This article reports on a study that examined whether the presence of a consolidated governing board for higher education conditions the impact various political factors have on state support for higher education. The existence of a consolidated governing board is shown to significantly alter the politics of the state higher education…

One of a series of papers resulting from a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) project to improve evaluation and planning in community colleges, this working paper presents the results of interviews with community college policymakers conducted to assess their views on matters such as non-governmental accreditation,…

As public institutions, community colleges are dependent for their survival and continuity upon favorable evaluations by the external constituencies that finance the colleges. Underscoring the resource-dependent nature of community colleges are the revenue limitations brought about by declining enrollments, the effects of high costs, and taxpayer…

A study was conducted to compare the priorities of college administrators with those of strategic external constituencies regarding the activities of the Maricopa Community Colleges and Central Arizona College. The strategic constituencies for the colleges were defined as all 90 state legislators, 21 state board members and staff, and a sample of…

State regulation of postsecondary education institutions has been ever-increasing; this leads to greater efficiency in education and acts to stabilize the educational system in the state in such a way that system-wide problems and difficulties are handled in an orderly and routine fashion. This study reviews state regulation of community colleges…

In a national survey, public university faculty, presidents, trustees, coordinating boards, and legislators (total n=251) identified where they felt authority effectively rested for five typical university-related decisions and where they believed authority should rest. Although most believed in campus-based decisions, there was some disagreement…

Representatives of strategic stakeholder groups who make decisions affecting continuing higher education (CHE) were surveyed to determine their perceptions regarding the role and impact of CHE. These types of institutions participated: two state universities, five community/technical colleges, two branch/regional campuses, and one private college.…

The impact of higher education leaders on policy and program implementation at the state house and the priorities of 32 governors were studied in 1986. The report is based on survey responses from these governors plus supplementary interviews. Interviews were also conducted with a recent former governor, a state legislator, and a congressman to…

A study was undertaken to define the missions of Arizona's community colleges in specific operational terms and to assess the support provided for these missions by the various constituencies of the community colleges. A survey instrument, consisting of 60 activity statements, was developed and administered to 4,000 individuals including all state…

A study is presented to determine (1) where people influential in public university governance believe various typical decisions are being made and (2) where they believe those decisions should be made. The kinds of issues that bring about most disagreement as to proper authority in governance and administration are identified. Centralization of…

A study was conducted in 1981 by the State Board of Directors for Arizona Community Colleges to define the missions of the colleges in specific operational terms and to assess the support for these missions by the colleges' constituencies. Specifically, the study sought to determine the services, clientele, and purposes of specific college…

State higher education policy-making processes can evoke or avoid public consideration of underlying tensions in postsecondary education. A study of imposition of out-of-state enrollment limits at the University of North Carolina, and its effects on the Chapel Hill campus, suggests contemporary dynamics of state policy-making can suppress…