Abstract

Recent reports and articles substantiate the growing external and internal pressure on most nonprofit colleges and universities to improve institutional performance.  Indeed, nonprofit institutions are arguably obligated to improve academic productivity—e.g., to improve core mission performance indicators while reducing or stabilizing unit costs in the process and, thereby, stabilizing tuition rates.  Such simultaneous improvements in academic results and unit cost structures require innovations that use technology to redesign academic and administrative services.  This necessary, but not sufficient, role of technology has been demonstrated, but has not been broadly embraced and practiced.  This report articulates the necessary role of technology in improving academic outcomes while simultaneously reducing unit costs, describes proven strategies and successful examples, and offers guidance to leaders willing to engage the process of recreating their institutions—a process more likely to “lift all boats” when engaged and pursued internally than when mandated externally.

^* An abridged version of this research report will be published as a feature article in the forthcoming November/December 2005 issue of EDUCAUSE Review.

© 2005 SunGard Collegis, published with permission