Responses to diverse constituencies determine the purposes of the school and require that high school administrators (1) know the level at which issues are raised, (2) determine response levels and potential reactions; (3) know the consequences, and (4) build mechanisms for dealing with constituents. (MB)

Highlights twelve common mistakes made in college and university publications and information dissemination, with examples, and offers specific techniques for creating more interesting and persuasive communications. Discussion refers to fund-raising letters, publication headlines and headings, photo captions, use of attributions, use of jargon,…

Since federal law prohibits school systems from releasing disciplinary information contained in a student's school record, administrators are often vilified and left defenseless against angry charges lobbed by students and parents. A North Carolina district leveled the playing field by asking disgruntled parents to sign a waiver allowing school…

Discusses some problems associated with curricular matters in communication departments. Offers suggestions for dealing with the problems. Discusses departmental philosophical decisions (theory versus skills, developing curriculum, internal politics and curriculum, and curriculum overexpansion); understanding upper-level administration…

Describes the BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) communications network in upstate New York, highlighting the system's contribution to building community support for public schools via focus groups, press relations, printed and video newsletters to targeted audiences, and the information superhighway. Guidelines for creating and…

The highly successful Spelman College (Georgia) fund-raising campaign was due in part to large donations by celebrities, but also to the participation of alumni and students. Development of long-term support for the college was a major objective of the campaign, which targeted three areas: endowment enhancement; funding for new science facilities;…

Quadrant analysis, a widely-used research technique, is suggested as useful in college or university strategic planning. The technique uses consumer preference data and produces information suitable for a wide variety of curriculum and marketing decisions. Basic quadrant analysis design is described, and advanced variations are discussed, with…

Describes how the Starkville, Mississippi, Public Schools installed a telephone call-in response line to elicit parent and community comments. Offers tips for setting up a telephone response line. (LMI)

Four common difficulties in development and maintenance of a World Wide Web site are those of capturing control of the ever-changing medium and providing product consistency; providing relatively easy and rapid access for users; coping with copyrights when there are so few legal guidelines; and preserving privacy for use of credit cards. Solutions…

Survey results provide insights into school policies and procedures, leadership, teaching methodology, and the quality of instruction offered by schools. Offers a road map for improving school-community relations. (MLF)

Discusses whether linguistics can meet the challenge of accounting to the general public for the practices and beliefs of lawyers and other professionals. The article emphasizes that members of the professions, such as lawyers, doctors, and psychiatrists, are judged by their interaction with processes having real world outcomes, e.g., trials and…

Makes suggestions for persuading publicity-shy faculty that talking to reporters can be useful to their research and the institution. Arguments include that their participation may result in increased funding, new constituents, productive collaboration, impact on public policy/public opinion, benefit to the profession, and more control by the…

Discusses principles of curricular revision and academic change, focusing on the variety of collaborative relationships that develop during the process. Highlights collaboration among faculty; among academic services staff; and between academic personnel and public relations and admissions departments, institutional development staff, alumni, and…

Offers 10 rules for effective school board members. Good board members are team players--objective, consistent, reliable, and optimistic; visit schools; listen; support board decisions yet retain their individuality; communicate with all constituents; have an investment in education; and support students. (LMI)

This article discusses the benefits of student participation in a gifted public relations campaign, including creating public support for gifted programming and developing leadership skills. Steps for developing a formal unit of instruction on public relations are described, along with ideas for public relations activities. (Contains references.)…