Recreation Building janitors formed a CQI team to improve the process of cleaning the racquetball courts. The changes recommended by the team were implemented in March. The new process has resulted in higher quality cleaning and better playing conditions.
Many colleges and universities have implemented successful initiatives in academic areas that improve quality while controlling costs. Some have taken the next step by effectively communicating to their constituents that their efforts help contain costs. Believing that these successful initiatives should be recognized and shared more widely, the USA Group Foundation and the American Council on Education (ACE) have created a national award to recognize, reward and give greater visibility to innovative strategies that strengthen academic quality while containing costs.
This award program aims to identify and disseminate good practices on academic cost management within the higher education community and to demonstrate how institutions can communicate their fiscal accountability to the public.
Applications will be reviewed to assess the degree to which the submission:
-- Represents a creative approach to the challenge of academic cost containment;
-- Has demonstrated a positive impact on teaching and learning, research or public service; and
-- Has the potential for wider application and adaptation by colleges and universities nationwide.
Institutions that have publicly communicated the positive fiscal impact of these initiatives are especially encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Oct. 31 and forms and guidelines can be found on the Web at http://www.acenet.edu/ or by calling (202) 939-9557 or e-mailing usa-ace-award@ace.nche.edu.
For more information about Continuous Quality Improvement, please contact Louise Sandmeyer, executive director of the Center for Quality and Planning, at (814) 863-8721, LES1@PSU.EDU or see the center's Web site at http://www.psu.edu/president/cqi.