To meet accountability challenges from a customer-satisfaction perspective, an urban institution of higher education has developed an integrated approach to studying the freshman year experience in order to develop comprehensive outcomes measures for assessing freshman success. Multiple sources of data (freshman satisfaction survey data,…

This study at Miami University (Ohio) compared multiple regression techniques, traditionally used in higher education to examine salary inequities, with compa-ratio analysis. This new technique has been a corporate practice for reviewing salary and gender bias and is now being applied in studies of higher education salary equity. Weaknesses of the…

Linear regression models that predict faculty salaries from professional and affirmative action variables were developed to validate promotion and merit criteria, set a starting salary scale, and identify possible systematic and individual salary inequities. All 377 full-time teaching faculty and librarians (309 men and 68 women) employed by a…

Accountability has been a developing issue for community colleges for the past several years. Demands that two-year colleges provide evidence of the achievement of their goals has placed a heavy burden on institutional research offices. A number of organizational models have been used by community colleges in carrying out the research function,…

A model for the analysis of college closing is tested and illustrated using the existing literature of college closings. Since the literature on college closing provided little analysis or material upon which theory might be developed, attention was directed to the work that has been done on the somewhat parallel subject of the closing of…

A framework is described for the development of knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to conduct school planning and evaluation activities. The major issues pertaining to a building-based planning and evaluation model are discussed. The building-level approach is recommended because it results in greater efficiency in the development,…

The development of a predictive equation capable of explaining a significant percentage of enrollment variability at Florida International University is described. A model utilizing trend analysis and a multiple regression approach to enrollment forecasting was adapted to investigate enrollment dynamics at the university. Four independent…

Suggested are concepts and ideas for organizing for institutional research so that it might become a legitimate and separate entity within higher education administration. The following three-way categorization of institutional research is advocated: institutional studies; management analyses; and periodic management reporting. The role of the…

This conference on program budgeting was planned to accomplish four objectives: (1) provide a basic orientation for academic administrators by defining program budgeting, and explaining how it might help their institutions; (2) interpret the vocabulary of systems analysis; (3) identify the different levels of involvement at which an institution…

A three-dimensional model was developed to assist researchers in conceptualizing the research-study-impact process. Drawing on communication and decision making literature, the model relates time, action, and audience dimensions. The results of these relationships is labeled "institutional study impact." Impact is viewed as the outcomes…

PLANTRAN II is a system of computer software designed to assist educational administrators in their planning and analysis activities. The unique feature of PLANTRAN II is that it requires no computer programing experience or expertise. Users with technical background have found PLANTRAN II helpful in their analyses without reducing the complexity…

This paper describes a computer model that was developed for use to predict the effects of operating the universities in the province of Ontario on a year round basis. The apparent advantage in going to year round operation of universities is the saving in capital costs of buildings and other facilities. This can be achieved because the student…

This paper presents two models, one for organizing institutional research and research data, and the other for applying research findings to the decision-making process. The model for organizing research consists of four subsystems: goal-setting, program development, cost-effectiveness, and program review. Each subsystem has a distinctive…

Litigation that has arisen from claims of discrimination is discussed along with the notion that there is a clear lack of understanding of the laws and statutes. Legal models of proof and the major statutes under which litigation can be brought are described. (MLW)

The issues surrounding faculty reduction will require increasing sophistication in planning and budgeting. The institutional research professional must play a central role, including analysis of data on (1) instructional production by department, (2) faculty profiles, (3) cost variations by program and instructional level, and (4) financing of…