In March 2009, the RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition hosted a workshop called "Shaping Tomorrow Today: Near-Term Steps Towards Long-Term Goals." The workshop gave policymakers and analysts an opportunity to explore new methods and tools that can help improve long-term decisionmaking. The…

A case study is presented that used the methods of Generic Design Science to conduct strategic planning for the Department of Communication at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Applied in the context of an academic environment, the methods yielded a comprehensive management and planning design for focusing administration and faculty…

The development and implementation of long range planning mechanisms in a polytechnic institute are described, from inception of the idea through formulation of objectives, subgoals, strategies, policy guidelines and priorities, development of a goals and directions statement, and assessment of external environment and internal capacities. (MSE)

Evaluates various aspects of federal information resources management and reviews technological changes within the Department of Agriculture to illustrate current issues and future trends in information resources management. Topics discussed include telecommunications and networking; distributed processing and field office automation; the role of…

A discussion of management information for college or university administration looks at types of information needed, the management/administration relationship, the effect of administrative organization on information needs, and strategic planning and policy formation. The University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) system is described, and an…

A method for college planning using alternative futures scenarios is explained, and a case study is used to illustrate its use in institutional research. The alternative futures approach addresses the uncertainty associated with strategic decision making. It differs from the traditional long-range planning models based on a single set of…

Three instances of the use of policy analysis in different areas of university planning and decision making are used to illustrate the elements of policy analysis: its tools (iterative activity, intuition/judgment, field testing); problem diagnosis; and examination of the roles played by four components (policy issue, environment, implementation,…

This book examines the influence of policy environments, system design, and leadership on the performance of state higher education systems, using case studies of seven large and diverse state higher education systems: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Texas. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the evolution of state…

It is argued that well-conceived college and university mission statements can be useful in setting objectives for planning and for public information dissemination and marketing. The experience of the University of Calgary (Alberta) illustrates a successful process of drafting and reaching agreement on such a document. (MSE)

This paper reviewed change strategies based on concepts of organizational learning adopted by four higher education institutions. The study sought to examine the complexities and challenges of applying change management principles and processes derived from corporate management cultures to the administration and governance of higher education. A…

In response to a shift from the management of curriculum to the management of scarce resources to deliver a changing curriculum, this paper brings together three "value for money" case studies in college administration. The papers identify three levels of activity, ranging from the one-time opportunity for good housekeeping through…

Reviews the literature on library acquisitions allocations and the lack of agreement on effective policies. Discussion focuses on a process developed at Western Washington University, which combines mathematical formulations of equity with the reality of campus politics, while protecting collection integrity. (44 references) (Author/CLB)

This case study examines the efforts of one small private liberal arts college to exchange a monocultural organizational structure for one that is grounded in the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body. The paper is based on interviews with faculty, administrators, students, and trustees and provides a detailed description of…

Eleven papers on rural economic development cover challenges and opportunities; employment trends affecting nonmetropolitan areas; status of nonmetropolitan women and minorities; case studies of Vermont, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California; western urban and regional development; economic development in small cities; and rural policy…

Hartwick College (New York) developed a strategic vision for its future and invested significantly in information technology to transform that vision into reality. Guided by its president and trustees, Hartwick, a small, independent liberal arts college, formed a strategic plan in phases. At a formal board retreat in 1993, with faculty, students,…