Those who work within adult higher education know there is something unique about their perspective on academic life. Employed in the adult education arena in one capacity or another since 1993, the author has had the privilege of working at an institution with a small adult program and an institution with a very large adult program. In this…

Today the system of supplementary professional education (SPE) is the main institutionalized subunit that is oriented toward "adult learners". Surveys have shown that in many cases investment in SPE is more profitable, predictable, reliable, and short term than that in any other form of education. Data on supplemental professional…

During the past decade, two issues have dominated national debate on education: (1) the existence of substantial gaps in academic achievement between White and non-White students; and (2) the contention that, compared to family background, schools don't make much difference in the academic performance of poor and minority students. (JN)

Examines three major decision elements in the program design process: (1) learner participation patterns, (2) educational provider characteristics, and (3) instructional design models. Each shapes and directs the actions of the program designer and the program outcomes. (JOW)

This study evaluates how various colleges across the country determine the effectiveness of their remedial/developmental programs. The author sectioned the country into 4 quadrants and solicited participation from 80 randomly selected colleges. A total of 50 colleges (63%) responded from over 30 states. Using personal interviews, case studies,…

This paper outlines a framework for documenting the impact of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities' University Affiliated Programs (UAP) on three domains: clients and their families, systems of services or higher education, and leveraging of resources. The paper identifies characteristics associated with successful UAP development and…

A needs-based developmental induction program for beginning teachers should concentrate not only on orientation and development of individual strengths, but also on the situational/contextual personal and professional concerns of first-year teachers. The successful program tries to identify and meet the instructional and noninstructional…

Discusses six elements that make a good school: (1) consensus among staff members of purposes for which school exists, (2) strong sense of power among staff members to bring about change, (3) positive community support for school programs, (4) awareness of instructional leadership, (5) view of school learning in broad context, and (6) positive…

Reasons for the long-range success of the Los Angeles Community College District's evaluation system for its handicap program are explored in this report, using a force field analysis of facilitating and restraining factors. First, introductory material cites previous reports exploring various aspects of the evaluation system. Next, the following…

This conference synopsis presents the views of educators, researchers, and a journalist who maintain that inner city schools are effective, and can be more so, in educating disadvantaged students. The claim that inner city schools cannot overcome deficits in family background unless students' socioeconomic position is first improved is challenged.…

Describes the Pew Charitable Trusts' Pew Leadership Award for revitalization and reform in higher education and summarizes characteristics of the 45 nominated institutions. The institutions develop portfolios documenting accomplishments in the areas of curriculum redesign, faculty roles and responsibilities, and resource reallocation. Profiles the…

In an examination of the meaning and measurement of quality in the undergraduate experience, quality is compared with the conceptually similar but distinct concepts of adequacy and excellence. Most of the conceptual frameworks available for assessing quality are essentially unidimensional assessment strategies that rely almost exclusively on…

This report examines political conflict in decision making in three public schools, and describes how the Teacher Participation Project (TPP), which was implemented in two of the schools, sought to minimize such conflict by institutionalizing local governance structures for teachers. The report consists of two parts. Part I investigates various…

This first part of the congressional hearings held in Washington, D.C., in February 1981, to reauthorize the Vocational Education Act of 1963 contains 16 pieces of testimony about vocational education programs in different institutional settings. Individuals giving testimony include representatives of the following institutions: Des Moines…