Historically, American institutions of higher learning have embraced community service as a necessary component of students' learning experiences. Recent initiatives through the Corporation for National and Community Service emphasize the idea that civic responsibility is an important element of an adequate education at all levels of learning. In…

A school health curriculum should be designed in such a way that it offers pupils health information not readily available in their immediate community. (JD)

Few would argue that the time is ripe for financial education in America. Financial products and services are growing in diversity and complexity, the retirement paradigm is shifting, and far too many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet, often turning to "payday" loans and other high-cost funding alternatives. Low-…

Some say America's attention to community is in decline. As people work longer hours, endure longer commutes, and have less time to socialize and join community organizations, they are not getting to know their neighbors and communities. Schools exist in a vacuum, having little or no association with the surrounding neighborhood, and many…

Specific marketing strategies for successful extension program planning include (1) assessing the nature and extent of demand, (2) assessing campus and community resources, and (3) identifying the institution's marketplace position. (SK)

Highlights steps for carrying out a needs assessment survey research effort in the Black community. Stresses the need for understanding (1) cultural-linguistic and historical factors, (2) the potential or inadvertent role of the researcher, and (3) the obstacles and resistance one may encounter in carrying out the survey and implementing its…

Discusses "The New Planning for Results" manual published by the American Library Association that helps create local standards of public library service, and provides implementation examples based on experiences in Vermont. Highlights include evaluating community needs; service responses to those needs; developing library objectives;…

Traces philosophical appraisals of technology, both as devices for human purposes and, as technological rationality, as ways of thinking and acting. Two applications of communication technology in the context of Canadian coastal communities illustrate the distinction between training and education, and the importance of public space in which to…

Reports on a study of changing trends in public libraries. Interviews with public library leaders identified five areas of changing emphasis: information technology, community needs, strategic planning, public relations and marketing, and funding. (seven references) (EA)

A strategy that integrates community service learning with community needs assessment keeps costs low and local involvement high. An example using agriculture students shows how it provides opportunities for experiential learning and leadership in community development. (SK)

Describes an effective process for strategic planning of telecommunications in rural areas that includes a needs assessment and an action plan as well as input from businesses, public agencies, and households. Lists elements of a telecommunications needs assessment. Describes the planning processes used in Northeast Wyoming Economic Development…

Investing in afterschool programs helps children of rural communities break out of the cycle of poverty and creates opportunities for at-risk youth. In areas where prospects and resources are limited, afterschool programs are often the only source of supplemental enrichment in literacy, nutrition education, technology, and preparation for college…

This article features a certification program for health care workers in Southeastern Oklahoma. Kiamichi Technology Center is certifying success for its students while helping to meet the demand for trained health care workers in Southeastern Oklahoma. Through the health careers certification program at Kiamichi Technology Center in Hugo, Oklahoma…

In recent years, American community colleges have evolved as the missions facing them expanded and their constituencies changed. No longer is their role solely to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions and to provide occupational training. Now, they must also provide basic adult education, including ESL, and serve an economic…

A conference on minority rights and training held in Gatwick, England, in April 1997 had the following purposes: (1) to explore training about minority rights and the need to make majorities aware of minority rights and attitudes that improve cooperation between communities; and (2) to look at the need for and possibilities of training relief…