Leaders in higher education regularly find themselves at the intersection of change, torn between their institution's history and culture, the intrinsic value of education, market needs, and the desires of alumni, current, and prospective students. Higher education is often labeled reluctant to change, and many believe any change initiative not…

The purpose of this research was to gain insight into the decision-making factors, priorities and process used when adding sports to NCAA Division I institutions. The media often focuses on gender equity and financial parameters when discussing athletic decision-making, but this study seeks to go beyond speculation and add to intercollegiate…

Academic program life cycle concept states each program's life flows through several stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. A mixed-influence diffusion growth model is fitted to enrolment data on academic programs to analyze the factors determining progress of academic programs through their life cycles. The regression analysis yield…

The development of the U.S. community college concept for increasing access, success, and transition in both transfer and career programs has been well documented (Cohen & Brawer, 2003). With such success has come increased international interest in both the organizational model of the community college and the instructional approaches taken…

Although the program-planning-budgeting system (PPBS) has been used in higher education to improve planning, budgeting, and decision making, examination had not been conducted to determine if the technique was consistent with planning, budgeting, and decision-making "theory." This paper reports the findings of such a theoretical…

The Faculty Scheduling System (FSS), a database management system designed to give administrators the ability to schedule faculty in a fast and efficient manner is described. The FSS, developed using dBASE III, requires an IBM compatible microcomputer with a minimum of 256K memory. (MLW)

The development of the technology transfer program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is described. Key elements in their approach include identification of research strengths and programs that have potential of patentable, commercially profitable technology; education of faculty and administrators; identification of…

Colleges and universities, it is suggested, can enhance their effectiveness by adopting a systems approach to organizing, planning, decision-making, and evaluating. A decentralized, participative model that emphasizes systematic planning and management by objectives is presented. (Author/MLW)

A discussion of Executive Information Systems, the newest decision-support computer application for organizations, argues that this approach could profoundly change how colleges and universities are managed. Using graphics, icons, and mainframe data retrieval software, middle management can handle large quantities of information. Proven design…

Elements that the University of Akron, Furman University, and Wichita State University believe to be essential for mounting a successful program for change are identified: definition of institutional mission, top administrative support, leadership development, comprehensive change programs, emphasis on communication and process, and merging of…

A sociotechnical systems model used by John Brown University is described that is useful for analyzing the complexities of change in an organization and for describing the many elements involved in change. (Author/MLW)

Energy cost-avoidance programs are seen as providing the unique opportunity to involve the entire campus in an effort that has an impact not only on the campus but also on broader national problems. Several aspects of the comprehensive energy management program at the University of Pennsylvania are discussed. (MLW)

This paper provides a framework for an institutional self study integrating total quality management (TQM) and institutional effectiveness (IE) models within the context of standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It highlights the common dimensions in general management principles between TQM and IE and the strategies for…

A management planning model developed by Furman University is described. The model is a decentralized participative approach to institutional governance that stresses decision-making based on use of appropriate research and allocation of resources based on management by objectives. (MLW)

Recently the University of Wisconsin-Madison merged three existing but disparate technology-related units into a single division reporting to a chief information officer. The new division faced many challenges, beginning with the need to restructure the old units into a cohesive new organization. The restructuring process, based on structural…