Issues of public accountability, trends toward performance-based funding, and increasing competition are forcing institutions to place heavy emphasis on benchmarking, performance indicators, and strategic planning activities. A primary foundation for these efforts is to establish a list of peer institutions.

NCHEMS

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), assists states and national agencies to develop effective approaches to policy in the areas of assessment and accountability, budgeting and finance and governance. The Comparison Group Selection Service (CGSS) is designed to aid institutions in selecting a group of institutions which are similar in mission to be used in comparative data analyses. CGSS has been in use at NCHEMS since 1982 and has been used by hundreds of institutions.

KSU Peer Institutions

o      University of North Carolina at Greensboro

o      Ball State University

o      University of Mississippi-Main

o      Northern Illinois University

o      University of Southern Mississippi

o      University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

o      Texas Tech University

o      SUNY at Albany

o      University of Oklahoma –Norman Campus

o       The University of Texas at Arlington

o      University of Memphis

o      University of North Texas

o        Western Michigan University

o      Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

o      University of Oregon

How was this peer group was selected?

Five major variables were considered regarding the selection of peer universities for comparative research. The first variable is institutional distinction or mission. Universities were excluded if their land grant status was attributable to cooperative extension functions, as well as institutions with medical schools. Program level is the next major variable used to select peer institutions. Specifically, there has to be a similar level of emphasis between the graduate programs and undergraduate education among the schools. As involvement in graduate education increases, so does the cost for instruction. Thirdly, size—comparison institutions should be large enough to achieve economies of scale. Program emphasis and research involvement are the last two variables for peer selection. The former refers to the relative involvement in high cost programs such as engineering and health programs. The latter addresses the level of focus on research in comparison to the level of focus on instruction.

Ohio 4-Year state-supported institutions

o      University of Akron

o      Bowling Green State University

o      University of Cincinnati

o      Cleveland State University

o      Central State University

o      Miami University

o      The Ohio State University

o      Ohio University

o      Shawnee State University

o      University of Toledo

o      Wright State University

o      Youngstown State University

Additional links on state peers:

·        KSU Factbook

·        Ohio Board of Regents

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Research Universities – High Research Activity

MAC (Mid-American Conference) Peers (external link to MAC website)

Continuing to lead by example, the MAC provides its student-athletes and member institutions with the best possible opportunities. Since 1946, the MAC has not only stood the test of time, but has thrived into forming a league that its founders could not have imagined or dreamed.