Peer education on a college campus may be an ideal nexus for two imperatives facing higher education over the next decade: (1) an increasingly needy student population; and (2) a decreasing level of support for program growth. Despite its long history as a method of instruction, both in and out of the classroom, the benefits of peer education are…

Reports on a survey of community college chief student personnel officers, which focused on the comprehensiveness of student service program offerings and the relative contribution of the program to designated purposes. Reveals that purposes related to student development were subordinate to those related to delivery of services. (DMM)

The president's address, delivered at the 1989 annual meeting of the National Academic Advising Association, outlines four steps to prepare the academic advisor for harmonious entry into the 1990s, including use of computer technology, developmental principles, program planning and evaluation, and professional development opportunities. (MSE)

Project Follow Through has not yet been properly evaluated by researchers guided by appropriate assumptions. Tests used in the basic Follow Through evaluation had no clear relationship to most Follow Through programs. Still, conclusions of the evaluation have been presented with certainty and lead to the judgment that Follow Through does not work.…

Competitive intercollegiate debate programs have long been premised on the unique educational opportunity the activity affords its participants. The central problem with National Debate Tournament (NDT) rounds is that policy advocacy too frequently occurs, reducing questions asked to one of whether advantages outweigh disadvantages. While issues…

Presents a broad overview of the assessment movement. Reviews several approaches to assessment including basic skills, general education, major, and student development. Considers the nature of assessment in the communication field. (KEH)

Describes the creation of a set of outcome assessment guidelines recently developed for college and university theater programs. Categorizes outcomes in three ways: knowledge, skills, and attitudes. (KEH)

Effective schools are typically defined as those schools which improve or maintain already-established high levels of student achievement. A number of issues and research needs are raised which relate to the identification of effective schools. Unless the nature of "effectiveness" can be described and agreed upon, researchers face the possibility…

The author suggests that the primary purpose of vocational education is to promote human development by exposing the learner to intrinsically meaningful activities. The criterion for evaluating vocational education from this perspective is the growth of students' personal qualities. (SK)

Describes the philosophy and practical steps involved in doing outcomes assessment on student services. Discusses several assessment models, with special attention placed on Nichol's outcomes assessment template. Describes the process as applied at Lower Columbia College (Washington). (Contains two tables and seven references.) (NB)

This six-chapter monograph presents a model for student development which is designed to unify the diverse purposes of education. After Chapter I reviews recent criticism of education, it goes on to identify problems in the performance of our educational system and to propose that a student development perspective on education provides a framework…

Faculty development programs are designed to improve faculty performance in all aspects of their professional lives. Six areas of concern are presented: flexibility of approach; individual v corporate activity; new understanding of scholarship; personnel management; understanding student development; and administrative leadership and support. (JMF)

An eight-chapter manual describes how to involve school faculty in the development of effective middle schools. The author identifies the components of effective middle school programs and suggests processes for implementing the programs using group and staff development techniques. Chapter 1 discusses staff development programs to train teachers…

The uses and applications of testing in education and the implications of the Bakke decision are considered. Pluralism and diversity in education have convinced many observers that a different philosophy or theory of testing is needed. Alternative uses are sought in ways that would shift the aptitudes and general intelligence to skills and…

Ways to define the outcomes of college experiences are discussed, along with the use of assessment information to improve curricula, instruction, and management. The analysis is based on the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems/Kellogg Student Outcomes Project. It is proposed that institutions achieve educational excellence by…