Describes and illustrates techniques for assessing productivity in colleges and universities; defines cost analysis and discusses specific techniques of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis; and discusses related issues in higher education. Use of these techniques is illustrated by a Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) program…

A carefully orchestrated capital budget, an essential element of corporate management, is particularly important for a small college with limited resources. A simple management system can be adopted to achieve institutional goals. (MSE)

Describes practices, programs, and policies that colleges and universities can use to collaborate on student recruitment, using the experience of the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities (Ohio) as illustration. Collaborative projects include development of written materials, recruitment events, presentations, joint trips or…

A consortium of 12 small, private liberal arts colleges in the Great Lakes region has shown that by working together, the institutions can provide major opportunities for faculty professional development through conferences and workshops. (MSE)

The University of Wisconsin (Madison) has developed a pilot Environmental Stewardship Initiative, a mechanism for incorporating environmental stewardship into the university's operations and curriculum. The complex and dynamic campus ecosystem serves as a model community and field station for student research on natural history and institutional…

The experiences of the University of Richmond and others institutions indicate that incentives, direct and tangible or indirect and intangible, reflecting the realities of academic life enhance opportunities for initiative and collegiality. (MSE)

The University of Cincinnati (Ohio) teaching and learning center recently offered a day-long workshop on pedagogical productivity entitled "Teaching Well, Saving Time." One-sixth of the faculty applied; over 100 were turned away. This experience illustrates that faculty can and will contribute to increasing pedagogical productivity,…

Adaptation of the Total Quality Management approach to organizational improvement at Oregon State University involved creation of 10 pilot finance and administration teams and implementation of a 10-step problem-solving process. The approach has improved staff morale as well as client services. (MSE)

Development of leadership teams, a technique developed in the corporate sector, can help colleges and universities create a leadership culture to cope with institutional issues. The experience of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (Pennsylvania) is offered as an illustration. (MSE)

Carleton and Saint Olaf Colleges (Minnesota) combined their food purchasing power to support area farmers and bring about the use of less chemical- and energy-intensive agriculture. The initiative was designed by students to encourage a sustainable agricultural economy. It has involved other colleges through a regional conference. (Author/MSE)

A program of small foundation grants and a broad definition of the kinds of excellence to be supported by the institution combined to create faculty commitment to professional development at the College of Charleston since 1976. (MSE)

The approach used at the University of Maryland at College Park to address the problem of shrinking resources is described. The institution's strategic restructuring involved assessment of existing revenue generation and resource use and development of alternatives. Thorough self-assessment and clearly articulated priorities are seen as essential.…

Funded with money that it saves the university, the ombudsman's office at the University of Kansas researches environmental problems and works with administration and staff to influence cost-effective reduction of the institution's environmental impacts. By offering incentives and requiring conservation projects to be revenue-neutral, it has…

Examines the current interest in consortia among colleges and universities, and describes Five Colleges, Inc., one of the oldest consortiums in the United States. The advantages, challenges, and factors in such collaborative relationships are discussed, with some attention given to financial issues. (MSE)

By purchasing locally grown foods, Hendrix College (Arkansas) has found it can offer better nutrition, cut environmental damage, and spur economic development. The Local Food Project has reduced the amount of food purchased out of state from 90-70 percent, and is aiming for 50 percent in three years. Student participation is integral. (Author/MSE)