Evaluating an alternative funding plan.

There have been increasing levels of interest shown across Canada in the potential application of alternative funding arrangements for academic health science centres. This article outlines the approach, and some preliminary results, of the alternative funding plan evaluation at Queen's University. Following a discussion of the AFP itself, the article describes the first phase of the evaluation process. Several studies nearing completion are outlined, as are other pieces of research that will be conducted before the AFP is renegotiated in 1999. Finally, the authors provide a brief discussion of the organizational and methodological issues that emerge when evaluating an AFP.