Information to promote assessment of organizational effectiveness in colleges and universities is presented, along with an exercise to rank the effectiveness of 10 institutions. The exercise uses three types of criteria to indicate effectiveness: subjective ratings, data about students and activities, and institutional capacity and financial…

The University of Miami has established 19 new rules aimed at orienting student-athletes to the campus, preparing them for the pressures of college athletics, and ending incidents of embarrassing athlete behavior. (MSE)

The productivity of 40 major research universities in combining faculty and governmental grants to obtain reputational rankings in the 1980s is examined empirically. These productivities are measured relative to the most efficient members of the group and for their proximities to minimal costs. (Author/MLW)

Seven public relations consultants weigh the pros and cons of seeking national media coverage. Some advantages include reaching a broad audience and coverage that boosts morale and commands respect. What is done with national coverage is more important than the amount. (MLW)

Different types of donors may respond better to different types of approaches. Models built for four major donor groups (alumni, nonalumni individuals, business organizations) are described. (MLW)

Opinions about quality are seen as the only relevant measures of quality that can be collected. A different view of quality in higher education, and a different set of university rankings are proposed. A system that draws pairwise comparisons of university performance across nine disciplines is described. (MLW)

Five ideas to turn a college president's inauguration into a positive fund-raising and public relations event are presented: appoint the vice-president of development as committee chairman; choose an appropriate theme; thank those financially responsible for the institution's existence; recognize the need for more time and money; and make the…

Reviews trends in higher education that led to today's stringent requirements for faculty advancement. Identifies national reputation as one alternative to publication and offers several strategies for achieving such a reputation. (PD)

Demonstrated that subjects receiving positive feedback from a highly expert source exhibited greater levels of intrinsic motivation than did receivers in any other condition. Discusses implications for organizational communication research and training. (PD)

Reasons are given for media myopia about higher education, and suggestions are made for improving news media perceptions: (1) using personalities to enhance the university's image; (2) establishing a program for making faculty expertise available to the media; (3) emphasizing solutions, not problems; and (4) taking risks. (MSE)

The author examines some of the lesser-known private and proprietary schools of late Victorian England which, by academic success and by athletic prowess, strove to emulate the great "public schools." Reasons for some successes and failures and contributions of certain headmasters are noted. (Author/SJL)

Examines perceived norms, peer support, and perceived house reputation as they relate to heavy drinking by members (N=376) of different Greek organizations. Results indicate that those in high-drinking houses viewed their social reputations more positively and saw heavy drinking as more acceptable than did Greek houses reputed for less drinking.…

Although reformers suggest otherwise, U.S. schools and universities are highly regarded in other nations. Listening to high-achieving Asian educators who admire U.S. education may help Americans clarify educational priorities and plot effective strategies. Discusses educational goals in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, and Japan. Highlights the…

The career of Robert Maynard Hutchins as president of the University of Chicago is discussed in terms of his contributions to the institution, the academic disputes occurring during his tenure, the characteristics of his academic and organizational leadership, and the state of the university at his resignation in 1952. (MSE)

The 27-year history of the "Chronicle of Higher Education" is outlined, offering details of its origins, expansion, editorial policies, evolution of its reputation, staff, news reporting at home and overseas, and the continuing role of its founding editor and owner, Corbin Gwaltney. (MSE)