Autonomy, in the context of higher education, is defined as the ability of a university or college to govern itself without outside controls. Autonomy and academic freedom are discussed and procedural and substantive autonomy are distinguished. (MLW)

The various and developing forms of governmental intervention and control affecting universities are discussed. State intervention and control, program audits and evaluations, and federal intervention are described. The cost of interventions into institutional autonomy and the negative effect on quality are seen as increasing. (MLW)

Institutional atonomy, from the standpoint of accountability and responsibility, is discussed in order to arrive at a concept of the kind and degree of autonomy essential for an educational institution to effectively and efficiently fulfill its responsibilities to society. (MLW)

Multicampus systems should proceed carefully in the process of academic program review, with an eye toward asking and answering questions most likely to cause institutions to confront the more fundamental questions of purpose and coherence. (Author/MSE)

Institutional research is discussed as part of a planning, management, and evaluation system. It is suggested that unless it links directly to planning, institutional research will cease to exist as a separate organizational entity in this period of constrained resources. (Author/SF)

Effective use of available human resources for improving an institution's viability in a retrenchment economy is advocated, with reference to small developing institutions. The use of temporary and part-time faculty is discussed as well as faculty release time and the effects of class size. (Author/SF)

New strategies for allocating limited resources to achieve maximum program effectiveness in times of declining enrollments coupled with inflation are discussed. A model for resource allocation is proposed and a case study presented. (Author/SF)

The planning process at Christopher Newport College in Virginia is described. The college has utilized an integrated planning system that incorporates qualitative and quantitative elements into a process that can adapt to the institution's unique social and political situation. (Author/SF)

Various approaches to planning for retrenchment in higher education are summarized. Planning and research are viewed as crucial components in dealing with declining enrollments, maintaining quality education, and preventing unanticipated circumstances from affecting the institution in the future. (Author/SF)

The case studies of performance budgeting for higher education by Hawaii and Washington illustrate the issues and obstacles involved in new approaches to accountability. Issues covered: development of performance measures, aggregation and analysis, quantitative v qualitative measures, performance measures and responsibility accounting, and…

Institutional administrators and research specialists must help improve and implement accountability measures if institutions are to retain academic autonomy. Current trends point to increased pressure for public accountability of higher education in the future. (MLW)

Major current issues in student financial aid include the articulation of program purposes, the allocation of aid resources, and the structure of delivery mechanisms. The resolution of these issues can dramatically affect institutions of postsecondary education, from their fiscal viability to the nature of their student body. (Author/JMD)

The methods and considerations in determining computer needs of both academic and administrative computer users in higher education institutions are discussed. It is suggested that computer power in the future may require local distributed interactive computing networks and/or remote job entry to a large off-campus computer. (SF)

Proprietary software available to the institutional researcher is discussed. It is suggested that as more institutions use proprietary software, the institutional researcher may find that varying levels of involvement in the process of evaluating and acquiring such software can result in the availability of more useful facilities. (Author/SF)

Technological advances in nonproprietary software are discussed. Developments in general support of software and in computer hardware are examined. It is suggested that nonproprietary software is a resource that can save colleges and universities system development time and costs. (Author/SF)