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Strategic Planning - Creating Tulane's Future

Creating Tulane's Future | Strategic Action Plan | Implementation Schedule | Accomplishments |
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Strategic Planning for Tulane: A Competitive Analysis Introduction

Tulane University Competitive Analysis Measuring Tulane's Performance 1998

Introduction

Scope and Approach

Undergraduate Admissionsand Student Quality

Research and Graduate Education

Financial Position


Introduction

Tulane University is one of the premier research universities in the country. Of the 2267 four year institutions of higher education, only 88 are classified as Carnegie Research I institutions, and only 60 are members of the Association of American Universities. Tulane is a member of both of these distinguished groups.

Four Year Higher Education Institutions by Sector 1996-97

Public

613

Private

1654

(Non-profit)

1,510

(For profit)

144

Total

2,267

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac
Criterion: "degree-grandting postsecondary institutions that are eligible
to participate in Title IV federal financial-aid programs."

Carnegie Research I Universities

Public

59

Private

29

Total

88

AAU Universities

(U.S. only)

Public

32

Private

28

Total

60

Measuring Tulane's Performance

Recent Achievements

  • Undergraduate Education

Between 1993 and 1998:

  • The freshman class size grew from 1220 to 1350
  • The average SAT score rose from 1160 to 1280
  • Freshman class revenues increased from $20.5 million to $28.9 million
  • The discount rate for undergraduate education dropped from 39.9% to 32%
  • Research and Graduate Education
  • Tulane achieved Carnegie Research I status
  • The number of doctorates awarded rose from 50 in 1987 to 91 in 1996
  • Total research and development spending rose from $45 million in 1989 to $84 million in 1996

Scope

  • As part of the strategic planning process in support of Tulane's "Renaissance of Thought and Action," the University determined the need to review its recent performance.
  • Tulane chose benchmarking as the most appropriate means of measuring performance, selected a representative group of institutions and focused on key areas for comparison that would highlight the University's relative strengths and weaknesses.

Approach

  • To measure Tulane's performance, the University selected nine private universities similar to Tulane, each with comparable enrollments and medical schools. These institutions include:

Affliliation

Carnegie

AAU

Enrollment -

Enrollment -

% Ugrad

Classification*

Membership**

Total 1996

Ugrad 1996

Duke

Private

Research I

Yes

11,589

6,326

55%

Emory

Private

Research I

Yes

11,270

6,027

53%

Georgetown

Private

Research I

No

12,629

6,338

50%

Northwestern

Private

Research I

Yes

17,623

9,654

55%

Stanford

Private

Research I

Yes

15,754

6,814

43%

Tulane

Private

Research I

Yes

10,732

6,402

60%

U.S.C.

Private

Research I

Yes

28,081

15,342

55%

Vanderbilt

Private

Research I

Yes

10,176

5,807

57%

Wake Forest

Private

Doctorate II

No

6,016

3,899

65%

Washington U.

Private

Research I

Yes

11,636

6,043

52%

  • Tulane compared these institutions with the University in three key areas:

 

*In 1994 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classified all colleges and universities in the United States. Its highest classification for universities, Research I, includes 88 institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate programs, are committed to graduate education through the doctoral level, and place a high priority on research. These institutions must award at least 50 doctorates and receive at least $40 million in Federal support annually. Tulane is one of 29 private universities classified as Research I.

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**The Association of American Universities is an affinity group representing the top research universities in the nation. Membership is by invitation only. There are currently 60 members in the United States. Tulane is one of 28 private universities represented. Within the region, Duke, Emory, Rice and Vanderbilt are also members.


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