College and university business officers are encouraged to implement an endowment distribution method that increases the amount distributed by a fixed annual percentage based on asset mix, inflation, and expected return. Such a payout system provides a predictable, steadily increasing level of endowment income yet maintains the purchasing power of…

Examines several private savings vehicles that have emerged in recent years to help with paying for college. These include: CollegeSure certificates of deposit; custodial bank accounts; education trusts or 2503 trusts; and the Tuition Plan Consortium. Discusses questions that college or university business officers should think about regarding…

Describes problems encountered in the development of a retail complex and garage by Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. The college had owned the property since 1961, but faced many obstacles, including opposition by other developers and landowners, when the development process began. Discusses some of the community relations difficulties and…

Describes development of the National Association of College and University Business Officers' (NACUBO's) methodology for identifying the costs of delivering undergraduate education. The tool was developed to help institutions explain their costs to students, parents, and the general public. (EV)

The susceptibility of colleges and universities to computer crime is great. While insurance coverage is available to cover the risks, an aggressive loss-prevention program is the wisest approach to limiting the exposures presented by computer technology. (MLW)

The 1996 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) study of 472 colleges' endowment fund performance found an equal-weighted mean return of 17.2%, with private institutions faring slightly better than public institutions. Data are presented on investment pool asset allocations, investment pool nominal returns,…

Discusses insights from the Institutional Operating Measures Forum, sponsored by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative. Discussions continued the debate about the value--and the feasibility--of a standard operating measure for colleges and universities.…

This report details results of a 1991 survey of 396 colleges and universities concerning aggregate investment base ($64.5 billion), spending rates, purchasing power, asset allocation, and performance measures. A table lists the institutions, their endowment assets, and their life income fund assets. (DB)

The article analyzes the performance of endowment investment pools based on survey results from 367 colleges and universities. Analysis considers wealth concentration, purchasing power, spending rates, asset allocation, and financial performance. A ranked listing of the institutions reports on endowment assets and life income fund assets as of…

A discussion of alternative investments for colleges and universities looks at the kinds of investments that comprise this group, rationales for making such investments, the advantages of diversification, risk issues, and ways to reduce risk, including careful selection of managers. Several strategies for getting started in alternative investments…

Addresses issues raised for public colleges and universities as a result of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements concerning inclusion of depreciation on an institution's Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Assets. Provides a sample impact analysis and financial statements for a hypothetical university to…

Strategies for reallocation of resources that were used by five public colleges are discussed. Attention is directed to the efforts of institutions that are under severe political, economic, and time pressure. At each of the following schools that were visited, meetings were held with key administrators, faculty members, and students: the…

The current cost structure of higher education, comprised of multiple controllable and uncontrollable costs, is analyzed and promising opportunities to reduce costs are explored. Some innovative strategies that have saved substantial sums for the institutions implementing them are highlighted. (MSE)

The second part of a two-part article addresses four key issues for higher education administrators to consider as they investigate real estate opportunities. They are (1) market feasibility; (2) development strategy; (3) financing; and (4) governance. Guidelines for innovative real estate projects even during the potentially difficult early 1990s…

Examples are given of how United States universities are being affected by and coping with the declining revenues accompanying the current recession. The role of business officers in providing the facts, information, and guidance needed by an administration making retrenchment decisions is discussed. (DB)