The expectations and limitations of market research in higher education are reviewed, including its functions and roles, foci and types, constraints of current practice, promising developments, and needs. (MSE)

The developing field of institutional advancement is introduced and defined, the role of the administrator is discussed, and research needs and obstacles are examined. Focus is on the role and projects of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. (MSE)

Ten pitfalls for financial analysts are described: information lags, misinterpreting trend data, data shortcomings, sample institutions' problems, misuse of panel ratings, using same indicators for private and public institutions, underdevelopment of conceptual framework, arbitrary financial health scales, shaky use of discriminant analysis, and…

A discussion of research in institutional advancement presents conceptualizations of research in the field, describes the evolution of its methods and applications, lists milestone publications, gives examples of major studies in various categories of investigation, reviews strengths and weaknesses, examines barriers to progress, and offers…

A review of studies of U.S. and Canadian college and university institutional research offices finds a traditional focus on size, organizational location, professional preparation, and primary tasks. Suggests the emergence of four trends related to: (1) technology, (2) demographics, (3) emphasis on pedagogy, and (4) national, regional, and state…

The trend toward increased institutional evaluation in Swedish higher education is examined from several viewpoints: as part of a broad system of policy formation, as a phase in an active process of change, and as an interactive process within a complex institution. (MSE)

An important part of strategic or long-range planning is assessing the environment external to the institution. Many statistics are already compiled by external agencies. Some sources of information are identified, an assessment classification procedures is presented, and a sample of excerpts of the results of an assessment is provided. (MLW)

This study identified and classified the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) publication topics and authors since 1973 in order to provide a reference resource for institutional researchers. The study reviewed the following AIR publication collections: "Research in Higher Education"; "New Directions for Institutional…

Reviews a study that investigated the status of minorities, (Blacks, Chicanos, Native Americans, and Orientals) in industrial teacher education in American colleges and universities. The study found progress in achieving a "proper balance" was being made at a slow rate. (CSS)

This collection contains 19 articles which address the themes of helping teaching and research come into balance, improving the art of teaching, seeing and envisioning teachers as developers, modeling effective faculty development practice, and looking at the faculty spectrum. The essays are grouped under six major subject headings: (1) Teaching…

Student financial aid programs currently play a key role in general governmental support for postsecondary education, and this role is likely to increase in the future. The potential future impact of financial aid on institutions is discussed, with a consideration of program admnistration and alternative delivery mechanisms. (Author/JMD)

Approaches to college student monitoring have been shaped by changing contexts and evolving technical capabilities, beginning with retention studies and developing into fully relational databases for cohort tracking. Institutional researchers should know this history and be aware of the specific demands for information that future tracking systems…

Ideas that have been developed in the decision support systems (DSS) literature that seem particularly relevant to institutional research, planning, and analysis (IRPA) are reviewed. In addition, a survey of practitioners in Canadian universities that provides new information on the rapidly changing current state of information technology,…

Focusing on current grading practices, this report details a survey of 443 respondents from both four- and two-year institutions of higher education. The data are compared with a 1973-74 survey of the same institutions. Findings show that in general more stringent policies are enforced in the use of nontraditional grading practices, in making-up…

Literature and research on higher education are analyzed in an international and comparative context. After summarizing the development of higher education as a field of study, the following kinds of research arrangements in Europe are discussed: individual scholars, university research centers/departments, independent research centers, national…