When real resources decline, demands change, or programs lose vitality, then a logical move is to reallocate resources to facilitate academic planning. Reallocation schemes and experiences at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Oklahoma State University are described and compared. (Author/MLW)

Progress at NCHEMS is reported on a project to develop indicators of institutional financial condition for higher education institutions. Three steps followed: (1) to develop a framework to reflect dimensions of an institution's financial condition, (2) identification of indicators to measure change in dimensions, and (3) testing of indicators.…

Misleading data reports concerning faculty pay and benefits have resulted from several errors: missing data, misleading data, misinterpreted data, and mistakes in data. Data will be understood only if examined in the context of institutional research, which takes into account the insights of the behavioral sciences. (CT)

Reviews the environmental research of the California Institute of Technology. Caltech's environmental quality laboratory brings together scientists, engineers, and economists to tackle interdisciplinary problems that have implications for public policy. (Author/CO)

Faculty performance and vitality are perennial issues that should be clearly linked to revitalized or reaffirmed institutional missions and to shared commitments to institutional excellence. It is suggested that there must also be institutional concern for faculty and the quantity and quality of students. (MLW)

The forces and pressures affecting offices of institutional research in today's higher education institutions are examined. It is suggested that the heterogeneity of these institutions will produce institutional research offices that differ in their organizational locations, roles, and responsibilities. (Author/SF)

The role of institutional research is examined as well as the essential qualities and tasks of the research personnel. The need to draw into the field able and analytical persons of integrity with strong backgrounds and experiences in various disciplines is cited. (Author/SF)

Various approaches to planning for retrenchment in higher education are summarized. Planning and research are viewed as crucial components in dealing with declining enrollments, maintaining quality education, and preventing unanticipated circumstances from affecting the institution in the future. (Author/SF)

A survey done properly by accepted and scientifically justifiable techniques can provide information on behalf of the goals of institutional advancement in academe. Deficiencies in institutional research are seen as the result of the lack of guidance on survey design, questionnaire construction, or problem definition in education research texts.…

The approach to planning described is a process of self-study for academic librarians that can be used to improve library effectiveness. (MBR)

Problems of the college or university that center around the people who use the institution's computers are examined. It is suggested that effective use of computers in higher education depends on how well the users and providers understand the constraints and problems of each information system. (Author/SF)

A study of community college institutional research showed that institutional researchers are currently more involved in routine data gathering and reporting activities than in management, planning, or evaluation activities. The merging of these roles must be accomplished if institutional research is to be successful.

The author argues that universities show a marked tendency to avoid studying either themselves or the effect they have on students. Various reasons for this avoidance are discussed. (Editor/LBH)

Offers guidelines for developing a general-purpose fact book for an individual college or university, including: initial considerations of purpose, context for publication, issue orientation, and organization; content issues; inclusion of adequate information on all major topics addressed; and logistical or presentation considerations. (MSE)

A study of the use of performance indicators in assessing the quality of higher education investigated the potential contribution to quality control of 17 indicators. It is concluded that of the 17, only 7 have high or medium impact, while 10 have low to marginal impact. Concerns regarding government use of performance indicators intended for…