Describes dividing up the responsibilities of the department chairperson among senior members of the department, then reconsiders the profession and the state of the humanities. Discusses views advocating "excellence," cultural literacy, great books, and a core curriculum in the humanities. Identifies political tasks and continued…

Argues that community college administrators have placed too much time and hope in new management systems. Considers clarity of institutional goals, technological knowledge, decision making stability, and reliable information to be essential to effective management. Offers eight tactical rules for influencing institutional decisions. (DMM)

Examines existing structures in faculty-management relationships and presents a college-wide model for shared governance. Considers the roles of consultants and steering and area committees. Concludes that shared governance must be based on a commitment to trusting and cooperative relations between administrators and faculty. (DMM)

An interagency planning process, with citizen participation, for the shared use of educational facilities can lead to increased availability of educational facilities, enhanced revenue potential from building use, and improved facility design. (Author/MLF)

With parent and community input, the school board can develop policies that will prevent unnecessary conflicts and help resolve others involving controversial issues in the curriculum. (Author/DCS)

Following a brief presentation of Harold Lasswell's model of the social process, the authors discuss problems of policy formation and meaning determination, describe the "decision seminar" proposed by Lasswell as a technique for facilitating collective problem-solving, and provide illustrations of the seminar's successful application to…

Assesses a democratic society's ability to govern by focusing on three areas: (1) individual philosophical and/or religious beliefs and how they interweave with governance; (2) the making of basic public policy in constituent assemblies; and (3) the conversion of understandings into laws that reflect thoughtful programs and changing times. (BC)

Describes how quality circles were implemented at Des Moines Area Community College, following the administration of a quality of work life survey of college employees. Reveals benefits in terms of improved quality and satisfaction; provides information on the quality circle process. (DMM)

Stressing that in order for quality circles to work, members must believe that their participation makes a difference, the author outlines procedures for setting up quality circles within schools and school districts and describes their successful operation. (MJL)

Based on real events that have yielded positive results for both school culture and student achievement, this inspiring story introduces the students and staff of Knownwell High School and involves you in their journey of school improvement. "Students Are Stakeholders Too!" captures students' uncanny insights in their own words and illustrates how…

Effective planning strategies drive achievement of an overall technology goal to increase access to electronic information in real time in order to increase efficiency, productivity, and communication across campus. Planning relies on providing access, 'Anytime Anywhere' to student information, calendar, email, course management tools, and the…

This guide helps child welfare agencies and their partners craft more family-focused and neighborhood-based service systems. It suggests a framework that agencies can use to assess their current policies and practices and develop plans to integrate Family to Family values, principles, and strategies into existing initiatives and activities. Family…

Leadership for school change, this book contends, must be shared. Administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and community members must become more knowledgeable about the change process and more proficient at working through it. This book provides guidance and resources for school leadership teams and practitioners and students of change. The…

Parent involvement in education, focusing on the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs is discussed. The standards emphasize the importance of communication between home and school; promoting and supporting parenting skills; the parent's role in student learning; parents as volunteers; parents as full partners in decision…

This paper reports on part of a larger study examining public/private school partnerships throughout the United States. It focuses on a limited analysis of data generated by respondents to questionnaires sent by the Forum for Public and Private Education to schools that were members nationwide and regionally of independent school associations. A…