Institutional autopsies can teach much about why learning centers fail the test of time. St. Augustine Junior College in north Florida, the brainchild of Dr. George Apel, was begun in 1942 and ended seven years later in 1949. The purposes of the short-lived college are identified for discussion in this paper. Also identified are the reasons for…

Information Resource Management--State University System of Florida (IRM-SUS) is the primary collector and provider of data concerning state universities that is used to make sound education policy decisions. The office provides technical assistance to those using the information, state and federal reporting support, those supplying information,…

Geographic analysis has been adopted by businesses, especially the retail sector, since the early 1990s (Thrall, 2002). Institutional research can receive the same benefits businesses have by adopting geographic analysis and technology. The commonalities between businesses and higher education institutions include the existence of trade areas, the…

The Proceedings of this conference are intended to serve as a basis for further study, discussion, and action regarding the role of student-oriented institutional research in Florida colleges and universities. The first paper outlines the methods, dimensions, and benefits of studying student characteristics. The second paper traces the factors…

Program reviews became widely used as quality assurance activities in the United States beginning in the 1970s. Since then, they have evolved as an essential component in demonstrating institutional effectiveness to accrediting bodies. The paper discusses various approaches to reviews with a focus on a recently reengineered institutional program…

Information is provided on the Florida State University System's Indicators of Excellence Program and how it is evaluated. The 21 indicators of quality are used in setting annual goals for quality improvement, in justifying university budget requests, and in evaluating the results of the universities' quality improvement efforts. Some of these…

Summaries of the design, planning, and implementation of performance funding programs in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington reveal the challenges and opportunities of this reform approach. Performance measures and objectives and the history of the program in each…

Tenure and attrition rates within the Florida State University System (SUS) were studied. Attention was directed to attrition of newly hired tenure-earning faculty members who began employment at an SUS institution in either 1976, 1977, or 1978. Each faculty group was traced from date of hire through the seventh year of employment or until they…

The rationale for state-level program reviews in hiqher education is illustrated by case studies in Florida and New York. Different approaches to evaluation, reviews of existing programs, and agency structure and responsibilities are also discussed. (MLW)

This study evaluated effects of two governmental financial aid programs to increase student access to higher education: the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships (FBFS) and the Federal Tuition Tax Credit (FHOPE). The FBFS program, similar to the Georgia HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) scholarship program, rewards academic performance…

The report summarizes a study of the six-year graduation rates of first-time college-degree-seeking undergraduates at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (Florida). The purpose of the study was to (1) develop research methods that would be in compliance with the Student Right-to-Know Act (SRK), and to further investigate the composition of…

This study followed 10 Florida cohorts with different levels of education over a period of 3 years to determine outcomes of employment, continuing education status, level of public assistance, incarceration or probation status, and military assistance. Information for the study was derived from the Florida Education and Training Placement…

The quest for excellence in American higher education has been accompanied by the implementation of basic skills requirements and the corresponding assessment programs. Assessment results could provide feedback for curricular improvement, although they are frequently used as indicators of institutional quality. A study is presented that compared…

Proceedings of a Florida statewide conference on quality in higher education are presented. Topics include the following: databases, the community colleges' accounting for quality, program budgeting, and trends in truth in testing. Transcripts of a panel discussion on databases and the following papers and reports are included: "Quality and…

Centralized control of budgets and programs, a growing consumerism among students, and collective bargaining are among the issues addressed in a Florida statewide conference on institutional research. papers and reports include: the keynote address; a legislative workshop; a collective bargaining panel; The New College Story as Told by 103 Alumni…