Public service in higher education is an important function of American colleges and universities. The nature and purposes of higher education can be revealed through three popular metaphors--ivory tower, social service station, and culture mart. It can best be fulfilled through ideas of value, social criticism, social problem solving, or social…

This document reviews the history of distance education (DE) in the United States beginning with the early years of correspondence study, radio, and television. It chronicles the rise of DE universities internationally, the impact of the Internet and Web-based education, and the emergence of virtual universities. The paper discusses the emergence…

This study provides an extensive review of the literature on distance education and of representative distance education projects and institutions in the United States and abroad, emphasizing those using telecommunications technologies. The introductory section includes a sketch of the information age and its implications for adult education and…

The "ERIC Review" announces research results, publications, and new programs relevant to each issue's theme topic. This issue is a compendium of resources, advice, and research to help guidance counselors, parents, and students plan for college. The first section, "Starting Out on the Path to College," contains the following articles: "Why Get on…

Colleges and universities are expected to provide safe and appropriate learning and working environments, including freedom from sexual harassment. Unfortunately, the frequency of complaints on college and university campuses has increased. Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination and is prohibited by federal laws. This behavior…

This report presents seven case studies and discusses the role of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in college classroom effectiveness efforts, particularly specific institutions where sustained CQI programs have affected college classroom practice, their common features, and lingering doubts about CQI. An introduction discusses general…

Internationalization of higher education and of the student services areas within universities is almost certainly a subject to be dealt with now or in the near future. Career centers may be pressed to internationalize sooner than other areas because of student demand. The university career center should respond to this demand and seek to assist…

This brief report summarizes a longer document with the same title. It reviews the reshaping of the college undergraduate curriculum in order to meet the new and compelling issues of the future such as accommodating diverse races and ethnic groups, incorporating global perspectives on the environment, and dealing more effectively with the human…

This brief report summarizes a longer document with the same title. The report discusses the problem of sexual harassment on college campuses and what intervention strategies academic institutions can take to help eliminate the problem. It notes that sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination prohibited by federal law, and examines what…

This discussion of the responsibilities of an English as a second language (ESL) program administrator in a university setting focuses on issues in four areas: (1) program; (2) students; (3) faculty; and (4) administration. In the first area, the ESL administrator establishes and maintains the curriculum, decides the combination of components…

This digest discusses the development and implementation of performance indicators in higher education, focusing on the factors driving increased demand for accountability in higher education and the use of performance indicators. It discusses the public and political concern for increased emphasis on undergraduate education, productivity,…

This digest is based on a full-length report (with the same title) on advisory committees to universities and colleges. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way for colleges and universities to connect with their environments. An advisory committee is a group of volunteers…

This report addresses the advisory committee's role in the administration of institutions of higher education. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way to help connect universities and colleges to their environments. Advisory committees may range from those that consult to…

This monograph addresses the need for reshaping the college undergraduate curriculum in order to meet the new and compelling issues that have emerged from the criticism and analysis of the past decade. These issues are as follows: (1) how to accommodate diverse races and ethnic traditions and both genders; (2) how to incorporate global…

Interfering with the ability of community colleges to face the challenges involved in fulfilling their multiple missions is the fact that the colleges are often regarded as "inferior" when compared to four-year baccalaureate institutions. Ironically, many of the concessions that community colleges have made to gain stature have hurt,…