Incentive Based Budgeting Systems In Public Universities

Financial incentives play an important role in the behaviour of public institutions of higher education. This title examines alternative uses of these financial incentives, and reviews the consequences of their implementation. The book explores areas including: faculty behaviour in an incentive-based environment; effects on teaching; evaluation of decentralized approaches to budgeting; efficiency implications at the state level; and the ramifications of revenue flux on institutional behaviour. Case studies from the University of Toronto, the University of Michigan and Indiana University are also presented, and the volume concludes with recommendations regarding possible implementation strategies.

A timely book on an important subject for the future of higher education in America

Economic globalization has been accompanied by implementation of education reforms linked to accountability and public finance schemes that emphasize student choice in schools and student loans in higher education. This book provides a systematic evaluation of the effects of state education reforms and finance policies over the past decades. It includes a discussion of the need for a fundamental rethinking of educational policy in the United States.

With public colleges and universities facing substantial budget cuts and increased calls for accountability, more institutions now rely on private revenue streams for support. As market-driven policies and behaviors become more commonplace, some cautious critics sound the alarm, while others watching the bottom line cheer. But which perspective gets it right? Does the privatization of public higher education threaten its very mission or support it? In this collection of essays, economists, policy makers, political scientists, sociologists, and organizational researchers discuss the impact of privatization from their respective disciplinary perspectives and assess its implications for the future of higher education. Privatization may bring additional funds and services that are free from government regulations and oversight, but does it also allow private interests to have undue influence over public higher education? Should public universities have to compete in the economic marketplace as vigorously as they do in the marketplace of ideas? What are the implications when institutions of higher learning function like businesses? With privatization now a reality for most public colleges and universities, an objective examination of the issue from these diverse academic perspectives will be welcomed by those struggling with its challenges.

Much of the twentieth century saw broad political support for public funding of American higher education. Liberals supported public investment because it encouraged social equity, conservatives because it promoted economic development. Recently, however, the politics of higher education have become more contentious. Conservatives advocate deep cuts in public financing; liberals want to expand enrollment and increase diversity. Some public universities have embraced privatization, while federal aid for students increasingly emphasizes middle-class affordability over universal access. In Public Funding of Higher Education, scholars and practitioners address the complexities of this new climate and its impact on policy and political advocacy at the federal, state, and institutional levels. Rethinking traditional rationales for public financing, contributors to this volume offer alternatives for policymakers, administrators, faculty, students, and researchers struggling with this difficult practical dynamic. Contributors: M. Christopher Brown II, Pennsylvania State University; Jason L. Butler, University of Illinois; Choong-Geun Ching, Indiana University; Clifton F. Conrad, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Saran Donahoo, University of Illinois; James Farmer, JA-SIG uPortal; James C. Hearn, Vanderbilt University; Janet M. Holdsworth, University of Minnesota; Don Hossler, Indiana University; John R. Thelin, University of Kentucky; Mary Louise Trammell, University of Arizona; David J. Weerts, University of Wisconsin–Madison; William Zumeta, University of Washington

Public Policy and Higher Education provides readers with new ways to analyze complex state policies and offers the tools to examine how policies affect students’ access and success in college. Rather than arguing for a single approach, the authors examine how policymakers and higher education administrators can work to inform and influence change within systems of higher education using research-based evidence along with consideration of political and historical values and beliefs. Raising new questions and examining recent developments, this updated edition is an invaluable resource for graduate students, administrators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to learn more about the crucial contexts underlying policy decisions and college access. Special Features: Case Studies—allow readers to examine strategies used by different types of colleges to improve access and retention. Reflective Exercises—encourage readers to discuss state and campus context for policy decisions and to think about the strategies used in a state or institution. Approachable Explanations—unpack complex public policies and financial strategies for readers who seek understanding of public policy in higher education. Research-Based Recommendations—explore how policymakers, higher education administrators, and faculty can work together to improve quality, diversity, and financial stewardship. New epilogues and a revised Part III—reexamine themes and encourage critical thinking about inequality and policy change

This handbook covers various areas of Higher Education (HE) in which operations research/management science (OR/MS) techniques are used. Key examples include: international comparisons, university rankings, and rating academic efficiency with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA); formulating academic strategy with balanced scorecard; budgeting and planning with linear and quadratic models; student forecasting; E-learning evaluation; faculty evaluation with questionnaires and multivariate statistics; marketing for HE; analytic and educational simulation; academic information systems; technology transfer with systems analysis; and examination timetabling. Overviews, case studies and findings on advanced OR/MS applications in various functional areas of HE are included.

This unique book analyses the bold attempts of the Thai Government to encourage State universities to move to autonomous governance and management. Systems used for universities that are similar to government departments are often inadequate for the increased responsibility of autonomy. In this book, Dr Wasan details the process of transition, including some pitfalls, over a five-year period as Thaksin University evolved to become ‘autonomous’. Including history, accounting and foreign inputs, the book provides a narrative of the policy and procedural changes needed to make autonomy work. Complemented by surveys of two other universities and users of the new procedures, the book concludes that the continuous improvement resulting from proper budgeting offers a benchmark for government universities seeking to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. It is a wise book insofar as it does not claim that there is one path to follow. Those concerned with university management, particularly in Thailand and the region, will find this is a book they keep at hand for many years.