In recent years, education systems around the world have shown a tendency for convergence on the American educational model. This, together with an increase in the use of English globally, places American educational institutions in a position of great importance as actors in international exchange. For potential partner institutions in other…

As more colleges and universities coordinate institutional research as a support system for long-range planning, new analytical tools are necessary. A system developed to project the effects of statewide policy alternatives may have wide applicability to other institutions and multi-institutional planning groups. The Instructional Cost Index…

Comparing large numbers of varying types of programs is a national-level problem that requires a uniform, total program perspective. A cost-per-student figure that has policy relevance for health professions education program needs to analyze the education output unit; be comparable across programs, schools, and institutions; and provide more…

This publication focuses on issues which will be important to the University of Nevada System (UNS) in the 1990s, including the need to provide the necessary resources to maintain educational access and high quality during a period of tremendous growth. Campus academic and budget priorities as well as capital construction needs are identified for…

This paper explores the concept of benchmarking in institutional research, a comparative analysis methodology designed to help colleges and universities increase their educational quality and delivery systems. The primary purpose of benchmarking is to compare an institution to its competitors in order to improve the product (in this case…

A modified form of vector analysis is examined that was applied to graphs depicting the number of undergraduate student credit hours taken by majors and nonmajors in each of 18 arts and sciences departments. The analysis permitted the identification of instructional service strategies adopted by various academic units and the evaluation of the…

The Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR) conference provided a comprehensive coverage of issues, concepts, and techniques in the areas of planning, data analysis and research, and related aspects of management support in tertiary education. Refereed papers from the conference include: (1) "Changes in Student Approaches…