The authors construct and respond to several questions about changing administrative costs for new Research I Universities, a group of institutions that might be expected to incur new costs as a result of their new status. Using IPEDS data, the study provides mixed support for the claim that universities reaching the pinnacle of research…

Ethnography, which records and describes culturally significant behavior of a particular group, is suggested as a method for college self-evaluation. The potential and limitations of the method are outlined, and current uses in education are discussed. (MSE)

Examples of qualitative investigations of traditionally hard-to-measure college and university characteristics using multiple investigators are rare, despite their potential for in-depth understanding and broad comparisons of institutional contexts. A team approach to qualitative multisite research was found useful and effective in a 9-researcher…

The developing field of institutional advancement is introduced and defined, the role of the administrator is discussed, and research needs and obstacles are examined. Focus is on the role and projects of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. (MSE)

A study analyzed relationships of 7 institutional characteristics and 5 fund-raising outcomes over 605 institutions in 10 types. Statistical analysis was used to describe how relationships of characteristics and outcomes vary by institution type and specific donor and to identify institutions with effective fund-raising programs based on…

A discussion of research in institutional advancement presents conceptualizations of research in the field, describes the evolution of its methods and applications, lists milestone publications, gives examples of major studies in various categories of investigation, reviews strengths and weaknesses, examines barriers to progress, and offers…

The implications for researchers and administrators are considered if the organizational environment is interpreted as "enacted." Objective and enacted environments are differentiated and the ways are suggested for how administrators might identify what they need to do and how they do it, given the socially constructed organization in which they…

Provides models helpful to policymakers at state and institutional levels involved in academic program review and discontinuation, outlines levels of policy decisions for program discontinuation, and examines models that may be effective at each level. Concludes with program discontinuation-related recommendations. (Author/MSE)

The lack of long-range planning or longitudinal research in higher education is discussed and the importance of federal support for this research is emphasized. The following questions are addressed: How can research on higher education be achieved? How can higher education obtain federal funding for this research? (SF)

University-based postsecondary research centers are discussed and issues of concern to these researchers are reviewed. A coalition of university researchers is viewed as important for combatting the lack of attention to higher education research. Two models for a coalition are discussed. (SF)

Based on a year-long cultural study, undertaken for the 1994 merger of Bethany Theological Seminary (Illinois) and Earlham School of Religion (Indiana), this essay describes distinctive aspects of the two institutional cultures, identifies potential cultural conflicts, and discusses the implications and benefits of using cultural research to guide…

If colleges and universities were to examine closely the results of research on student persistence, they would find several ways to change their academic organization to promote greater educational community among students, faculty, and staff, including supporting connected learning experiences; reorganizing the first year of college; and…