Much of the current crisis in education has its roots in an inability of colleges to get beyond a "now-oriented" approach to problems within the educational system. It is time for the educational focus to be directed toward anticipating alternative futures since the application of selected perspectives and procedures drawn from the field of…

Describes the process which was used at Emporia State University in the development of a five-year plan. Included are a discussion of the factors and conditions which instigated the planning, the process used, faculty involvement, and the components which were included in each department's plan. (Author/SJL)

In the interest of understanding the role of Chief Planning Officers (CPO) in gaining broad support for planning within an institution of higher education, this paper used a national survey of administrators to examine that role. This study, conducted by the National Center for Postsecondary Governance and Finance, involved a survey of 3,333…

Colleges' non-credit units, with their capacity for perceiving and responding to diverse educational needs, experience in successfully serving non-traditional student populations, effective marketing strategies, and freedom from cumbersome approval processes, are in a position to be a valuable resource to colleges facing rapid change and…

A discussion of planning for college and university centennial celebrations, or other milestone anniversaries, looks at reasons for creating a major event; objectives of early planning sessions; considerations in event design; scope and budget; use of consultants; appointment of an archivist; individual event planning; and fitting events to the…

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis is the first public institution to implement Responsibility Center Management (RCM), a comprehensive decentralized, incentive-base financial management system. RCM has strengthened academic planning, budget management, general accountability, and multiyear fiscal planning. Organizational…

It is proposed that schools of social work typically respond reactively and defensively when workload demands increase relative to available resources. Strategic planning is offered as a tool for increasing faculty's and administrators' sense of vitality and empowerment. Conditions, tasks, outcomes, and pitfalls of successful strategic planning…

A framework for strategic planning within academic departments is outlined. Elements include analyzing the strategic situation of all constituencies (department, institution, competitors, students, student employers), development of mission statement and departmental objectives, development of strategic market-target and curriculum options,…

This guide for individuals or groups charged with designing and implementing a planning process for a college or university begins by describing certain characteristics and components of planning that the planner must understand and by recommending that new planners avoid some actions until they have analyzed the situation and determined what…

Endangered small, private colleges can take steps toward survival, including mission clarification, expanding services to existing and potential clienteles, introducing management by objectives, and developing public relations and fund raising. Long-range options include avoiding the postsecondary mainstream and striving for efficiency of…

College and university administrators are encouraged to preserve open space as an essential campus asset, using thoughtful planning and pursuit of a master plan that includes strategies to preserve open space in the face of powerful pressures for expansion and new facilities. Illustrations are offered from a number of campuses. (Author/MSE)

It is argued that while the concept of "vision" in higher education has been met with disdain, criticism is based on misconceptions of vision's nature and role--that vision requires a charismatic administrator and that visionaries are dreamers. Educators and planners are urged to use imaginative thinking to connect the institution's and staff's…

The multiple scenario analysis technique for organizational planning used by multinational corporations is adaptable for colleges and universities. Arizona State University launched a futures-based planning project using the Delphi technique and cross-impact analysis to produce three alternative scenarios (stable, turbulent, and chaotic) to expand…

This issue of Capital Ideas reproduces, in an abridged form, the first chapter of a new book titled, "Financial Planning Under Economic Uncertainty", in the series, "New Directions for Higher Education." The chapter reviews the macroeconomic environment at the start of the 1990s, with particular focus on the problems facing…

A framework is provided for considering whether current New York community college planning and control systems can be made more effective and efficient through the use of business-derived strategic planning and management control technology. After a report summary and section 1's introductory material, section 2 reviews current pressures on New…