Outlines steps in establishing an Advanced Technology Center (ATC) to help colleges avoid unnecessary expenditures and develop the most appropriate ATC for local needs. Offers guidance on visiting other ATC sites; planning the facility; finding funding; acquiring staff or retraining current staff; networking; and maintaining and upgrading the ATC.…

Describes cooperative efforts between the Tennessee Valley Authority and regional two-year colleges initiated as a part of the TVA's overall economic development strategy. Discusses the formation of the National Institute for Technology Training to enhance the instructional and technical capabilities of two-year college faculty, staff, and…

Drawing from the experience of Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) in providing technical training on a contract basis for agriculture students from Central America, this article offers guidance on steps in planning for, initiating and implementing a technical training project. Reviews challenges and benefits. (DMM)

Traces the growth of video teleconferencing and college participation in teleconferences. Reviews the benefits of video teleconferencing for the college; considerations in choosing programs for local use and in choosing a video teleconference coordinator; and the provision of teleconferences as a new community service. (GFW)

Describes the Instructional Telecommunications Consortium's 1991 "Symposium on Telecommunications and the Adult Learner," reviewing reasons the symposium focused on telecourses, and discussing five major imperatives for the continuing expansion of telecourses: thinking strategically, identifying learning needs, redefining telecourses, raising the…

Discusses the current and future role of Advanced Technology Centers (ATC's) in economic development, assessing the changing nature of community college involvement in community/economic development and offering examples of diverse and employer-driven community college ATCs. Suggests ways for ATCs to contribute to economic/community development…

Offers guidelines on evaluating services provided by Advanced Technology Centers on an ongoing basis. Discusses the meaning of impact; strategies for measuring impact; evaluation variables; examples of possible measures (e.g., total wages paid by service area industries); and the need to invest time and resources in evaluation. (DMM)

Suggests steps in planning and managing student tracking systems: build support, determine the system's purpose, inventory available student data, identify information gaps, consider a small prototype, make tracking ongoing, and use the system. Reviews potential problems during implementation. Cites further sources of information. (DMM)

Discusses characteristics identified by the Center for Occupational Research and Development as indicative of fully functioning advanced technology centers, including the provision of training and retraining in such areas as design, manufacturing, materials science, and electro-optics; technology transfer; demonstration sites; needs assessment;…

Describes Montgomery College's (Maryland) project to provide students with a list of courses that transfer to local colleges and admissions information for each transfer program; to dispell rumors that Montgomery courses do not transfer; and to update information regularly. Describes the development, maintenance, benefits, and costs of the…

Urges community colleges to be originators and providers of video teleconferences, bringing information and training to other colleges, business and industry, and the general public. Describes De Anza College's involvement in the Community College Satellite Network. Offers guidance on topic selection, marketing, and national network building. (GFW)

Describes the growing involvement of U.S. two-year colleges in establishing programs abroad to enable foreign students to complete one or two years of college-level work in their home country before transferring to U.S. universities. Highlights the activities of several community colleges in the Pacific Rim. Identifies conditions basic to future…