The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how first-year college students describe the academic benefits and effectiveness of participating in a developmental education program in preparing them for academic success. The theoretical frameworks supporting this study were Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and Tinto's theory…

Since most private and public sources of external funding generally expect increased effort and accountability, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at two-year colleges must inform faculty and staff that if they do not expend extra effort their college will not receive significant grants. The CEO must also work with the college's professional…

This report presents the evaluation results gathered from a 2-year study of a drug prevention program involving a consortia of nine colleges and universities located in Alabama and Florida. The consortia effort was intended to: (1) strengthen their respective drug prevention activities; (2) develop policies governing alcohol and drugs; (3)…

In this article, the author writes from the perspective of a community college research practitioner, an institutional researcher whose daily work is intended primarily to affect policies, procedures and understanding of student learning and institutional effectiveness. The audience for this work is composed of faculty, administrators, staff,…

Three consultants participated in the 1992 review of study abroad programs at the nine campuses in the Florida State University system: Dr. Barbara Burn (lead consultant), Dr. Shelton Cole, and Dr. Charles A. Fliozzo. The review was based on site visits to three of the universities, interviews with personnel from the other six institutions, and…

This study was conducted in Wisconsin to determine the current status of personnel within the vocational, technical and adult education (VTAE) districts responsible for research, planning, and development (RPD) activities, what activities were being performed by the districts, and the nature of involvement in the performance of these RPD…

A study of program review at 156 community colleges shows that it is widely used for accountability and program improvement; that substantial use is made of results; and that key leadership support, organizational communication, a clear understanding of purposes, and frequent action on program review recommendations at all organizational levels…

Discusses the rationale for applying management information systems (MIS's) to contract education programs, depicts an ideal MIS, and describes the MIS currently utilized in California. Suggests that computer-based MISs, such as California's Contract Education Data Inventory System, serve as invaluable aids in organizing and interpreting program…

Focusing on the qualitative component of the 1983-84 Operational Program Reviews (OPRs) of Educational Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) in California's community colleges, this report presents the information collected by a qualitative evaluator at 14 EOPS projects in California and assesses program strengths and weaknesses. The first part…

Workshops and related staff development activities designed for vocational education instructors, administrators, career counselors, and support services staff are described in this two-part report. Part I focuses on the Vocational Staff Workshops (VSW) project, indicating that its key objectives were to identify regional in-service training…

Each semester in the 136 state-supported community colleges in California, counselors are involved in developing, maintaining, and/or revising hundreds of programs that may or may not result in helping students move efficiently through the system. Developed as a resource for administrators and counselors charged with improving community college…

The six Nebraska Community College Areas are requesting a combined $7.1 million increase in State General Funds for continuation and new/expanded programs for the first year of the fiscal year (FY) 1991-93 biennium, and a $7.9 million increase for the second year. This represents a 46.68% increase in General Funds and a 19.62% increase in the…

This handbook is designed to help Texas junior/community college administrators and instructor-coordinators of marketing and distributive education to plan, implement, operate, and expand mid-management programs. The handbook contains five sections. Following the introductory first section that reviews the purpose, history, philosophy, and…

"Building Institutional Capacity for Data-Informed Decision Making" is the third installment of the Cutting Edge series, which aims to help colleges engage faculty, scale successful interventions, and create a strong culture of evidence through use of data to strengthen their institutional change and student success efforts. Though the…