Describes the statewide computerized system developed in Minnesota following the 1976 enactment of the Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) law. UFARS includes provisions for an advisory council responsible for recommending accounting and reporting procedures, and seven data processing centers to serve all 560 Minnesota…

A program to reduce energy consumption and limit fuel expenditures at the University of Melbourne involved a study of consumption and facility usage, installation of a central energy monitoring system, and a university and public relations effort to enlist student and staff help. (MSE)

Issues of governance, funding mechanisms, and level of service in higher education merit serious attention in a time of reduced resources, but they are more appropriately dealt with after fundamental questions about the changing purpose and contribution of higher education have been examined. (Author/MSE)

The solution to the problem of information overload and the management of scholarly information lies in productive use of technology, sharper focus and greater integration in handling information, and expansion of the roles of library staff. (Author)

The trends and reforms of the French postsecondary education system show fundamental adaptation to new concerns, but the development is slow and uneven, being kept in check by certain well-established institutions. The main causes of malfunctions, attributed to it by students, employers, governments, and teachers, are identified and discussed.…

Argues that we must stop our crisis-oriented approach to urban education, sets forth three major goals for urban schools, and lists six policy guidelines for the future. (Author/WD)

Physicians need to be proficient in the administration of basic cardiac life support (BCLS) and emergency cardiac care (ECC). The introduction of a self-teaching CPR-ECC course for freshmen medical students at the University of Mississippi has greatly reduced the amount of faculty time needed to teach CPR. (Author/MLW)

The design of new public library buildings is influenced by a changing information environment. This article describes the impact of information technology (IT) and community attitudes and expectations on public library planning and design. Outlines considerations for building design: location, identity, symbolism, ambiance, accessibility, size,…

A study examined Ghana's official response to criticism of university efficiency, a budgeting system intended to reform funding mechanisms. Analysis revealed that the new policy resulted in an input-based model that neglected outcome measures, potentially causing reduced, rather than enhanced, efficiency. Lessons learned and implications for both…

Investigates effects of public versus private finance and management of education on school cost and efficiency, using school-level data on revenues, expenditures, enrollments, examination scores, and student characteristics from Indonesian primary schools. In poorly funded schools, more money tends to bring better school quality. Private funding…

Provides suggestions to child care center directors on how to become effective participants at meetings. Suggests that a little planning and careful attention to the subtleties and details of participation can transform meetings into powerful organizational tools. Suggests that good preparation, respect for the ideas presented during the meeting,…

Existing theories and research evidence on organizational change within colleges and universities are reviewed to provide some general guidelines for institutions seeking to refine their purposes, develop programs, and improve effectiveness and efficiency. Several propositions concerning the nature of higher education institutions, the politics of…

Study 1 evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of online training with Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center's (NLETC's) Jail Management trainees. Results indicate that online training is as effective as and more efficient than classroom training. Study 2 examined learning, instructional time, motivation, and attitude advantages of…

This article discusses how the concept of efficiency in special education services is translated into specific practices. A paradigm is presented that quantifies a measure of student need, ties school allocations to student needs, tracks actual expenditures on special education, and links those expenditures to quantifiable measures of student…

Described are new technologies such as superwindows, compact fluorescent lights, and automated control systems which, when combined with other strategies such as shade trees and light-colored buildings, could reduce building energy expenditures. (CW)