The chronic and relapsing nature of substance abuse points to the need for continuing care after a primary phase of treatment. This article reviews the economic studies of continuing care, discusses research gaps, highlights some of the challenges of conducting rigorous economic evaluations of continuing care, and offers research guidelines and…

The paper describes a simple, yet effective method of computing a comparative index of instructional costs. The Instructional Cost Index identifies direct cost differentials among instructional programs. Cost differentials are described in terms of differences among numerical values of variables that reflect fundamental academic and resource…

Wise allocation of resources implies knowledge of which actions will yield the highest net benefit. Predicting benefit requires comparing objectives as to importance and setting priorities among them. This article discusses ways in which policy-makers can set priorities rationally. The advantages of ratios for comparing priorities are discussed.…

Describes the development and use of a policy model and algorithm for allocating continuing education (CE) resources in a large national health system. The algorithm uses a two-factor model, basing facility CE allocations on the amount of CE need and price differences in accessing CE sources. (Author/JOW)

The attractive features of various strategies for resolving a simulated commons dilemma (a paradox in which a long-term benefit requires the individual to forego immediate gain) were determined in conditions where 40 groups of college age participants (total number = 136) were acting as a world policy making body or local advisory group when there…

Policymakers often use Rate of Return information in formulating public resource allocation decisions. The World Bank uses this strategy to advise developing nations in setting student subsidy levels, tuition, and allocation by educational level. However, Rate of Return may be an inappropriate policy device for these objectives. (Author/MSE)

A major challenge in higher education is to build evaluation models that first of all spell out various effectiveness measures and then related cost data. The Program Effectiveness and Related Costs (PERC) framework addresses this problem. The five components of PERC are outcomes, costs, students, learning programs, and faculty. An overview and…

The advent of microcomputers, laser printers, FAX machines, and desktop publishing has brought about an alarming increase in the amount and variation of printing. Coordination between service units is essential to create a coherent set of print choices, pricing options, and policies for the campus as a whole. (MLW)

A social anthropologist suggests that other decision making models besides the consensual one (which assumes that the public behaves in accordance with values and attitudes) should be adopted by education as a result of shrinking resources, and discusses approaches to making decisions resulting from P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped…

The complexity of what is involved in the rational planning of higher education is apparent only when the problems of allocation of resources between higher education and other economic activities are considered jointly with those relating to internal efficiency. (Author)

Suggests that two main areas, where an understanding of the interrelations of political and pedagogical concerns is the key to present debates over the thrust of educational social policy, are those of resource allocation and school system organization. (Author/AM)

This manual describes a systematic process for conducting an educational needs assessment at the building level which includes suggestions for the formation of an advisory group and the use of two Likert Scale surveys. The advisory group is composed of parents, students, and educators; this group carries out the tasks of understanding, planning,…

Educational planning involves both the notions of ordering any unordered educational system and that of replanning an institutional and policy framework according to new criteria. Planning refers to that situation where there are relatively few or no constraints on the planning process from existing educational institutions or current policy…

Developing comparable data for policy-making and financial support allocation for health professions education creates difficult problems for state-level decision-makers. The experience of the New Jersey Department of Higher Education in collaboration with the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is reported. (Author/LBH)

Comparing large numbers of varying types of programs is a national-level problem that requires a uniform, total program perspective. A cost-per-student figure that has policy relevance for health professions education program needs to analyze the education output unit; be comparable across programs, schools, and institutions; and provide more…