This chapter provides an overview of the literature on proprietary schools; the diverse students they serve, their distinctive educational characteristics, and an agenda for institutional researchers. (Contains 1 table.)

Reviews the multifaceted challenges facing public universities and offers insights into the potential educational consequences of overzealous revenue-based institutional management. It is vital not to lose sight of the essential elements of higher education in a concentration on finance. (SLD)

Reviews the conclusions about student ratings of teacher effectiveness on which most experts agree, cites some of the main sources of support for these conclusions, and discusses some dissenting opinions and the research support for those opinions. (EV)

Reviews the literature on factors that influence job satisfaction, life satisfaction, inter-role conflict, and stress of student affairs administrators. Recommends restructuring the work environment to allow more flexibility, a better understanding of women's work experience, developing recruitment and hiring policies responsive to changing needs,…

Introduces this topical issue on costs in higher education with an overview of the economics of higher education. Considers various types of supplier costs (opportunity versus accounting costs), various ways of determining costs (cost accounting, statistical estimation, and modeling), and factors that influence supplier costs (environmental…

Reviews and synthesizes what is known from prior research about racial and ethnic group differences in college enrollment and identifies areas for intervention. Presents a theoretical framework for understanding such differences and discusses the appropriateness of an expanded econometric model for understanding the differences. Considers…

Summarizes literature on the process that students and their families undergo when making decisions about college. Also presents a comprehensive model synthesizing this literature. (Author/EV)

A review of studies of U.S. and Canadian college and university institutional research offices finds a traditional focus on size, organizational location, professional preparation, and primary tasks. Suggests the emergence of four trends related to: (1) technology, (2) demographics, (3) emphasis on pedagogy, and (4) national, regional, and state…

Performance funding for public colleges is attractive to state policymakers but volatile and difficult to implement. It requires levels of collaboration, cooperation, patience, and persistence unusual in state government and a commitment to institutional goals, performance standards, and coordinated activities rare in academic governance. However,…

A summary of articles on the relationship between faculty research and college teaching finds that faculty scholarship does not adversely affect teaching norms, teacher effectiveness, student cognitive development, or currency of course content. However, research activity affects two teaching dimensions detrimentally: rigor of course examinations…

The history of institutional research is discussed; present and future professional development needs are examined. It is suggested that future professional development activities help institutional researchers cope with an expanded, politicized, and decreasingly technical role. (Author/SF)

The history of institutional research is examined with specific reference to its promotion and organization during the last twenty-five years. It is suggested that institutional research now has all the elements necessary for its continuation and has become an established part of higher education. (Author/SF)

Evidence suggests that the enhancement of faculty performance and vitality is possible if the unique individual characteristics of students and faculty are acknowledged in institutional planning and allocation efforts, and if the consequences of the interactive processes between the student, the faculty, and their institutions are heeded. (MLW)

Successful outcomes assessment programs have many common characteristics. Institutional researchers should examine these signs of success and use them as guides for developing their own campus programs. (Author/MSE)

The complex and sensitive question of how to introduce new ideas and approaches into postsecondary education in ways that will facilitate their consideration and implementation is discussed. Assessment and the processes of change; changes in federal, state, institutional, and individual roles; and change models are described. (MLW)