This article presents an analysis of two major reports discussing the current crisis in STEM education. Both the National Science Board (NSB) and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) reported alarming facts and figures about the United States' position in the global knowledge economy. The U.S. is no longer…

We explain in this article the need for board training in rural America irrespective of industry or government sector. We discuss how an assessment of training needs has led to the launch of a new project called the National Board Basics Curriculum (NBBC) project. In this project, we have identified four key core competencies that every board…

Seven small private colleges in three states have found a way to reduce their administrative technology costs and expand their technological capability at the same time. They have done it by choosing the common-sense, yet unconventional, college and university strategy of genuine collaboration. The result, the Independent College Enterprise (ICE),…

The New York State Regents Action Plan dramatically changes educational reform initiatives by requiring districts to sign a written contract specifying criteria for program, performance and fiscal accountability. Districts are required at the end of the school year to provide a written explanation as to whether or not the goals were achieved. On…

Until 1985, higher education was a growth industry, and new programs were a by-product of that growth. Now, new programs must be justified by extensive data analysis. This trend and others indicate governing boards are taking the new-program approval process seriously. (MLW)

As objective outsiders, consultants can bring a fresh and unbiased view to institutional needs and perspectives. However, careful preliminary screening of consulting firms by colleges and universities considering their use is important, addressing a variety of cost considerations; prospective firms' experience and success record; and the specific…

Serious but sustained institutional planning can be of help to any institution preparing for the challenges of the next two decades. A planning model at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences is described. (MLW)

Describes the development and outcomes of the American Association of Community and Junior College's Building Better Boards Project, which was designed to strengthen the skills of citizen boards of nonprofit organizations by establishing board development/leadership programs at community colleges nationwide. (DMM)

A capital campaign to build facilities for a new nursing division at Aurora College is described. Three suggestions are provided: draw up a detailed plan, there is no substitute for personal contact, and hard work is essential. (MLW)

Successful techniques for administering alumni associations are described, including a live mascot (University of Redlands, California, bulldog), ethical/social focus reflecting institutional mission (University of Notre Dame, Illinois), humorous gifts for board members resulting in high attendance and participation (University of Idaho), and…

Guidelines for establishing an effective fund-raising board include knowing the group's and the institution's mission, getting expert help, recruiting helpful individuals, making expectations clear, giving trustees honest information, promoting trustee self-examination, getting a key leader to direct recruitment, welcoming new leadership, having…

Commonly asked questions about methods of faculty evaluation (including student, peer, and self-evaluation) are answered, and guidelines for improving a failing evaluation system are discussed. (MSE)

Informational, diagnostic, prescriptive functions of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are best served by governance structure composed of federal, state, and local members and a standing technical advisory board. Structure protects NAEP from undue federal influence and special interest groups, builds bridges to educators and…

Development of Western Governors University, described by creators as a multistate, cyberspace, educational delivery system (virtual university) with a curriculum focusing on work-related skills and competencies, is chronicled; and issues addressed in planning are examined. The idea came from the Western Governors' Association during exploration…

This article argues that colleges and universities that overlook the potential of new technology for development of distance-learning programs may find themselves losing students and revenue to other institutions and corporate competitors. Eight considerations in development of an institutional telecommunications policy are outlined, and several…