A report on a study of the use of space facilities in universities in England is mainly concerned with the methodology involved in the study. An extensive appendix provides information on 24 different technical aspects of the study. (FPO)

The effect of alternative census dates on the determination of student enrollment and retention rates and the accuracy of tuition revenue projections was analyzed at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. A set of pseudo-extract files was created for the first 8 weeks of two consecutive fall semesters (1993 and 1994). The accuracy of…

This paper discusses the role that the Office of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning played in providing data support, planning, and cohesiveness as Utah Valley Community College worked to become Utah Valley State College. The two tier model adopted at Utah Valley State College aspires to describe a cost-effective four-year college with…

The nature and purpose of institutional research (IR), forms of research, and the function of IR in the organizational structures of colleges and universities are examined. Institutional research is defined as research conducted within a higher education institution to provide information that supports institutional planning, policy formulation,…

Scanning the external environment will become more essential to colleges in the coming decade. Developing an environmental scanning system can identify important emerging issues that may constitute either threats or opportunities. The organizational features of a mature scanning process are described. (MLW)

The Student Outcomes Assessment Program (SOAP) at Pima Community College (PCC) in Arizona has six major components: (1) the use of success indicators to assess the college's success in achieving its mission; (2) a classroom assessment mini-grant program designed to support faculty research with a direct effect on learning; (3) the use of general…

This proceedings report describes exercises used in a workshop on environmental scanning, designed to assist institutional research officers to develop competency in establishing and maintaining an external analysis capability on their campuses. The workshop offered an opportunity for participants to experience several techniques used in…

An assessment of the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) reveals that small colleges can benefit from the consistency of standardized responses in creating individual planning data systems. HEGIS has a long enough history to have stabilized its several instruments. However, if one is looking to create student or personnel specific…

The origins of institutional research and its association with a planning function are reviewed. The role of values, politics, and social pressures in regard to the planning function are examined. Planning is likely to be more directed to attaining administrative and faculty aspirations than to meeting educational and social needs. (Author/MLW)

Linking planning, assessment, and budgeting is vital to the well-being of a college or university. Planning and assessment enable an institution to make decisions about day-to-day activities and future goals, revising them as experience suggests. Resource allocation is what converts the decisions and goals into actions. (MLW)

This case study presents Cornell University's use of campus surveying to gather information from stakeholders for strategic planning purposes. The case study emphasizes how survey creation, distribution, analysis, and reporting of findings was woven into the strategic planning process. Every step of the process, from item generation to the use of…

This study reviews selected aspects of the evaluation process for the American Council on Education-Kellogg Project on Leadership and Institutional Transformation. Attention is focused on developing an understanding of institutional transformation and the "lessons learned" about the various methods and strategies used. Institutions were…

A pilot study was conducted to: examine the beliefs of Institutional Research (IR) managers and senior administrators concerning the function, purpose and priorities of IR; determine if beliefs have been translated into practice; ascertain the extent of congruence between perceptions and beliefs held at each level of management; and examine…

Describes the educational master planning process used in the Los Rios Community College District (California) to develop policy and administrative proposals. Illustrates problems in collecting and presenting data and techniques for constructing meaningful reports that are jargon-free, easily updated, and use clear, uncluttered graphs. (JG)

Successful college enrollment management requires information about the institution's image, effectiveness of recruiting activities, role of financial aid, student persistence, and alumni success. Enrollment managers must review the literature, develop a performance monitoring system, construct longitudinal cohort tracking files, identify student…