In 1987, the U.S. Congress established the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program to raise awareness about the importance of quality and performance excellence as a competitive edge. Since 1999, the program has outlined criteria for educational institutions to align their mission, values, goals, processes, and resources into a comprehensive, long-term, systematic improvement effort.

This book profiles six unique institutions that have successfully implemented these criteria, including the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the first higher education institution to win the Baldrige award in 2001, and the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado, the second postsecondary institution to receive the award in 2004. UW-Stout has since worked with educational institutions in 39 states and 25 countries, sharing information and assisting schools that are interested in quality improvement through the application of the Baldrige criteria, and the Monfort College of Business has become a national role model for the application of Baldrige criteria in a business school environment.

Quality and Performance Excellence in Higher Education will appeal to academic administrators at all levels and at all types of institutions who are interested in applying a systematic approach to leadership, quality improvement, and change management within their institutions.

Chapters contributed by:
; Rick S. Blackburn, New Mexico State University-Carlsbad; Jerrilyn A. Brewer, Western Wisconsin Technical College; Julie A. Furst-Bowe, University of Wisconsin-Stout; A. Cathleen Greiner, National University; Dean L. Hubbard, Northwest Missouri State University; Diane M. Moen, University of Wisconsin-Stout; David C. Oehler, Northwest Missouri State University; Patricia E. Potter, National University; Gerald L. Shadwick, Monfort College of Business, University of Northern Colorado
Gerald L. Shadwick, Monfort College of Business, University of Northern Colorado(text cited from back cover)