Theories concerning the organizational dynamics underlying the dispersion of institutional research activities within colleges are proposed. Two theoretical arguments concern whether or not a centralized, monopolistic institutional research office will be found on a given campus: the informational legitimacy argument and the limited attention…

The belief that the similarities between business administration and public administration are more significant than the differences led in the 1950s to the development of schools teaching administration as a generic process. This paper reassesses eight tenets underlying the generic model for administrative education, drawn from the work of early…

Argues for a model of university organization that is based upon problem areas rather than upon the traditional departmental structure that is itself based upon strict disciplinary delimitation. Asserts that the shift is made difficult by the bookkeeper mentality of university administration, but that it must nevertheless adapt to the new…

The implementation of a matrix structure as an alternative to the traditional collegial/bureaucratic form at a college of education in a medium-size state university is described. Matrix organizational structures are differentiated from hierarchical bureaucratic structures by dividing the organization's tasks into functional units across which an…

New and continuing missions for the modern university are discussed. "Multiuniversities" are viewed as institutions with multiple purposes that have retained the basic university organization. The main response of multiuniversities to demands for cross-disciplinary activities has been the creation of relatively small centers and institutes each…

This paper describes a conceptual framework that can order the host of changes occuring in institutional structure as a consequence of recent learner-centered reform in postsecondary education. Several schemata are examined, and a functional systematization of structures suggested; however, none of these purports to be a completely satisfactory…

Administrative leadership as a factor associated with the development of the University of New Mexico from an undergraduate teaching institution toward a nationally-ranked graduate research university is discussed. An ethnographic approach was employed for the institutional study, using documents from the university files and informal interviews.…

For the past five years, education in the United States has received major criticism and various reforms have been suggested. The recommendations, legislation, and proposed changes that have resulted have created consternation, frustration, and optimism among teacher educators. The optimism stems from the desire to continue to improve the…

This paper suggests that higher education will take on increasing importance in the development of economies and societies in the 21st century for three reasons: (1) cognitive resources are supplanting material resources as a development factor; (2) economies, swept along by innovations and technological advances, are becoming increasingly exigent…

Changes in administrative policies and budgetary cutbacks add to the vulnerability of many university counseling centers. Two possible solutions, currently existing within two state-affiliated universities, entail housing student counseling in student health centers and either linking counseling administratively with health services or keeping…

This report provides a synthesis of the principal trends concerning access to higher education in Europe. The paper treats five themes, the first of which, higher education structures, notes that the dominant trend is towards greater institutional diversity. A discussion of enrollment finds that France, Germany and Sweden have enrollment rates…

The purpose of this study was to inquire into the characteristics, regularities, relationships, behaviors, and effects of schools in relation to their role in a clinical teacher education program. The analysis of three high schools followed the inquiry perspective termed "portraiture." Sketches were drawn of the three schools which…

Strategic planning initiated by the recently created State System of Higher Education (SSHE) in Pennsylvania is examined. Components of the strategic approach found in the literature and dimensions generally considered critical for both strategic formulation and strategic understanding are considered. Attention is directed to the multicampus…

The relationship between the congruence, strength, and type of organizational culture and organizational effectiveness was studied, based on questionnaire responses by 3,406 administrators, faculty department heads, and trustees from 334 colleges and universities. Respondents rated the extent to which certain characteristics were present at their…

Institutional research in Western Europe was analyzed in the context of the changing relationship between higher education and the central government. Questionnaires concerning institutional research activities were sent to colleges in 16 countries, and usable responses were returned by 48 institutions, almost half of which were located in…