Recommendations of committee include greater centralization of research activities; improved communication between social researchers and policy-makers; better coordination in research by the establishment of planning bodies at different levels; and increased funding. (RW)

Describes the development of performance indicators at Wichita State University (Kansas) that reflect more accurately the institution's diverse, nontraditional constituencies and urban mission. Also presents results of their application and provides useful information for other institutions about considerations and techniques for developing…

While the electronic fact book will not replace the paper variety used by colleges and universities to disseminate institutional information, there are a number of uses for the electronic format, which accommodates both quantity and currency of information. Considerations in producing an electronic fact book are discussed, and a seven-day process…

The college or university fact book may be the single most important document it publishes, indicating that the institution is open to scrutiny by its many constituents, providing data concerning institutional mission and effectiveness, providing a basis for internal and external evaluation, and reflecting the institution's success or failure in…

Five categories of student outcomes in graduate and professional education are identified: timely degree completion; knowledge of the discipline; preparedness for professional practice; preparation for research and inquiry; preparation for teaching. A framework for assessing each is offered and various methods for collecting data on student…

Organizations, programs, and other resources for data sharing in higher education are listed and described, with addresses provided. They include existing data-exchange programs and consortia, survey programs and databases, and a list of papers presented at the 35th Forum of the Association for Institutional Research. (MSE)

Describes two ways to conduct research on the distinctive features of an institution: by establishing a college committee or by hiring an outside consultant. Considers the steps involved and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. (DMM)

Launching an alumni survey requires consultation with many campus constituencies, thoughtful decisions about intent and content, careful planning of all operational procedures and proper promotion. Census surveys, telephone versus mail surveys, decisions on data entry, timelines, costs, publicizing, etc. are discussed. (MLW)

In many institutions, increasing numbers of offices are becoming involved in institutional research activity. A theoretical perspective, derived from theories of power, information, and change in organizations, is proposed for better understanding this phenomenon. (Author/MLW)

Sound management of human resources requires policies and procedures that are developed carefully and applied consistently. Monitoring personnel decisions and developing databases that document their outcomes will help ensure that such decisions are not only made fairly but are perceived so by faculty. (Author/MSE)

Performance measures are discussed for assessing organizational effectiveness in nonprofit organizations including institutions of higher education. With hundreds of possible measures, ratios, and data available, the nonprofit manager must select measures that portray the institution's condition and performance. A process and rationale for…

Data from a national faculty survey and other research on faculty motivation give insight into the difficulty of categorizing faculty work and productivity into discrete categories. The studies examine how time is experienced by faculty and used within the academic culture. Implications for definition of workload are examined. (MSE)

A discussion of methods for measuring college faculty workload first reviews course load analysis, the traditional method used to define, measure, and report faculty workload, then suggests some data alternatives and related issues faced by institutional research offices. Suggestions are offered for locating existing workload data, compiling a…

The use of a semantic differential measure to investigate the institutional image of Tufts University (Massachusetts), both internal and external, is reported. The study focused on (1) differences between the current and desired image, and (2) differences among alumni, current student, and other constituencies' views of the institution.…

Multiple program impact analysis was used to evaluate the overall effectiveness in programs for 11,766 first-year students at the University of Texas at Austin. The technique examines the relationship between involvement in multiple educational programs and selected educational outcomes. Among findings was that participation in more than one…