NACU News

NACU Receives Grant for Study on the Cost of Delivery at Member Campuses

December 11

The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) has received a $45,000 grant from the TIAA Institute to fund their new research project “Benchmarks for Efficiency and Change: An Action Research Study on the Cost of Delivery.” The research study aims to help colleges and universities improve the delivery of their institutional priorities by operating more efficiently.

The research includes the collection of data from its members on the cost of instruction and administration, which accounts for roughly 70 to 80 percent of expenditures. After the data is analyzed, the study group will recommend operational margins to help its members and others in higher education run their institutions more efficiently. The action research method will permit deliberative dialogue with participants on current cost delivery models, institutional expectations, strategies for leading change projects that result in institutional efficiency and effectiveness.

“NACU members are continuously making improvements to their academic and business models. We’re pleased to provide valuable data analysis that will, ultimately, help guide strategy to support academic priorities,” said NACU President Sean Creighton. “We are grateful to the TIAA Institute for their support of this project.”

NACU members represent more than 20 independent colleges and universities which together serve nearly 100,000 undergraduate and graduate students across the nation. The consortium has a 25-year history of benchmarking, knowledge-sharing, and dedication to providing collaborative research that contributes to a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future for its members.

About the TIAA Institute
The TIAA Institute helps advance the ways individuals and institutions plan for financial security and organizational effectiveness. The Institute conducts in depth research, provides access to a network of thought leaders, and enables those it serves to anticipate trends, plan future strategies and maximize opportunities for success. For more information about the TIAA Institute, visit www.tiaainstitute.org or follow them on Twitter @TIAAInstitute.