This article presents an interview with Robert Deware, associate professor of organization behavior at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who offers advice on setting up and managing a university public relations office. It focuses on issues of office size, staffing, structure, and strategy. (MDM)

The staff of an outdoor recreational or adventure program inadvertently, through its actions, may plant the idea of a lawsuit in an injured participant's mind. Lawsuits may be avoided by continuing the relationship of trust developed in the program and by helping the injured party get back to normal life or even rejoin the program. (SV)

Offers five strategies to help high school drama teachers establish a planning strategy for implementing and managing a theater program, helping them to shift from the defensive role and redirect their focus to administrative and management issues. (SR)

Applying a consumer satisfaction model to higher education program administration provides the manager with a systemic view of satisfaction, related variables, and postpurchase (alumni) actions. By manipulating the variables leading to consumer satisfaction, the institution can satisfy its consumers and increase the likelihood the consumer will…

A survey sought information on the administrative factors contributing to high-quality funded research activity in 33 high-ranked but changing research universities. Influential environmental factors, faculty participation, research visibility, and key success strategies were considered. Results were linked to patterns in decline, rise, and…

A discussion of the student activities administrator's role in solving substantial problems on the job looks at typical difficult situations and offers models for dealing with them. Each model consists of five practical steps for problem resolution. Situations addressed include emergencies, motivational crises, and externally imposed…

The discussion reviews preservation issues as they relate to campus planning and provides examples of how some colleges have approached circumstances requiring attention to preservation. A general process by which colleges can incorporate historic preservation into campus master planning is outlined. (MSE)

Project management (PM) software, used by business to facilitate planning and implementation of complex projects through database building, is discussed. Typical PM tools are reviewed, uses of the technique on campus are examined, availability of microcomputer PM software is noted, and its functional uses and benefits are explored. (Author/MSE)

Without feasible integration strategies, the institutional researcher and decision maker remain isolated from each other, to the ultimate disadvantage of the higher education institution. Practical and achievable strategies for the researcher include knowledge of the institutional climate and norms, developing communication skills, and practicing…

An interview with Stephen C. Hall and Constance F. Towler of the Harvard University Office for Information Technology (Massachusetts) addresses issues in implementing management techniques to improve and maintain program quality. Topics include motivation, executive-level knowledge and support, specific changes made, and response and assistance…

Reports on the guidelines governing the formation and operation of affiliates of the National Council of Writing Program Administrators. (HB)

A discussion of alternative investments for colleges and universities looks at the kinds of investments that comprise this group, rationales for making such investments, the advantages of diversification, risk issues, and ways to reduce risk, including careful selection of managers. Several strategies for getting started in alternative investments…

Offers guidelines for risk management to campus entertainers and their representatives, including options for insurance coverage, types of insurance policies, and risk management for non-insurable factors associated with concerts and novelty events. (MSE)

Provides data showing the numbers of college athletics officials by race and sex for 1999-2000. Analysis indicates most senior administrators are still white males, but that the number of female and minority coaches is increasing. Notes sidetracking of African Americans into academic advising and development of internship programs for females and…

Explains why philosophy should undergird development and marketing of educational programs, employment and supervision of teaching staff, and program evaluation and accountability. (SK)