Accountants have urged "harmonization" of standards between the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, recommending similar reporting of like transactions. However, varying display of similar accounting events does not necessarily indicate disharmony. The potential for problems because of…

The role of the University Visitor, whose traditional function is to mediate conflict within a university and contribute to its governance, is examined in the context of Australian higher education. Medieval English ecclesiastical origins of the office are described, and calls for abolition are examined. It is argued that the office should be…

The successful organization of the 1990s will fundamentally remake its employee relationship, especially through increased employee influence on the nature of work, organizational context, and quality of product/service. An employee advocacy peer review conflict resolution process has been useful in improving labor relations and enhancing the…

Division over the aims of affirmative action and the loyalties and aspirations of various interest groups have betrayed the policy's original purpose. The public's attention has been shifted away from discriminatory practices and appropriate remedies. Higher education must rethink and reform the whole process before it becomes compromised by…

A discussion of the relationship between the campus activities programing office and performers addresses the need for a contract, its essential and optional elements, sponsor and artist rights and responsibilities, ethical considerations, riders, potential conflicts, and the need to check legal issues with college counsel. (MSE)

Three main themes in the conflict experienced by college department heads are examined: conflict inherent in the structure of higher education (institutional), conflict created when people work together (interpersonal), and that woven into the chair position (positional). These conflicts are not necessarily negative or positive; these…

A nationwide assessment of perceived needs for improvement in smaller schools provided some serendipitous insight into reasons for less than ideal relationships between teachers and administrators. Although rankings within groups varied somewhat, there were seven areas of need recognized by both teachers and administrators. Collaboration and…

By identifying and weighing the effects of an act on each constituency, a matrix based on John Stuart Mill's theories of utilitarianism illuminates and helps resolve complex ethical dilemmas. Application of the approach is illustrated with a simulated case study concerning the issue of reputation in a small private college. (Author/MSE)

Conflict is common in college student life, where economic stress, close living conditions, and exposure to new people and ideas challenge students. Four vignettes illustrate typical conflicts concerning roommate relationships, workplace relationships among students, broken intimate relationships, and sexual harassment. Resolution options and…

The extent to which collective bargaining, as a model for conflict resolution, has permeated higher education is examined, and extracts from collective bargaining agreements are analyzed to illustrate the unique nature of collective bargaining for this purpose. It is concluded that when a mutually respectful relationship exists between faculty…

In the experience of the University of Toronto and University of British Columbia, university management approaches emphasizing selective cutbacks generate considerable political conflict. The business perspective recommends decisiveness but offers little implementation help. Management of conflict, collegiality, and the conditions leading to…

This monograph brings together information on school safety trends, policies, and projects from various countries around the world. It has been written for school principals, superintendents, administrators, boards of governors, school-parent bodies, and others in leadership positions who are concerned about school safety issues. It discusses the…

Considers how civil law might treat claims of defamation arising from computer newsgroup postings. Concludes that newsgroup postings will probably be treated as a hybrid of print and broadcast media, and that newsgroup users will vigorously and aggressively protect freedoms of speech and press. While traditional defenses to defamation charges will…

Although the Total Quality Management (TQM) system offers an admirable goal and offers promise of organizational improvement, the process it recommends is not a panacea and may only forestall the conflict inevitably arising from decision making, individual accountability, and organizational change. The approach is being abandoned by some. (MSE)

Five ethical dilemmas in college and university advancement are outlined, and responses of professionals to each are cited. Dilemmas include renaming a building, originally named for a generous donor, in honor of another donor funding renovation; paying for copying of sensitive documents; use of designated donations; handling of a donation made in…