Describes the three-year process of obtaining renewable four-year contracts and other benefits, including sabbatical leave eligibility, for University of Vermont non-tenure-track faculty and part-time lecturers. Highlights the arguments presented to faculty and administration and the support of various groups (faculty women's caucus, faculty…

The Teaching Allocation and Management Model (TAMM) designed to help university department administrators assign faculty to courses is described, noting its strengths and limitations. The model has been used in business departments, but is seen as adaptable to any discipline. Formulas for budgeting are included in the model. (MSE)

An advising program in the James Madison University (Virginia) psychology department recruits and trains students to provide basic information about majors, careers, field opportunities, and graduate schools to their peers. The work of the 20 volunteers, who serve 900 students, is coordinated by a faculty member. Each peer advisor serves on a…

The staff development program at the University of New South Wales (Australia) differs from traditional university programs in that it integrates professional development activities for both general and academic staff. The Professional Development Centre operates as an academic unit and performs both teaching and research functions. (MSE)

Qualitative case studies of graduate students, focusing on student socialization, are critical for understanding the student experience. Because of the departmental nature of graduate study, cross-departmental studies may be not be as revealing. The qualitative case study approach is particularly useful in examining minority student experiences.…

This document contains brief descriptions of 100 school district initiatives taken in response to legislator and state department of education mandated educational reforms. Each description, contributed by a paticipant, is indexed by reform category, school district cluster, implementation level, and state. Section divisions in the index of reform…

Tompkins Cortland Community College (TCCC) in Dryden, New York, opened the College Teaching Center (CTC) in 1988 to address the professional development needs of full- and part-time faculty. The CTC is an autonomous, faculty-directed, professional development program with its own budget and Board of Directors. Activities sponsored by the CTC are…

The ways in which five college and university alumni offices increase their effectiveness by pairing up with departments and offices across campus are described. These cooperative efforts include alumni program involvement with academic departments, career development services, admissions office, student organizations, and government relations…

At McGill University (Canada), rather than implement a costly, high-tech contingency and disaster recovery plan for information services, planners focused on risk assessment and avoidance for central and departmental information systems. Actions included better backups, less dependence on key individuals, and an institutional awareness campaign.…

A project was conducted to assist chief state school officers by assessing the effectiveness of government programs involving the dissemination of new knowledge in the field of education. Project results showed that dissemination programs developed by the National Institute of Education (NIE) and other federal departments substantially increased…

A study of the faculty evaluation system at Nene College (England) is reported and compared with studies in other British universities. Evaluator, faculty, and administrator views of the program were generally positive, particularly concerning the opportunities the evaluation interviews present for discussing issues. Assessment by line manager…

The efforts of the biology department at William Paterson College, a state college in New Jersey, to use strategic planning at the department level are chronicled. Planning focused on establishing a direction for hiring faculty, developing curriculum, purchasing equipment, and training students. Results, unanticipated outcomes, and lessons learned…

Gives an overview of the Ball State University (Indiana) academic assessment program, from its origins through present and future efforts. Several current assessment activities are described--university-wide, in general education, and discipline-specific. Areas of strength in the program and challenges to conducting successful assessment are…

Discussions about the social responsibility of businesses have led to questions about the social responsibility of academic institutions. As governmental support of community activities appears to be lessening, activities by educational institutions in support of local communities becomes more essential. New developments in the linkage between…

Main features of the cyclical procedure used by the University of Geneva (Switzerland) to evaluate 75 teaching and research units (TRUs) over a 6-year cycle are that it covers teaching, research, and services simultaneously and combines self-evaluation, peer assessment, and use of a database on TRU resources and achievements. (Author/MSE)