Presents results from a study of the status of distance education in community colleges. Discusses the design, support, and administration of telecourses; staffing and teacher training practices; course offerings; and existing assessment and evaluation studies. Addresses criticisms of distance education and cites research results on its…

This article discusses self-employment as an employment option for individuals who are blind. Analysis of trends indicates the total number of facility managers who are blind in the Randolph-Sheppard Program declined from 3,524 in 1994 to 2,711 in FY 2001 and that self-employment outcomes typically cost less than competitive outcomes. (Contains…

Considers the cost of employing student temporary workers in academic libraries and suggests they be replaced with fewer full-time staff. Topics include the trend toward contingent, or temporary, employment; management problems; core employees; cost effectiveness of student employment, including poor productivity and training needs; and evaluating…

Begins with a discussion of cost and efficiency in education. Presents an empirical model to estimate school-level economies of scale. Applies model to expenditure data set by school from 17 Wyoming school districts. Finds that it costs more per student in a small school than in large schools to achieve similar educational outcomes, thus…

Discusses the validity of automated, or computer-based, scoring for improving the cost effectiveness of performance assessments and describes a study that examined the relationship of scores from a graduate level writing assessment to several independent, non-test indicators of examinee's writing skills, both for automated scores and for scores…

Offers a brief synopsis of the unique characteristics of the following roof membranes: (1) built-up roofing; (2) elastoplastic membranes; (3) modified bitumen membranes; (4) liquid applied membranes; and (5) metal roofing. A chart compares the characteristics of the raw membranes only. (MLF)

Demographic changes and the obsolescence of many existing school buildings have led to an all-time high in the construction of educational facilities in 1989. Case studies discuss the different needs and design solutions of four communities. (MLF)

This article describes the University of Illinois's telemarketing test to recruit new alumni association members. The computerized calling program resulted in 379 new members (out of 9,278 alumni contacted), netted a profit, and indicated that different groups of alumni react to phone solicitations differently. (DB)

Periodicals editors at higher education institutions constantly confront financial pressure. Some strategies used to pair expenses or raise revenue include consolidating two or more periodicals, pruning mailing lists, trimming printing and postage costs, selling advertising, and pursuing voluntary subscription programs. (MLW)

Discusses the reliance of developing nations on technologically advanced countries to provide information--especially in the areas of science and technology--to aid in technology transfer and research development, and examines the advantages of using optical data disk technology to store and retrieve this information. (22 references) (CLB)

Describes changes in the training system at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma (CA) that improved the effectiveness and the efficiency of training. Topics discussed include the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) methodology; the process of change; curriculum development; criterion-referenced instruction and testing; cost…

Evaluated long-term effectiveness of three cost-effective parent training programs for conduct-problem children. Assessed parents (N=154) one year posttreatment. Found significant improvements reported immediately posttreatment were maintained one year later. Found few differences between three treatment conditions excepting "consumer…

Reviews the literature on the multiple-shift school day in various countries. Notes the paucity of research available. Examines financial savings, academic achievement, instructional time, extracurricular activities, and discipline problems. Concludes that multiple shifts can lower costs without greatly reducing educational quality. Contains 27…

Discussion of database searching by end-users versus mediated searching by library staff focuses on a user survey conducted at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to determine reasons for end-user searching and mediated searching. Search expertise, cost factors, and time constraints are discussed as influences on search strategies. (LRW)

Describes an evaluative project in which a prototype bibliographic database on optical data disk was installed in six developing country libraries and a Canadian library. The results of the project are discussed in terms of user satisfaction and cost effectiveness, and recommendations are made to donor agencies, information providers, and…