In challenging economic times, student affairs administrators need to employ creative tactics seeking fiscal resources for their efforts to support student learning and student services. The cost of higher education has increased as government support wanes. Transferring the cost to students and their families is often unworkable and can put…

Student affairs organizations must deal with the reality that if offering high-quality and innovative programs for students is a priority, then identifying and soliciting outside funding sources is essential. If the vice president for student affairs has decided to establish a development office in the division of student affairs in a large public…

Online learning is a complex undertaking that holds great potential as a teaching and learning mode that public colleges and universities may strategically employ to achieve broad institutional priorities and contribute to the attainment of national goals. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities- (APLU) Sloan National Commission on…

The applicability of marketing research to development of college programs in collaboration with other institutions or individuals is discussed. It is recommended that college administrators conduct ongoing environmental scanning to identify major opportunities for joint programs, forming research groups to screen basic ideas and explore program…

Experience at Washington University (Missouri) illustrates the importance of careful media relations planning, including pinpointing what the institution wants to accomplish, establishing ground rules, and working with the institution's communications team to draw up a media relations plan. Planning steps are outlined. (MSE)

Six steps in creating a master plan for the institutional computing system include: describing a mission for computing technology, establishing program objectives, matching the technology to the objectives, prioritizing alternative approaches, developing alternative approaches, and selecting the preferred approach. (MSE)

Document imaging, a technology that transforms printed text, figures, and pictures into computer-accessible forms, may be offered as a solution to document management problems involving space and personnel. Administrators and planners should understand relevant issues, considerations, difficulties, and options. Examples are drawn from the…

Considerations in designing a standard health care benefits package as a part of national health care reform are discussed. Specific features examined include deductibles, employer contributions, regional variations, cost management techniques such as managed care and higher copayments, annual out-of-pocket maximums, and lifetime benefit maximums.…

An estate planning seminar is a personal and cost-effective tool for alerting college constituents to a financial opportunity. Such seminars are not hard to coordinate, are a service to alumni and friends, and may bring long-term benefits to college and participants. Experiences at a number of colleges illustrate diverse approaches. (MSE)

Colleges and universities must build and maintain a robust, comprehensive technology infrastructure to provide needed services today and in the future. Significant financial, technical, and human resource challenges inhibit achievement of this infrastructure. Rider University (New Jersey) solved the problem by forming a partnership with Bell…

Suggestions for making the academic planning process at the higher education level more productive include being realistic about what can be accomplished; carefully reviewing past planning efforts; preparing others for change; structuring change over time; and tailoring the model to the circumstances of the changes to be made. Substantive…

Often necessary to meet enrollment goals in a competitive age, student recruitment from new sources requires a sound knowledge of marketing, solid research, effective organization, and institutional activities that will attract the desired populations. Experience at Westminster College (Utah) illustrates that the process is not particularly…

Advice is offered for making college alumni reunions fun and memorable, illustrated with anecdotes from various institutions. Suggestions include exciting opening activities, focusing on the particular habits or characteristics of a class, appealing to a variety of tastes, emphasizing class identity, savoring favorite campus traditions, and…

The experiences of several colleges and universities in expanding, streamlining, and enhancing alumni association regional programs are presented. Issues discussed include event attendance, offering services efficiently, conducting focus groups, designing events and selecting speakers, and communicating with leaders and members. (MSE)

The Maryland Center for Quality and Productivity at the University of Maryland has developed a methodology that enables the management team of an organization to define its critical performance dimensions. A set of metrics is offered to help colleges and universities assess whether quality management is improving their performance. (DB)