A group of 17 independent colleges and universities in Virginia combine their long distance telephone traffic and network services for an expected savings of $4.65 million over 3 years. The 12-institution consortium that negotiated the plan prioritized service and system criteria and solicited bids from long distance carriers. (MSE)

Discusses four major conflict areas in contemporary librarianship: service versus teaching, resource allocation, the extent of professional autonomy, and the allocation of duties and responsibilities between professionals and support staff. Topics addressed include conflict as a normal part of organizational life and creative responses to…

Colleges and universities have devised a number of strategies to raise money for computers, including borrowing, courting foundations, reallocating funds from such things as financial aid and libraries, and general fund raising. Knowing the appropriate amount to spend on technology is difficult. (MSE)

Examines history of discrimination within U.S. agricultural programs, specifically in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Compares USDA employment and grant allocations for Blacks and Whites since Civil Rights Act of 1964. Cites other examples of institutional discrimination in federal agriculture programs. Calls for development of policy…

Uses Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study data to estimate gender and socioeconomic status effects on reading and mathematics achievement for a sample of second and fifth graders. Boys learned significantly more in mathematics, whereas girls learned more in reading. Instructional time allocations were not significantly related to gender.…

Reviews the impact of local-management-of-schools funding formulae on schools of different size. Examines the ways that over 80 local education authorities (LEAs) have defined formulae to protect their small schools and reports the effect of the change to formula funding from 27 LEAs to describe the pattern of "winning" and…

Defines school-based management as a form of school district organization based on internal growth and development, rather than outside expertise. Roving leadership, an exciting alternative to top-down management, is issue-oriented and shifts responsibility according to key individuals' specific talents, skills, and abilities. Benefits are…

A survey investigated the Australian federal research grant process from the perspectives of unsuccessful 1991 applicants (n=222) from four universities. Findings include a number of limitations in the peer review process and information dissemination by the funding agency and raise questions about external evaluator selection. (Author/MSE)

The hidden agendas of distance education include (1) inequities in institutional resource allocation; (2) faculty resistance to off-campus teaching; (3) lack of quality control and overreliance on technology; (4) taxpayer ignorance of the efficacy of distance education; and (5) lack of a national agenda, funding priority, and policy leadership.…

Issues in vocational education in Europe are summarized. Varied strategies and emphases are noted including the introduction of more general education, increased emphasis on excellence in technical training, and increased specialization in some disciplines. Obstacles are also seen such as fear of overspecialization, lack of prestige, and…

The issues universities must address in developing technology transfer policies and activities are examined, including definition of academic, financial, and economic objectives; identification of available resources; creation of a favorable institutional environment; appropriate arrangements for research administration and industry liaison; and…

For several years, small primary schools in England and Wales have been threatened with closure because of feasibility and educational quality concerns. This article argues that school effectiveness depends not on size or age distribution, but on teaching methods, curriculum and staff organization, resource availability, collegial interaction, and…

State case studies of resource management for higher education are examined to develop a framework for use at all levels in analyzing current state finance policy. A resource management approach that can be used in several ways in the review and planning process is outlined. (MSE)

After completing an audit of Chapter 1 allocations in five states, the U.S. Department of Education's inspector general suggested that authorizing legislation be amended to substitute some measure of membership for average daily attendance. States are also having trouble reporting current expenditures in conformance with the originally prescribed…

A study of decentralization in Canadian school districts, particularly Edmonton (Alberta) and Langley (British Columbia), found organizational (not political) decentralization, and focused on the location of (1) authority and responsibility and (2) scope of school-based decision making. School-based management was characterized by two key…