Presents an alternative experimental arrangement that results in a considerable cost savings by reducing the number of sensors and other apparati required while giving excellent quantitative results for comparison with theory. (Author/CCM)

Discusses the use of pressure-assist technology to cut water usage volume in schools. It answers questions concerning whether to retrofit school washrooms with pressure-assisted technology and how much water would be conserved. Where to get more information on washrooms is provided. (GR)

The Parent and Youth Vanderbilt Functioning Indexes are functioning problem indexes for children and adolescents that require neither clinicians nor trained raters. Their low cost of administration permits adequate sample sizes in outcome evaluations of large numbers of students. The development of these instruments is described. (SLD)

Describes how the Seattle (Washington) Public Library celebrated National Poetry Month in 1997 with readings, workshops, lectures, and poem-a-day display boards in libraries and community centers. Suggests ways libraries can organize programs, activities, exhibits, and displays for National Poetry Month (April) at minimal cost and staff effort.…

Applies data envelopment analysis to measure value added in Master of Business Administration education in the United States. Highlights the MBA program as an example of a value-adding process in education, and demonstrates how such programs' efficiency in providing value to students may be evaluated. The top 20 MBA programs resemble the second 20…

Describes and illustrates techniques for assessing productivity in colleges and universities; defines cost analysis and discusses specific techniques of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis; and discusses related issues in higher education. Use of these techniques is illustrated by a Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) program…

Discusses the organizational and contractual concepts behind making a school's central plant's production more reliable and cost effective. A description of the Energy Services Coalition's contribution to the process and its services are highlighted. (GR)

Studied the effects of placement of a vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC) in methadone maintenance clinics for 333 and 358 patients. Results suggest that placement of a VRC in clinic settings is a cost effective change to vocational and educational services. (SLD)

Except for unusually large and complicated school building projects, it is more cost-effective to use consultants and in-house personnel for project administration than it is to retain an outside construction-management firm. (MLF)

Tools from industrial psychology and business can be designed to help schools select the best teachers. Hiring systems should identify and screen for desirable attitudes, behaviors, and skills; validate the selection process to predict excellence; ensure legal compliance; and eliminate unproductive paperwork. A five-stage application, testing,…

Rapid prototyping involves abandoning many of the linear steps of traditional prototyping; it is instead a series of design iterations representing each major stage. This article describes the development of an instructor-led course for midlevel auditors using the principles and procedures of rapid prototyping, focusing on the savings in time and…

Describes how Deer Park School District, Long Island, New York, is saving money while boosting efficiency by centralizing its high-volume printing and duplicating operations. The new arrangement saves space, time, and expenses. (LMI)

Rural elderly in Australia lack access to health and welfare services, compounded by an increasingly aging population and downsizing of services. Successful strategies can be found in U.S. retirement communities and the Australian Community Aged Care Package program. However, these strategies often compete with a drive toward cost-effectiveness.…

Describes a state-of-the-art energy management program at Wake Forest University (North Carolina) designed to include all on-campus property, and explores the various aspects of cost/benefit analysis in its development. A campus profile, electrical and thermal energy analyses, and a summary table of utility budget data are included. (GR)

Presents compact disc (CD) technology as the method of choice for data collection and knowledge distribution. Discusses four phases of the CD network storage application (processing, imaging, recording, verifying), expanding applications in imaging, archiving, Internet/intranet, CD production, and network backup and storage. (PEN)