internet access. Includes the goals, scope, and history of the project; provides a technical overview and cost analysis; and projects future directions. (Author/LRW)

Government, employers, postsecondary institutions, and students decide whether to continue supporting cooperative education based on information about costs, processes, outputs, and outcomes. Assessment of available evidence suggests that co-op's benefits largely exceed costs, but university faculty and administrators need better evidence of…

Increasingly, colleges are participating in long-distance telephone service provision for students as a money-making tool. Student needs for telecommunications have expanded with regular student use of computers, and software-based billing systems simplify program administration. The arrangement can solve financial, security, and logistical…

Previews the U.S. Postal Service's Postal Buddy, a self-service customer kiosk which uses multimedia computer applications to provide cost-effective and improved postal services to customers. Services are outlined, including change of address services and provision of relocation information. (EA)

The department of computer services at Miami-Dade Community College (Florida) limits its monthly newsletter to one page and follows specific guidelines about content and format. The publication is used for communication, public relations, and recognition. This streamlined approach allows for efficient and consistent communication. (MSE)

Development of two interactive videodisks in space science for middle-school-age children is described, and suggestions for development of affordable and successful interactive products are offered. The first interactive program is a touchscreen exhibit designed for museum use, and the second is a classroom tool for teaching a planetary sciences…

A conceptual structure is developed for examining college and university productivity, and an explanation is proposed for why productivity has declined. It is argued that much of the problem results from the shift of faculty effort toward research and professional activity and away from undergraduate teaching. (Author/SLD)

The process of becoming a "green" campus, through improvements in areas such as energy efficiency and waste reduction, can be surprisingly complex but the costs of inaction are high. Four examples of conservation at Brown University (Massachusetts) illustrate the benefits to the environment, the students' education, and the university…

Examines the problem of aging of books in university libraries and presents a mathematical model of the aging process. Indexes for the aging time limit, over-age book rate, and aging rate are suggested; use of the mean unit price is considered; and countermeasures for control of the aging process are proposed. (four references) (MES)

A North Carolina school district has faced severe budget constraints; however, the school food service, transportation, and facilities departments have effectively cut costs and improved efficiency. Includes a list of 40 ways to save school dollars, updated from a 1978 publication of this journal. (MLF)

Describes the development of a low-cost desktop simulator for basic training of train drivers that is being tested by British Rail. The use and advantages of digital video interactive (DVI) technology are explained, limitations of videodisks are noted, the design of the simulator is described, and future developments are considered. (LRW)

Describes OhioLINK, a statewide information network that was developed to cost effectively link and enhance the information resources of Ohio's academic institutions. Highlights include cooperation; funding; the governing structure; and sidebars that discuss the results of a survey of statewide networks. (LRW)