A survey of black students enrolled at Mansfield University during the spring 1985 semester found that 66.67 percent of the black students were male, and 33.33 percent female. Of the 75 black students, 25 were freshmen, 22 sophomores, 15 juniors, and 13 seniors. Black students were represented in 19 departments, including business (14 students),…

The concepts of need and needs assessment are examined in the context of information needs for college administrators. A description is included of the conceptual framework underlying the Needs Assessment Information System (NAIS), which was developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Attention is directed to: (1)…

The satisfaction of University of Maryland College Park students was assessed as part of the Maryland Longitudinal Study. The College Student Satisfaction Questionnaire was used as a basis for determining satisfaction in the following areas: compensation, social life, working conditions, recognition, and quality of education. The results indicate…

A description is provided of Florida Community College at Jacksonville's institutional assessment process. Part I explains the role of institutional assessment in a cycle of planning, research, and marketing, and establishes the scope, purposes, and uses of the assessment. Part II presents an overview of the three phases of the assessment process:…

A state-mandated outcomes assessment test for certification of teachers has been administered in Texas since 1986. At Southwest Texas State University, which produces the most certified teachers in the state, the assessment showed that its students were not also among the best. In response to this situation, a presidential committee conducted…

Approaches for undertaking a faculty salary equity analysis are discussed. An institutional researcher must have a clear understanding as to why the study is being performed. Faculty handbooks and policy manuals are good starting points for determining how salary decisions are made. Once the salary allocation criteria have been identified, the…

An overview is provided of the short- and medium-term goals and objectives of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). After highlighting initiatives undertaken during 1988-89, the report examines the five areas targeted for attention over the next 5 years: the expansion of health care program offerings; the implementation and expansion of…

Attitudes of the faculty/staff and students toward the Educational Media Center and its personnel at the College of Education at Mississippi State University were investigated in 1985. Faculty and student attitudes were compared, along with the attitudes of frequent and less frequent users. A total of 162 responses to the Educational Media Center…

The image and reputation of General College (GC) of the University of Minnesota was studied in 1981 through telephone interviews of 619 students, faculty, and counselors. Eighty-six percent of GC students, 87 percent of the university counselors, and 63 percent of high school counselors rated GC as very important. Seventy-seven percent of GC…

Student attitudes about using audio cassettes in the course "Images of Man" at Deakin University, Australia, were evaluated in 1979. A total of 192 off-campus and 39 on-campus students responded to a mail questionnaire. Responses indicate the following: students stopped cassettes to take a break and to replay sections; 70 percent…

Predictors of attrition from the nursing profession among graduates of an associate degree nursing program at Lakeland Community College, Ohio, were investigated during 1970-1979, based on an earlier study that identified predictors of attrition from the degree program. Two groups were evaluated: 91 nursing graduates for whom both file record and…

A method of adjusting for bias due to nonresponse to an alumni survey is demonstrated, based upon analysis of data from both on-time and late respondents. The responses are opinions of 254 alumni regarding how they rate their recently completed program of study within a college of an urban university. As part of the university's curriculum review…

The relationship between college grades and achievement of college graduates was studied at Winona State University, Minnesota. The following criteria for investigating this relationship were assessed: quality of vocational achievement, acceptance of responsibility in social groups, and further intellectual development. These criteria were…

Seven potentially useful maxims from the field of human information processing are proposed that may help institutional researchers prepare and present information for higher education decision-makers. The maxims, which are based on research and theory about how people cognitively process information, are as follows: (1) more may not be better;…

The problems and opportunities for institutional research in academe as it becomes increasingly policy analytic in activity and orientation are explored. It is suggested that for the 1980s the most viable and dynamic role for institutional research will be in providing leaders in higher education institutions with policy-relevant knowledge in…