Discusses the need at the University of Southern Mississippi library to review resource allocations among serials, monographs and standing orders, and to select an allocation formula. The supply and demand formula used, its implementation, and results in departmental purchasing power are described. (four references) (EA)

Consequences of two university departments' dependence on fluctuating research funding and their responses to it are examined, focusing on juggling dependence-based problems with graduate student education, instrumentation needs, grant discontinuation, faculty recruitment, and planning. The combination of institutional decentralization and the…

The first attempt at optometric education in the Middle East, a program developed at King Saud University (Saudi Arabia), is described. The university's second class of optometrists is being trained in the College of Applied Medical Sciences. Professional identity, limited faculty, and development of resources have been problems. (MSE)

A synthetic method of estimating relative annual prevalence of severely mentally disabled (SMD) adults across Ohio's mental health board areas was evaluated. Indirect evidence of accuracy for the method, which relies on local catchment area data and local census data, is provided by comparison with actual SMD adult counts in federal programs. (SLD)

Eight common objections to performance funding of public colleges are presented and answered. The arguments focus on the complexity of higher education's goals, diversity of institution type, subjectivity of educational quality, relative power of the allocation amounts linked to performance measures, politics of resource allocation, cost of…

Discusses the educational technology policy and funding of the United States Department of Education from the 1960s to the present, including two current programs: the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund and telecommunications educational rate (E-rate) discounts. Future technology initiatives and critical factors impacting the future and are…

In production-function studies, inputs (like teacher salaries) trump inputs contributing directly to educational output (like books or instructional materials). Educators prefer inputs that benefit them. Parents have been insufficiently strong on behalf of books. Increasing parent influences over expenditure allocations might increase schools'…

Presents a case study of 95 elementary schools within a 50-mile radius of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to discern the extent to which elementary schools use local cultural/arts organizations to enhance teaching and learning. Concludes that most schools made use of available resources and that there is a need for a community "clearinghouse"…

Describes the approach taken by the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee to budgeting for maintenance of general-assignment classrooms, noting the advantages of this straightforward and transparent model, its limitations, information needs, and the assumptions underlying the renovation model that emerged from this analysis. Technology costs are…

A study of 55 research centers at the University of New Mexico investigated the nature of the typical center, why funding has risen during the 1990s, reasons for founding the centers, the director's role, how university-based research centers transfer technology to private companies and other organizations, and what determines program…

A study that analyzed curricular structures of three Israeli schools found four components--basic skills subjects, separate subjects, integrative topics, and enrichment programs--each characterized by a different profile of curriculum features. Israel is moving to decentralize curriculum. Enabling conditions include adequate time and resource…

Examines how learning-support resources are allocated to Scottish secondary schools, drawing on data from an Edinburgh education authority. Although a rationale for allocating resources based on socioeconomic indices can be constructed, basing decisions on a combination of standardized attainment tests and special-needs audits is preferable.…

Discusses the need for colleges to develop strategies for integrating information technology and allocating appropriate funds, and describes a study at Temple University that investigated student and faculty computer literacy and experience in the College of Allied Health Professions. Results of questionnaires were also used to identify faculty…

As part of the legal defense in an educational-disparity court case in Alabama, school resources and conditions and teacher and principal attitudes were studied in 45 school districts. Findings from all sources show disparities favoring wealthy schools on about 84% of the variables examined. Research impact on the trial is discussed. (SLD)

Describes investments made by Garrison Middle School (Walla Walla, WA) in video and computer technology with which the school's sixth graders produced daily video news broadcasts. The "electronic evolution" there has resulted in a schoolwide computer network which aids activities such as writing and library use. Future plans include…