This paper reviews the literature using the word "crisis" in relation to current higher education and analyzes claims of three specific crises of the past 25 years. It considers reasons why educational institutions may be particularly vulnerable to claims of crisis and offers some ideas about the nature of higher education crises and the…

The self-correcting process in higher education, which provides a basis for predicting institutional decisions related to personnel, curriculum, and the environment, is discussed. Since group process is important to influencing personnel decisions in higher education, the institutional researcher can make predictions based on the actions of…

This paper examines the role of institutional research (IR) in higher education, focusing on past trends and future possibilities for such research. It discusses the origin of IR in the 1950s and 1960s as a force to assist higher education planning and management, as well as the expansion and fragmentation of IR in the 1970s and 1980s due to…

A survey of institutional researchers at 243 New England colleges and universities examined respondents' (N=127) views on the current and projected roles of institutional research. Results document limited resources particularly in small institutions. Also, a majority of institutional researchers reported that they were engaged extensively in…

The University of Miami (UM) in Florida established and continues to use a monthly Key Success Index (KSI) report for ongoing self-evaluation. At UM the KSI is a five-page document focusing on the current year-to-date amount for each key success indicator and how it differs from the previous year's amount. It includes monthly data for the current…

This study examined the character of the emerging systems of corporate management in Australian universities and their effects on academic and administrative practices, focusing on relations of power. Case studies were conducted at 17 individual universities of various types. In each institution, interviews were conducted with senior…

Principles of developing a comprehensive planning model for a college are considered, and experiences in using the strategic planning model at Cardinal Stritch College (Wisconsin) are addressed. Important components of the planning process are articulating a mission, determining parameters and objectives while completing internal and external…

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…

This paper reports on the development and testing of a system dynamics model of the departmental deployment of instructional resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A model was developed using the Stella II computer software package. The model describes describes how departments keep student enrollments, number of course sections, and…

Factors important to assessing community college enrollment trends and the future implications of these trends are discussed. Changes in college student characteristics included an increased percentage of women and part-time students, increased student age, and more vocational programs. Colleges must monitor their enrollments using existing…

The development of a predictive equation capable of explaining a significant percentage of enrollment variability at Florida International University is described. A model utilizing trend analysis and a multiple regression approach to enrollment forecasting was adapted to investigate enrollment dynamics at the university. Four independent…

This study investigated 10-year trends of first-time-in-college (FTIC) and community college applicants to major public institutions in Florida, focusing on how an institution's geographic location affected applicant enrollment patterns. The investigation also examined the influence of geographic location on applicants applying to a single…

This study analyzed the 1990 census data to describe the immigrant populations in selected locations, and then conducted institutional case studies to learn about the impact of increasing immigration on higher education institutions and to understand how institutions are responding. The 20 case studies involved community colleges, comprehensive…

The paper considers the management process within central research offices of universities, or the research divisions of universities, to determine how funded research is encouraged at research institutions. It also looks at the characteristics of those research institutions which had strong growth in the last 10 years. A telephone survey of 37…

Data concerning first-time students at Tidewater Community College were examined to identify changing trends among certain student subgroups. Longitudinal data on first-time students, collected each fall quarter between 1973-77, were incorporated in the analyses. A series of contingency tables were developed to represent numerous demographic and…