National and Federal Planning Resources

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings proposed five steps that she said would make American colleges more accessible, more affordable, and more accountable. Press release and link to report

FY 2007, Administration Research and Development Budget Priorities
This memo highlights the Administration’s research and development (R&D) priorities and emphasizes improving management and performance to maintain excellence and leadership in science and technology. Major topics addressed include:

• Homeland Security R&D
• High-End Computing and Networking R&D
• National Nanotechnology Initiative
• Priorities in the Physical Sciences
• Understanding Complex Biological Systems
• Energy and Environment

Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching,
Classification of Research Universities/Very High

The research index is based on the following correlates of research activity: research & development (R&D) expenditures in science and engineering (S&E); R&D expenditures in non-S&E fields; S&E research staff (postdoctoral appointees and other non-faculty research staff with doctorates); doctoral conferrals in humanities fields, in social science fields, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, and in professional fields (e.g., business, education, public policy, social work).

Projections of Education Statistics to 2013, NCES
web site, NCES

TARU measures include: total research and development expenditures; federally sponsored research and development expenditures; the number of members of the National Academies among an institution's faculty; the number of significant faculty awards earned as indicators of faculty distinction; the number of doctorates awarded; the number of postdoctoral appointments supported; the median SAT scores as indicators of student competitiveness; endowment size ; and annual giving.