An operational process integrating environmental perceptions, factual data, and institutional objectives to obtain management information for decision making in a small church-related college

The Problem. The problem of this study was to develop an operational process of institutional self-analysis, integrating selected perceptions of campus environment, related factual data, and institutional objectives, to obtain management information in a small church-related college. Methods and Procedures. The institutional objectives and preferred campus environment characteristics of the study institution were determined and utilized in formulating an 'ideal' key to the 160 items of the College and University Environment Scales (CUES II) developed by C. Robert Pace. Methodology was devised for establishing a data base relating factual data to the CUES items by seven categories: educational tasks, resources, organization, curriculum and instruction, faculty service, student life, student achievement. The CUES instrument was administered at the close of the spring semester 1971 to a sample of the internal and external groups involved with Southern Bible College, Houston, Texas. Groups included administrators, faculty, staff, students, board of directors, area pastors and alumni. In addition, students were further distinguished by class, sex, on-off campus residence, and day-night student classification. Responses to the instrument were compared by scales and sub-scales utilizing the norm key constructed by Pace. These scales describe campus environment characteristics and are denoted as: practicality, community, awareness, propriety, scholarship. The sub-scales are: campus morale, and quality of teaching and faculty-student relationships. Differences in campus perceptions were noted between groups and subgroups. Responses to the CUES instrument were next processed utilizing the 'ideal' key developed locally, and areas of incongruence noted. These responses were further processed as denoting 'potential problem areas' for administrative consideration in a simulated situation. Representative items were analyzed for statement content, factual data associated, specific problems identified, and alternatives formulated. [...]