Colleges and universities are facing difficult choices as insurance companies cancel coverage or demand premium increases of up to 800 percent. The current crisis is blamed on the way the industry has been managed. Financial managers, rather than underwriters, took over the industry. (MLW)

A California administrator describes modular classroom furniture that both saves money and allows for creative classroom design and use. (MD)

This "good practice" guide is aimed at anyone in higher education in England who is involved in making decisions on investments. It focuses on the principles to be followed, rather than the techniques of appraisal. The guide outlines the steps for developing an outline business case and then refining it into a full business case for the…

The anticipated decline in general student enrollment demands that physical education personnel take initiative on the departmental level in developing a sound public relations program. (LH)

Compares revenues, debts, investments, and profit margins of for-profit publicly and privately owned day care centers. An evaluation tool was developed through analysis of financial statements of seven privately owned child care businesses and six publicly owned child care chains. (RJC)

An introduction to articles on making the most of educational funds presents a do-it-yourself inventory project in the form of a mystery game. The game is designed to help teachers create innovative projects and determine projected costs and possible revenue sources. (SM)

This paper presents results of a study designed to determine whether each university in Florida's State University System (SUS) was being treated fairly by the funding methodologies used by the Legislature and the Board of Regents (BOR). The paper provides an examination of the generational formulas used by the Legislature and the BOR that result…

This report presents results of a study investigating the process used by the Board of Regents (BOR) for developing its legislative budget request, as well as the process used by the BOR for allocating appropriations among the universities. The report also includes an assessment of the extent to which funds are allocated on an equitable basis for…

Examines a "Forbes" cover story on educational expenditures that poses questions related to three current research guidelines for educational finance: adequacy, equity, and efficiency. Different "production functions" must be sought for children of differing family backgrounds. Without adequate education, the world's armies,…

Discusses implementation issues surrounding the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (Chapter 2), which consolidates 28 programs, including the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA), the major federal desegregation program. Major concerns include reduced eligibility requirements, distribution of funds, administrative responsibility,…

This book offers a description of responsibility center budgeting, a management tool for fiscal and academic management at institutions of higher education, through a description of implementing this approach at Indiana University, a process that began in 1987. Responsibility center budgeting is based on three principles: (1) all costs and income…

To fill a void in evaluations of administrative software, users and distributors of full-capacity student and financial management systems were surveyed. This summary of findings: (1) discusses favorite program features; (2) pinpoints limitations; (3) identifies development trends; and (4) offers predictions about the administrative software of…

Just as ice cream comes in many flavors for different tastes, fund balances need to be reserved and designated to meet school district plans and commitments. This article examines accounting principles and other issues determining the segregation and size of a school district's fund balance, a legally restricted reserve that can affect the…

Describes the savings a cooperative group of school systems were able to make when purchasing services and supplies as a group. It includes 15 school systems and has been in existence for 12 years. Includes a brief article explaining why school systems may not find cooperative buying to their advantage. (MD)

This book offers techniques for improving grants systems in higher education and examines how the functions of an academic grants office will change in the future. The chapters are: (1) "Developing and Maintaining a Dynamic and Efficient Grants Program"; (2) "The Purpose of the Grants Office"; (3) "Measuring the Success of Your Grants System"; (4)…