The seventh edition of NACUBO's College and University Business Administration, the association's core reference work for higher education management, includes a soon-to-be-released chapter on human resources. (Prior to publication of the full 1,000-page hardbound book, individual chapters are available online as they are completed.)

As stated in the chapter's introduction:

Higher education has become increasingly competitive in its quest for faculty, students, research dollars, and external support. At the same time, colleges and universities are being asked to be more productive and efficient, and to do so within a more complex risk and regulatory environment. No longer ivory towers, higher education institutions now acknowledge that while they may not be businesses, they must pursue their markets with a business-like orientation and discipline. They have come to appreciate that all personnel, whether faculty or staff, must perform at optimal levels of effectiveness. And this, in turn, opens up new demands and opportunities for the human resources function to increase the value it contributes to their institutions.

Specific topics covered within the chapter include human resources as a strategic resource, the employment cycle, compensation and rewards, employee relations, legal aspects of human resources, employee benefits, and retirement programs. The chapter is sponsored by Fidelity Investments. To order, go to www.nacubo.org/bookstore. Cost is $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers; item No. NC4053.