This article reviews the background of the 1995 report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the status and needs of dental education in the United States, notes the report's value as a database and information resource, urges its use by dental schools as a stimulus for considering options, and stresses the need for funding to stimulate…

This paper responds to the 1995 report of the Institute of Medicine concerning the present status and future needs of dental education in the United States. It describes the effort of the American Association of Dental Schools to systematically survey professional responses the IOM Report's recommendations. Among nine themes identified are…

The article presents key demographic facts and trends to guide long range planning by institutions of higher education. Effects on future enrollments of such trends as increased ethnic diversity are identified. Consequently, trustees are encouraged to support structural flexibility in programs of study and changes in the direction of increased…

Discusses the role of academic departments in university reform efforts and reports on a survey of 64 provosts concerning department-level change. Three sources of tension between institutional needs and traditional academic departments are identified. Urges faculty involvement in reforms, including regrouping faculty, redefining departmental…

This report examines the roles and functions of state coordinating and governing boards of higher education. Data are from a study reviewing 20 years' worth of data and a current survey. After an introductory section, the first section analyzes historical trends which suggest modest growth in appropriations over the period. Section 2, based on the…

This background paper examines the current state of higher education finance--the scope of the higher education enterprise, challenges to its funding base, and undesirable consequences of current financing practices--and describes what is meant by a "restructuring" of higher education finance. It demonstrates that the structures and practices…

The focus of the session summarized in this paper was on how postsecondary educational institutions can better anticipate the future of higher education by using the "alternative futures approach to planning" model. The alternative futures model processes the best available information obtainable so that plausible alternative futures in…

An overview is provided of the future impacts on the the postsecondary educational delivery system triggered by projected changes in demographics, technology, the economy, and lifestyles. To help institutions prepare for and adapt to future changes, the paper presents the following projections: (1) postsecondary education will be evaluated more…

The planning of health care systems is currently being carried out under conditions of uncertainty and economic constraint in Europe, and full integration of health projections into the decision making and planning processes at the highest levels is therefore essential. A study of work on projections of the future health situation in Europe was…

In outlining futures techniques that can be used by school administrators for creative planning, this paper discusses several small group exercises. These include the "Six by Six" technique, in which a large group breaks up into six small groups for six minute discussions; the "PNT Approach," in which the length of each…

Describes the impact of the "information society" and new developments in microelectronic technology on both physical and intellectual labor and discusses future alternatives and consequences in jobs and education. (JBM)

Strategic decision-making as a part of the higher education planning process is becoming more dependent upon data elements external to the institution. The context in which postsecondary education takes place, the maturation of the planning function, and the challenge to management systems for postsecondary education are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Considers the social and political changes social workers may be faced with in the remainder of the century, and how the profession will react, in four scenarios. A national commission considering "future histories" describes possibilities ranging from heroism and expanded influence to loss of professional identity for social workers. (Author/JAC)

Although, during most of higher education's history, institutional mergers have been driven by financial need, a growing number of colleges and universities are merging to advance quality and breadth of services as well. These proactive, entrepreneurial mergers represent a new planning strategy. (MSE)

Details six planning assumptions related to the costs, replacement, and upgrade of computer resources at community colleges. Illustrates the assumptions with examples from the Maricopa County Community College District's efforts to implement and maintain their computer technology. Includes tables of costs of computing equipment from 1986 through…