Campus leaders often prefer institutional improvement and complain about external accountability. Governors and legislators naturally demand evidence that performance programs increase accountability, but they also desire improvement in programs and services. Meeting state needs can constitute a viable goal, but state leaders should take care that specific objectives do not divert the emphasis from the traditional purposes of teaching, learning, and research. The prospect of increasing state funding offers a needed incentive for campus cooperation. Policy values stressing quality more than efficiency.
Quality is the hallmark of higher education.
All public programs should incorporate both quality and efficiency, but the fundamental purpose of pursuing quality in educational institutions makes it a primary priority. Even state policy makers acknowledge that efficiency, while desirable in itself, is diminished unless coupled with quality programs and services. Sufficient time for planning and implementation . Planning and implementation usually take longer than state policy makers think necessary, but seldom long enough to satisfy campus leaders. Pilot projects and phased implementation is the best approach.