A former department chairman briefly critiques the salient issues addressed in preceding articles. Specific insights into the concept of power in academic departments and the style of departmental management are provided, based upon his experiences as a chairman. (LBH)

Several benefits resulting from the relaxation of the tenure-system-freeze policy are described. A modification of the system calls for administrators to allow a certain quota of appointments into the tenure system each year, rather than making all new appointments outside the tenure system. The AAUP tenure policy is considered in this regard.…

Technology can be an obstacle or an advantage to cooperative data sharing within and between colleges and universities. Taking a technology-oriented approach before the technology is ripe for general use can be counterproductive. Many technical difficulties can be overcome by encouraging consortium staff to promote new methods of information…

Discusses the history of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research and the functions and research projects of its Early Childhood Unit. Discusses the relationship between research and practice in early child development and education within the context of the council's early childhood work. (RJC)

The evolution of executive reporting and decision support systems at the University of Hartford is described, including a definition of concepts, discussion of the decision support roles of the planning and institutional research office and computer service, a description of several systems already developed, and the strategies underlying…

Presents a conceptual model of student flow through the community college. Outlines the purposes of student tracking systems and discusses the tension between the theory and practice of designing and implementing tracking systems. (DMM)

Provides an overview of the construction of a longitudinal tracking system that can be used to address questions of institutional effectiveness. Considers the efficacy and logistics of using data from assessment with longitudinal data to permit long-term tracking of students. (DMM)

Some ways in which research on student financial aid can be conducted and used to further institutional goals and objectives are presented. Four topics for inclusion in an institution's research agenda are suggested: recruiting, measuring the aid program's effectiveness, expanding aid resources, and analyzing family financial capacity. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 167 institutions engaged in the regional reaccreditation process between 1987 and 1992 revealed that the presence of institutional research activities was positively related to the institution carrying out a systematic assessment of institutional effectiveness. (Author/MLW)

Research indicates that colleges and universities that encourage hiring of diverse faculty and staff, promote diversity as an educational excellence issue, and reward faculty and staff for their efforts to foster diversity are institutions that have integrated diversity and quality issues. A comprehensive institutional approach to diversity is…

Five criteria for judging college or university performance indicators (PIs) used to guide strategic decision making are outlined. The criteria address: purpose; alignment of PIs throughout the organization or system; alignment of PIs across inputs, processes, and outcomes; capacity to accommodate a variety of evaluation methods; and utility in…

A study analyzed data from four national surveys of the American professoriate conducted between 1969 and 1988. To assess whether groups of institutions might be accumulating advantage relative to others, research activities were compared across five Carnegie institution types. An overall strengthening of research emphasis and other changes…

Ensuring the integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program is a fundamental responsibility of the college president. The institutional research professional should lead in designing, coordinating, and maintaining an athletics information support system, and support staff should conduct analyses and prepare special reports as needed to shape…

By identifying and weighing the effects of an act on each constituency, a matrix based on John Stuart Mill's theories of utilitarianism illuminates and helps resolve complex ethical dilemmas. Application of the approach is illustrated with a simulated case study concerning the issue of reputation in a small private college. (Author/MSE)

Assessments of campus climates can be difficult and be accomplished by several methods, according to purpose. However, a well-designed survey can yield comprehensive and substantive data about the characteristics of people in the institution, workings of programs and policies, and interaction of these elements to inform institutional decision…