A study of 270 private, 4-year college and university presidents examined career patterns, finding that 69% followed an academic route to the presidency and the remainder began as entry- or middle-level administrators. Governing boards tend to choose presidents who fit the mission and unique demands of the institution. (MSE)

College and university administrators are encouraged to preserve open space as an essential campus asset, using thoughtful planning and pursuit of a master plan that includes strategies to preserve open space in the face of powerful pressures for expansion and new facilities. Illustrations are offered from a number of campuses. (Author/MSE)

A model of organizational change is applied to long-term planning at the University of Minnesota. Results suggest that, although planning began in the 1970s, the 1980s saw a model change that increased centralization in strategic orientation and a reduction in size and programs. Implications for organizational research are examined. (Author/MSE)

A study of 1,789 female and 1,870 male students at college entry and exit compared self-ratings of abilities, social and political views, and goals and aspirations. Results show gender a contributing factor in all three areas. Gender differences in student attitudes were evident at both college entry and four years later. (MSE)

Two recent theoretical developments in adult education, self-directed learning and transformative learning, are applied to the college faculty development process. With this approach, faculty learn to direct their own learning process, become aware of their assumptions about teaching, and revise them using critical self-reflection. (MSE)

A variety of national data sources concerning proprietary schools was used to examine the general attributes of such schools, the kinds of training offered, student characteristics, amount and type of student financial aid available to the students, and student costs for training. (MSE)

A study using national data on minority college students and institutional heterogeneity revealed that minority groups are better represented at some universities than others, relative to their proportions in the state population. State racial heterogeneity is a major determinant of African-American representation. For other minority groups,…

A study investigated the relationship of role strains, life events stresses, and minority status (Arfican American, Chicano, Latino, or Pillipino) on the psychological and academic adjustment of 163 minority first-year students at a major university. Results confirmed the hypothesis that minority status confers additional stress and is associated…

Newly hired tenure-track faculty were interviewed in their first (n=52) and third (n=47) years. Findings indicated a decrease in job satisfaction and increase in job-related stress. Factors driving stress and satisfaction varied over time. It is concluded that understanding faculty needs can enhance faculty development efforts at this critical…

A more inclusive definition of wealth for higher education institutions that adds capitalized value of annual gifts, grants, and public appropriations to the traditional endowment-based measure is proposed. It is found that, when the definition of wealth includes these nonendowment sources, public higher education institutions dominate in…

Citation analysis of 92 articles published about the aircraft and electronic equipment industries investigated the higher education institutions with which cited authors were associated. Results indicated research expenditures, faculty quality and salary, and land-grant status were predictors of research use; urban location and presence of…

A discussion of the role of university-based organized research units reviews the major issues that confront such centers, describes results of a survey of 18 of the fastest growing research universities, and makes recommendations concerning appropriate management and the role of the centers within the research university. (Author/MSE)

A study investigated the use of teaching portfolios and student evaluations in evaluating 97 college faculty members for contract renewal. Two faculty peers and a dean evaluated the portfolio of each teacher. Student evaluations correlated reasonably well with portfolio evaluations by the deans and one of the peers. (Author/MSE)

A study using structured interviews assessed views of 46 poor single-mother college students concerning factors in their academic success. The study identified four social support factors (support of other students, family, faculty, and university services) and four psychological belief factors (personal ambition, effort/discipline, prior…

A national survey of 657 college faculty investigated political attitudes at the beginning of the Persian Gulf War (1991). To test hypotheses about the effects of age and cohort variables on faculty political values, reactions to the Gulf War were correlated with indicators of opposition to or support for the Vietnam War. (Author/MSE)