This presentation examines the history of merit pay and analyzes studies and research on merit pay to discover directions for developing effective procedures. Reasons for failure of merit pay plans include administrative problems, personnel problems, collective bargaining, financial problems, unsatisfactory evaluation, staff dissension,…

Intended for policymakers, administrators, and others involved in determining how the efficiency and effectiveness of technical and further education (TAFE) should be measured, this monograph contains the following sections: (1) "Introduction," including a explanation of the origins of the push for performance indicators and the response…

With the enactment of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) of 1981, private, nonprofit schools were rendered eligible to participate on an equitable basis in federally funded school programs. During the 1982-83 school year (the first year of ECIA Chapter 2) 44 private, nonprofit schools in the District of Columbia elected to…

This paper provides a review of a wide range of books, guides, journal articles, and other professional literature associated with program evaluation in adult and higher education. It focuses on some of the basic questions associated with program evaluation. (For example, what purpose does program evaluation serve? What are the major program…

An analysis is provided of three alternative solutions to the problem of overstaffed departments and underutilized faculty in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). After providing a brief history and background to the staffing problems facing the district, section I examines three alternative solutions: (1) maintaining the status…

Includes a checklist of eight items that day care center administrators can use to determine whether their programs are providing the intended types of learning experiences and teacher-student interactions, and whether the staff is satisfied with the working environment. (SKC)

Examines the concrete problems, issues, and paradoxes encountered while establishing and implementing a teacher preparation program based on critical reflection. Contrasts the standardized, controlled atmosphere of most classrooms with a transformative vision of teaching as an artistic, political, and human act. Cites 13 references. (MLH)

Examines why an elementary school, set up as a model school promoting learning effectiveness, was not working as predicted. Concentrates on staff assessments of principal's role. (JW)

Reports on observations of the guidance and counseling services offered in nine schools in the San Francisco Unified School District, California. Provides a history of the development of these programs, discusses the role of the counselor, sets forth the expected tasks of the counselor while comparing these with the actual work being performed,…

Results of a survey of planners at 133 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada are summarized. The study gathered information on (1) which problems tend to get solved, and which do not; (2) factors contributing to success in planning; and (3) planners' suggestions for improving the planning process. (MSE)

Advice to help a college or school development officer work effectively with a new chief executive officer includes participating in the search, making early contacts with the new administrator, coordinating working styles, keeping staff informed and comfortable with new processes, and launching new fund-raising initiatives as soon as possible.…

A telephone registration system for first year students implemented at Alma College (Michigan), involves having freshmen confer with advisors during orientation week, then having the registrar's office contact the advisors. Despite limitations, the low-tech solution works well at extremely low cost. (MSE)

Reports results of a study that examines (1) the extent to which colleges have institutional policies requiring collection of outcome assessment data; (2) which outcomes measures are being collected; (3) which measures are considered most useful in political science departments; and (4) future institutional plans. Concludes that all measures are…

Three major factors contribute to the success of a college campus master plan: (1) engaging in strategic planning for the future; (2) involving user groups within each administrative unit and academic department to work with the architect/master-planner; and (3) hiring a planner who understands how colleges and universities work. (MSE)

Explores the history and literature on Total Quality Management (TQM) in an educational setting, and examines results of a university study of its own TQM program. The study found both faculty and administrators dissatisfied with their TQM effort; although most felt that TQM could have positive effects, the perception was that little was being…