Attainment of fiscal stability in the 1980s at the expense of providing adequate resources for plant maintenance, it is suggested, must be avoided by introducing facility management programs anticipating rather than reacting to change. Plant utilization, maintenance, and modernization are seen as requiring continuing attention. (Author/MLW)

Some suggestions on how a college development officer can relate to the president and to trustees are provided: getting the endorsement of top trustees, serving the president first, understanding how policy is made and implemented, knowing trustees personally, involving trustees in development planning, and backing institutional policy. (MLW)

The management of an institution's destiny is seen as resting in the hands of volunteers--its governing board. It is mandatory that the identification of individuals who can and will accept the role and responsibility of trustee volunteer be a crucial and primary procedure. The volunteer manager is described. (MLW)

A chapter from the "Handbook of College and University Trusteeship" is excerpted, including a discussion of college financial statements and fund accounting. Three matters pertinent to fund accounting are described: transfers between funds, unrestricted and restricted funds, and expendable and unexpendable funds. (Author/MLW)

One of the problems in the governance of academic institutions is described as the presence of a complex network of committees with a set of powerful individuals. Powerful individuals emerge because of personal qualities and because some decision-making modes must be established for decisions that cannot wait for committees. (Author/MLW)

The results of an Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges survey of board secretaries are reported. The survey sought to discover patterns of responsibilities, duties, reporting channels, methods of selection, problems, and other characteristics of the job and the people who hold it. (JMD)

The need for corporate support of private higher education is addressed. Topics discussed are: financial plight of the private university, academic freedom, antibusiness bias of students, constraints on contributions, universities as intellectual resources, and universities as labor-intensive enterprises. (MLW)

The remainder of this century will see monumentous decisions made in higher education regarding institutional size and numbers, financing, planning, and control. Many forces, outside and inside, will participate, but the role of the governing board will be crucial, suggests this author. (Editor/LBH)

Discusses the complex nature of college leadership especially in terms of community colleges. Claims that the central feature of leadership problems is a deep mismatch between the conceptions of individual leaders and key features of the organizations they lead. Concludes that civilization will not survive without civil leaders. (JS)

Discusses the child care center director evaluation process when conducted by a board of directors to enhance the director's effectiveness. Considers frequency of evaluation and assessment criteria for center and leadership and managerial objectives. Describes the evaluation process, including reorientation meetings, information gathering,…

Describes how, at community colleges in California, faculty unions play a big role in who becomes a trustee, which can spell trouble for presidents. (EV)

Describes a study that (1) compared the amount of professional input into the decision-making process between board administered and municipally integrated public libraries, and (2) examined the relationships between levels of centralization (participation in decision making and hierarchy of authority), complexity (occupational specialties,…

Long after St. Louis Community College received the maximum 10-year accreditation from the North Central Association, they have continued to use their self-study report. It is their tool for planning and self-improvement, that they use to document quality assurance. (MLW)

Cogovernance refers to the process of administrators consulting academicians, through committees of faculty members. Competitiveness, rapid change, and the uncertainty that arises from the absence of assured funding underlies the strength of American college presidents. In contrast to the administrative professionals, members of academic senate…

Cost overruns of thousands of dollars on the president's official residence, the existence of a $70-million reserve fund, an administrator accused of embezzlement, and another official allegedly plagiarizing a speech were some of the controversies that have eroded the confidence in the University of Minnesota among legislators, alumni and the…