2003 Founders (Casey) Award Honoree

The recipient of this year's Founder's (Casey) Award is Dennis P. Jones, President of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), located in Boulder, Colorado. NCHEMS is a nonprofit research and development center founded to improve strategic decision-making in institutions and agencies of higher education. A member of the staff since 1969 and President since 1985, Mr. Jones is widely recognized for his work in such areas as: The changing environment for postsecondary education and formulation of state and institutional policy in light of this changing environment; strategic planning at all levels of postsecondary education; alternative approaches to budgeting and resource allocation at both state and institutional levels; and the use of information in policymaking. He has written monographs and articles on these topics, has presented his work at regional, national, and international conferences, and has consulted with hundreds of institutions and state higher education agencies on management issues. Jones has served as consultant to many governors, legislators and higher education systems, helping several states with major restructuring of higher education delivery and governance. He was one of four principal investigators who developed the Higher Education Facilities Planning and Management Manuals, funded by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) in cooperation with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. These seven manuals created space planning tools for higher education at all levels during a time of significant growth in higher education. Mr. Jones did this work as an early task in his service with NCHEMS, which originally was a division of WICHE. He is also nationally recognized for development of standard definitions and organizing principles for the collection, reporting, and exchange of information (finances, personnel, facilities, students, and outcomes) across all levels of postsecondary education. These data categories and definitions are now widely recognized as national standards.