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Adam Smith Goes To College: An Economist Becomes An Academic Administrator, Ronald G. Ehrenberg Aug 2012

Adam Smith Goes To College: An Economist Becomes An Academic Administrator, Ronald G. Ehrenberg

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

[Excerpt] I have conducted research and taught classes on the economics of higher education for almost 20 years. I spent the last three years as a senior central administrator and executive officer of Cornell University. ... My experiences in this position opened my eyes to the use and uselessness of economic analysis in trying to help guide a major university and what I have learned is the focus of this essay. I begin by asking whether it is useful to view universities in a utility-maximizing framework, as I and others have done in the past. I show that the way …


The Sources And Uses Of Annual Giving At Private Research Universities, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Christopher L. Smith Apr 2008

The Sources And Uses Of Annual Giving At Private Research Universities, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Christopher L. Smith

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

[Excerpt] In 1998-99, Cornell University and Duke University were ranked second and third in the nation, respectively, in terms of the volume of giving each received from external donors. That year Cornell reported receiving $341.3 million in annual giving and Duke reported receiving $331.0 million. The similarity in the total volume of giving that the two institutions received is actually very misleading. Fifty-four percent of Cornell’s gift total came from alumni, while only 15.3% of Duke’s gift total came from alumni. Similarly, 79.7% of Cornell’s gift total came from individuals (alumni plus other individuals) while only 26.2% of Duke’s gifts …


Why Universities Need Institutional Researchers More Than They Realize?, Ronald G. Ehrenberg Apr 2008

Why Universities Need Institutional Researchers More Than They Realize?, Ronald G. Ehrenberg

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

This paper discusses the benefits of universities maintaining and utilizing institutional researchers, citing specific examples of invaluable research conducted that proved instrumental in providing data and surveys for key papers and discussions by faculty at other institutions, as well as the importance in using offices of institutional research to guide decision-making at universities.


The Sources And Uses Of Annual Giving At Private Research Universities, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Christopher L. Smith Apr 2008

The Sources And Uses Of Annual Giving At Private Research Universities, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Christopher L. Smith

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

[Excerpt] In 1998-99, Cornell University and Duke University were ranked second and third in the nation, respectively, in terms of the volume of giving each received from external donors. That year Cornell reported receiving $341.3 million in annual giving and Duke reported receiving $331.0 million. The similarity in the total volume of giving that the two institutions received is actually very misleading. Fifty-four percent of Cornell’s gift total came from alumni, while only 15.3% of Duke’s gift total came from alumni. Similarly, 79.7% of Cornell’s gift total came from individuals (alumni plus other individuals) while only 26.2% of Duke’s gifts …


Why Universities Need Institutional Researchers More Than They Realize?, Ronald G. Ehrenberg Apr 2008

Why Universities Need Institutional Researchers More Than They Realize?, Ronald G. Ehrenberg

Ronald G. Ehrenberg

This paper discusses the benefits of universities maintaining and utilizing institutional researchers, citing specific examples of invaluable research conducted that proved instrumental in providing data and surveys for key papers and discussions by faculty at other institutions, as well as the importance in using offices of institutional research to guide decision-making at universities.