A study of performance support in higher education

Successful performance improvement efforts are closely tied to the strength and integrity of the performance analysis process. During a time when higher education institutions are facing increasing budget cuts, the ability to recruit and retain students is extremely important. For some institutions, web‐based courses have been viewed as a way to attract new students, as well as to provide more convenient education options for students currently enrolled. While the occurrence of e‐learning has continued to increase, concerns with the quality and availability of faculty support to design and deliver such programs still exist. This study surveyed chief academic affairs officers to gather information about institutional priorities and practices that relate to web‐based learning, with the goal of identifying opportunities to improve instructional performance. The findings include evidence that institutions are offering a variety of means of instructional supports; however, there are specific areas where institutions are consistently delinquent.