This chapter describes how data analysis and data-driven decision making were critical for designing, developing, and assessing a new academic program. The authors--one, the program's founder; the other, an alumna--begin by highlighting some of the elements in the program's incubation and, subsequently, describe some of the components for data…

Over the past two decades, public higher education has become widely recognized for its contribution to socio-economic adjustment. This paper probes its evolution in two large and affluent democracies, the United States and Germany, whose higher education systems represent distinct ideal types. The analysis argues that public authorities in both…

This study uses a regression model to determine if a significant difference exists between the actual budget allocation that an academic department received and the model's predicted budget allocation for that same department. Budget data from a Southeastern Master's/Comprehensive state university were used as the dependent variable, and the…

Departments are the basic organizational units of academic institutions, and their power contributes to growing pressure for accountability. Their role in resource allocation determinations is examined. (Editor/LBH)

Institutional research is an adaptive tool. It aids decisionmakers in assessing an institution's efficiency, and in determining the appropriateness of the institution's goals in relation to social needs. However, given the limited resources available for planning, choices must at times be made as to whether to concentrate analytical studies on…

Effective management and sound education require the development of sophisticated departmental budget models and processes. Efficient methods of resource allocation compatible with institutional organization, goals, and needs have not yet been put into effect. (Editor/LBH)

Various budgeting patterns and strategies are currently in use, each with its own particular strengths and weaknesses. Neither cost-benefit analysis nor cost-effectiveness analysis offers any better solution to the allocation problem than do the unsupported contentions of departments or the historical unit costs. An operable model that performs…

Procedures permit grouping departments on variables that provide an equitable basis for departmental funding. The series of steps is outlined whereby the financial significance of various process and role variables can be determined. (Editor/LBH)

The central concept of this report is that total institutional expenditures must be reduced by nearly $10 billion a year by 1980. It presents a factual and and statistical analysis of how universities can utilize all their resources to combat financial crises in a period of declining growth rate. (MJM)

Effective college information-technology (IT) planning must be integrated into institutional planning, mission, and goals. Topics discussed include key constructs for ensuring that the acquisition and implementation of IT furthers the institution's strategic plan, an inclusive governance structure and facility planning approach, funding…

The numerous issues and problems facing college and university decisionmakers and the ever increasing information needs of external agency representatives place conflicting pressures on institutional research personnel, forcing them to make difficult decisions regarding the allocation of their resources. Outlined are several such pressures. It is…

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of postdoctoral education at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The purpose of the study was to determine the basic facts about postdoctoral education at UCSD, so that those entrusted with academic, administrative, and legislative responsibilities regarding postdoctoral…

The instructional service component of academic departments is explored due to concern for the development of a budgetary plan that accounts both for the inherent differences in disciplines and the concomitant instructional methodologies affecting input and output properties and for operational differences among departments. (LBH)

Reasons for more intensive scrutiny of departmental operations and budgets are reviewed, along with the factors that have prevented such study. The means and procedures for such review are listed with comments and cautions about putting these procedures into operation. (LBH)