The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education in the United Kingdom (the Dearing Committee) aimed to examine short-term problems and long-term development more efficiently than did previous inquiries. The committee's uneven engagement with research and academic literatures reflects general features of higher education's contemporary…

This study examined the role of senior public relations administrators in institutional decision making through a survey of presidents and senior public relations officers at the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE). Findings indicated that SSHE senior public relations administrators are often not included in…

Reports on focus group discussions with managers, bartenders, waitstaff, and security staff of retail alcohol establishments. Purpose of the focus groups was to identify beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and practices among management and staff to guide development of training programs. Results indicate that, compared to management, staff had…

Urges college and university boards of trustees to plan carefully for major fund raising campaigns and offers a "Campaign Readiness Profile" which encourages evaluation of such factors as: giving by board members, the top 10 gifts, validity of the campaign's purpose, the institution's fund- raising history, the urgency of the appeal, fiscal…

Analyzes Portuguese educational policy as it is developing after the 1974 end to a long dictatorship. Uses educational system indicators proposed by L. D'Hainaut (198). (SLD)

Examines relationships among three principal elements of educational accountability: (1) assessment of achievement; (2) collection of educational indicators; and (3) setting of educational policy. Uses a Venn diagram to portray interactions among the three elements and emphasizes the importance of understanding value perspectives in…

Offers points for consideration by both school boards and charter-school advocates. Important elements of a successful charter school include vision, hands-on administrators, a commitment to staff development, and founders who also serve as maintainers. (LMI)

Identifies, classifies, and describes the range of cost studies in education and how they may contribute to improved policy analysis. Presents three examples illustrating applications of cost analysis, and reflects on key issues from previous applications in educational policymaking and evaluation. (SLD)

Analyzes implications of recent Australian vocational education and training (VET) policies and the effectiveness of the technical and further education system in achieving policy aims. Stresses the need for involvement of VET practitioners in policy making. (SK)

Usable responses from 106 of 199 Dutch human resources practitioners in industry, transportation, and banking revealed significant differences in human resource policymaking and strategic choices among these sectors. Better interaction between policymakers and human resource departments is needed to align personnel practices with company needs.…

Arguing that empowering research techniques cannot, in and of themselves, inform and support the political aspirations of emancipatory intervention, this article outlines a critical approach to evaluation more consistent with the principles of empowering intervention. The Canadian Treasury Board's guide to program evaluation is used as an example.…

Describes a national advocacy campaign to preserve funding for specialized services for older people with visual impairments. Outlines steps for developing a similar campaign, including: identifying critical issues, identifying key decision makers, developing a clear message, determining desired results, identifying potential advocates, and…

The United States has taken only piecemeal steps to ensure privacy of personal information. This article examines the U.S. relating to privacy and data protection. It defines privacy and discusses international agreements relating to privacy, federal data protection laws, and narrowly applicable laws. (AEF)

This article describes the types of early childhood special education transitions that have or have not received federal or state policy development. It is suggested that bi-directional influences on transition policy have connected the decisions of policymakers at multiple levels with the actions and advocacy of family and practitioner…

Discusses evaluation in terms of what can be expected, changes in the use of evaluation methods, and the importance of evaluation credibility. Notes that evaluation has improved in practice and in decision-maker support for it; credible evaluations are now typically incorporated into policy and have become a routine organizational practice. (AEF)