Assessment is one of the most beneficial activities a university can undertake. Assessment proceeds through four stages that are discussed including: readiness, implementation, acceptance, and commitment. (MLW)

Budget pressures, tightening labor markets, and increasing public interest should prompt colleges and universities to review their wage and salary programs. Many administrators have never been exposed to practices other than those common to higher education, and trustees with corporate experience may provide some insight. (Author/MSE)

To improve the board's fund-raising results, development officers need to educate and support their members by explaining the institution's needs and expectations during recruitment, providing orientation and information, cultivating trustees' relationship with development staff, and arranging contact between trustees and students and faculty.…

Rules designed to protect students from racism or sexism can run counter to free-speech guarantees. Programs fostering understanding might be a better alternative. (Author/MSE)

Albion College established a study team of board members, faculty, and students on both sides of the South Africa divestment question to educate the campus community and determine institutional policy. After a year of study, the team decided to invest in South Africa rather than withdraw resources and reduce influence. (MSE)

Describes an analysis of the involvement of faculty in library and information studies education in the Special Libraries Association (SLA) over the past five years. The activity of faculty in SLA is compared to the activities of SLA members in library schools, and the proper role of faculty in professional associations is discussed. (seven…

A cooperative, interinstitutional plan offering individual tuition accounts based on lump-sum payments as a means of saving for college expenses is proposed as an alternative to loan options, savings bonds, and tuition futures. (MSE)

The University of Chicago's trustees, most prominent businessmen, found the institution's fund accounting system outmoded and incomprehensible and revised the financial reporting procedures. The new system gives a better picture of the size of the university, its activities, and its general financial health to use in decision making. (MSE)

Three college personnel policies that are potential alternatives to the current tenure system are outlined: (1) five-year contracts offering financial or leave incentives; (2) changes in work requirements, such as course load reduction or additional support services; and (3) representation in the governing board based on proportion of faculty…

College and university fund raising must be need-driven rather than donor-driven, capable of providing operating budget relief, and integrated with the institution's vision. Priority needs must be developed into a concise list of gift opportunities that, when funded, will clearly advance the institutional plan. Need-driven investments, not…

A survey of 14 colleges and universities gathered information on the activities of trustees, including frequency of meetings, trustee assignments, meeting attendance rate, cumulative hours spent in meetings, additional committees, travel to meetings, and percentage of governing board members who held faculty appointments. (MSE)

Bellarmine College (Kentucky) surveyed 29 peer liberal arts colleges to learn how trustees were involved in fund raising, revealing helpful information about strategies for campaigns, effect of board size and composition on trustee participation, nature of board involvement, president's role in campaign success, and moving from one campaign to the…

When possible, college presidents should be encouraged to retire undefeated rather than making the presidency a career. When circumstances indicate that the time has come for a change in administration, a thoughtful board of trustees will seek ways to make such a transition graceful. (MSE)

Presents results of a survey of 100 randomly selected community college trustees, focusing on respondents' characteristics and views on funding, governance, and educational issues. Reports strong agreement that states should provide most community college funding and strong disagreement that boards should be involved in college administration and…

Presents results of a Delphi study of the five components of developing a plan for governing board assessment: plan prerequisites and purposes, evaluation areas and criteria, data sources, and administrative procedures. Reports that board members were open to the idea of assessment. (97 references.) (DMM)