Comparing an institution's fund-raising cash proceeds with other institutions' is straightforward, using readily available data. However, measuring fund-raising productivity requires care in defining related expenses and resulting fund-raising achievements. Simplifying assumptions can be helpful. (Author/MSE)

A taxonomy of developmental planning considerations and corresponding areas in which institutional researchers and developmental professionals can collaborate to assess and improve fund-raising activities is presented. (MSE)

Striving for a standardized alumni research terminology should parallel future research efforts in such areas as measurement of donor potential, modeling alumni giving patterns, and examination of involvement in alumni activities. A taxonomy and a strategy for achieving standardization are described. (MLW)

Using facility subsystems as the unit of analysis, the maintenance planner can construct a projection of what is required to maintain facilities in good operating condition. Subsystems are identified: foundations and floor and roof structures; roofing; exterior; interior; elevators; plumbing; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning; electrical;…

Setting up a successful interinstitutional data-sharing project involves commonsense guidelines: be clear about what is wanted, take advantage of what already exists, use appropriate technology, staff adequately, recognize institutional differences, and concentrate on achieving insight rather than precision. (Author/MSE)

Although different in nature from academic activities, college fund raising also requires planning and management. To develop more responsive executive information systems, development officers must take the lead, ask the right questions, and work closely with campus institutional researchers, registrars, enrollment managers, and computer…

A 1991 survey of 125 public universities, private research and doctoral universities, private comprehensive, and private liberal arts/other colleges investigated the type of institutional cost containment measures taken in fiscal 1992 and nonfaculty and faculty personnel and salary actions during that period. Results illustrate the effects of…

New technologies have increased the speed with which research results can be disseminated and enable new forms of iterative problem solving, but must be used deliberately and with care. (Author/MSE)