State regulation and administrative flexibility at public universities

Have regulatory practices changed in the past decade and does flexibility make a difference in campus effectiveness? This study first measures the academic, personnel, and financial dimensions of state regulation, as well as the changes that have occurred since 1983. Second, this study examines the relationship between state regulation and various state characteristics, and tests the hypothesis that state characteristics have an effect on the level of flexibility granted to university campuses. Third, the research analyzes the relationship between state regulation and campus characteristics, and examines whether the level of campus flexibility is associated with measures of university quality.