We explore the benefits and limitations of traditional academic research, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination, and discuss the potential of blogs towards better meeting the higher education research community's needs. We present possible parameters of use, reward structures, and how the field can model this innovative means of academic…

Looks at how contracts impact on college faculty incentives to produce at high levels of quality and quantity. Focus is on the organizational and structural conditions that accompany tenure systems in academic organizations, on the associated motivational climate that is produced by either tenure or contract systems, and on the effect of…

The relationships between important needs of faculty and the processes and contexts of teaching in institutions of higher learning that might affect need satisfaction are examined. It is suggested that the various dimensions of the teaching role serve to frustrate need satisfaction rather than to facilitate it. (Author/LBH)

Improving the quality of classroom, academic, and management decisions through more intelligent and systematic use of student data is addressed. Kinds of student-data users are classified, variables of student attitudes and behavior relevant to each user are identified, and relevant published instruments are listed. (Author/JMD)

Recent financial stringencies in colleges and universities are generating pressures for more efficient use of available faculty resources. Proposes the creation of formal organizational entities oriented toward public service. (Editor/PG)

Efforts to rank departments in institutions of higher education may be misguided. (HS)