A total of 117 descriptions of notable programs and promising practices related to 30 specific problems, practices, and goals in American postsecondary education are presented. The programs described are the result of three searches made by the staff of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, although neither the staff nor the Commission has validated these programs. Responses to the Commission searches were voluntary. The programs reported are divided into seven parts: (1) the transition from secondary to postsecondary education: school/college cooperation (reallocation of academic time and content; outreach and recruitment; and the exchange and development of academic personnel); (2) the freshman year: the rite of passage; (3) competing models of general/liberal education; (4) the reconciliation of liberal arts and career education; (5) postsecondary honors programs/programs for the gifted; (6) scientific and technological literacy for the non-science major; and (7) teacher education: selection and training in the disciplines. The purposes, focus, methods, and limitations of this collection are outlined in introductory remarks. Appended are guidelines for preparing program profiles, the text of the letter of invitation for the second search, and the American Council on Education letter and listing of topics. (LB)