In this interest market, colleges and universities could benefit from careful evaluation of debt portfolios. Refinancing debt is an opportunity to lower debt service costs, ease cash flow, change security pledges, eliminate debt service reserves, update bond documents. Timing is important. Existing and new bonds can also be combined…

To meet demand for increased funding, in a period of probable declining investment returns, colleges and universities must fine-tune their asset suballocations to enhance returns. While the institution should adhere to major asset allocation classes, there can be much flexibility, and enhanced return, in shifting suballocations within the major…

A national survey of colleges and universities found that investment returns on endowment funds continued to be healthy and were slightly higher than the previous year. Market value of endowment assets and life income fund assets for 435 institutions in 1993 are detailed in tables, with some narrative analysis. (MSE)

Fiscal crisis in New England has been greater than that of early 1980s; colleges and universities should heed lessons. Presents guidelines extracted from study on organizations that effectively managed cutbacks in programs. Effective strategic planning was based on 8 preconditions that define system's capabilities to identify and react to decline…

A number of economic and social factors suggest that this is an appropriate time for colleges and universities to review employee retirement plans. Information that employees should have for retirement planning is reviewed, and basic principles for institutions to use in selecting a pension company are outlined. (MSE)

Changing times, public attitudes, and political strategies have shifted the approach to leadership in higher education from an academic to a business perspective. Colleges and universities are being asked to restructure, reinvent themselves, and rightsize, but none of these will work unless more attention is paid to the problem of revenue. (MSE)