The magnitude of funds needed to rectify the college deferred maintenance crisis make a quick fix unrealistic. However, by increasing funding levels and shifting spending patterns over time, institutions can address the problem without jeopardizing other goals and projects. A consortium of higher education associations recommends a…

A much misunderstood aspect of managing information technology is its economics. Rate of technological advancement is accelerating, demand is intensifying, standards and architectures are changing daily, prices are falling, but total costs are growing. Understanding the economics of information technology is a necessary first step in developing…

Telephone system acquisition by institutions of higher education is discussed. Some important areas of investigation are described and more comprehensive explorations of telephone systems are encouraged. Management of telephone systems and changing the telephone system are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Fiscal crisis in New England has been greater than that of early 1980s; colleges and universities should heed lessons. Presents guidelines extracted from study on organizations that effectively managed cutbacks in programs. Effective strategic planning was based on 8 preconditions that define system's capabilities to identify and react to decline…

A study was conducted to explore the possible negative consequences that can occur when an innovation is introduced into an organization, with a focus on how the dynamics of an organization can affect, and be affected by, change. After a review of the literature on organizational change and innovation was completed, structured interviews were held…

A discussion of the changing economic climate for higher education looks at college costs in relation to other economic indicators, higher education costs in other countries, and hypothetical changes in spending and productivity in the next few decades. It is concluded that while the situation looks bleak, reconception of practices and…

A number of economic and social factors suggest that this is an appropriate time for colleges and universities to review employee retirement plans. Information that employees should have for retirement planning is reviewed, and basic principles for institutions to use in selecting a pension company are outlined. (MSE)

The speech notes the linear growth of resources versus the exponential growth of costs in higher education. It identifies opportunities arising from information technology to transform teaching and learning through creation of a new scholarly information delivery system. An integrated triad of communications, computing, and library organizations…

Discussion of child care for college personnel, fast becoming requisite in every benefits package, presents three composite cases illustrating the range of child care options available, looks at the kinds of flexibility parents need and program options available, and examines federal child care initiatives and program legal liabilities.…

A discussion of international sponsored research program administration looks at budgeting, costs, and procedures for both projects with in-country business operations in developing nations and projects with long-term residential assignments. It is intended for university administrators providing new services to faculty working on international…

This report proposes a Washington state long-term higher education goal of achieving upper division and graduate enrollment equal to the 70th percentile of national participation rates by the year 2010 (from a current 16th percentile in upper division enrollment and 24th percentile in graduate enrollment). The study details how enrollment…

Drawing on the authors' extensive experience at Stanford University as well as the work of others, this book offers the first systematic approach to fiscal and human resource planning at colleges and universities. It shows how decision models can and should become an integral part of the planning process. The uses and misuses of planning models in…

Colleges and universities are finding innovative ways to cut electrical costs while maintaining the needed light and power to fulfill their educational missions. Farsighted planning of energy use is increasing, due in part to government and corporate leadership and support and to the changing vision of college administrators. (Author/MSE)

During the 1980s, a difficult period for many colleges and universities, the University of Michigan was able to respond successfully to changing circumstances. The university has conducted three analyses (costs, staffing, revenue) that have led to recommendations in the areas of organizational cultural change, a quality approach to strategic…

In college administration, a climate for adaptive change should be created using the philosophy, processes, and tools of Total Quality Management in combination with other management innovations. An enterprise-wide infrastructure for distributing information on demand for decision makers to monitor institutional performance should be built.…