Because of rapid growth and social/economic change, higher education systems in Europe experienced two great shocks: the 1968 student revolt and contraction in enrollments and resources. The result is a radical reshaping of bases for policymaking and planning. Problems emerging include economically determined objectives, indecisive curricula,…

Assesses the academic rigor and cultural diversity of U.S. history curricula in North Carolina's community colleges and universities, focusing on whether survey courses and assignments were comparable at two- and four-year institutions; and whether women's and minority perspectives and local history were included in survey courses and electives.…

This article presents research on making the college classroom conducive to learning for women. The presence of sexism in language, sexist classroom behaviors, and the absence of information about the achievements, roles, and experiences of women from curricular content may leave female students alienated from what they are learning. (Author/MLW)

The writings of Martin Luther King Jr. deserve to be read in undergraduate humanities classes but not in the spirit advocated by former Secretary of Education William Bennett. It is argued that Bennett downplays the struggles against racial discrimination and chooses the most conservative King pieces for the literary canon. (SLD)

Describes a class assignment for a college-level sociology course in which students read from religious texts to identify norms and sanctions. Reports that students expressed positive comments about the activity. Includes suggestions for preparing materials, instructions for implementing the activity, and a coding sheet to be used by students.…

A former professor, current professional organization administrator, and scholar discusses the nature of changes occurring today in higher education, focusing on the contemporary academic climate, politicization of academic life, and what is happening to general education and the liberal arts. Topics discussed include cultural and ethnic diversity…

University of California, Berkeley students and faculty from the ethnic-studies program protested budget cuts and faculty losses. The resulting agreement includes creation of a new ethnic-studies research center, establishment of a multicultural student center, and creation of eight faculty positions, five of them tenure-track. Activists call it…

The College Park Scholars Program at the University of Maryland is a learning community, based on the model of a residential college, that was designed to attract and retain academically talented undergraduates. Three experiential learning components developed by faculty for the curriculum are colloquia, service learning units, and discovery…

Describes professional development schools and how they provide a seamless field experience for prospective teachers. Provides historical background information on the Holmes Group and the development of the sites. Contains 30 references. (DDR)

The State University of New York College at Fredonia undertook a long-term assessment of its general-education curriculum. The experience confirmed that dedicated college faculty can design and implement ambitious tests to assess general learning based on curriculum design and goals, but that it is very difficult to administer them over time with…

Reports on the background philosophy, theoretical course structure, and the changing patterns of student choices evident in a course at the interface between natural science and social sciences. Based on observations of the first trimester. (DDR)

Reviews the current goals of a laboratory course and describes experiences in using laboratory time to cover several important topics related to industry and academia. Discusses several subjects and presents related experiments. Contains 184 references. (DDR)

Describes the American Association of Community Colleges' first summit on workforce development. Presents key points from the summit, including: (1) the possible creation of a National Business Forum; (2) the marketing of community colleges as a major part of economic development in the nation; and (3) a more unified research agenda among and…

Reports the results of a study that explored student pass rate by focusing on the effect of combination multimedia/workshop teaching in small groups, reduced practical assessment with opportunity for informed improvement, and continual theoretical assessment via phase testing. (Contains 19 references.) (Author/DDR)

Describes the investigative case-study approach in biology, a variant of problem-based learning. Students develop questions that lend themselves to scientific investigation and develop their own investigative approaches. Contains 16 references. (DDR)