With the convergence of an ailing economy, a new generation of political leaders, and a strong public sentiment that change is needed on many fronts within the society and across the world, the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship has found new life and is flourishing within society as a whole and within higher education in particular. Yet, there…

Factors leading to dissatisfaction with planning processes are identified, barriers to successful planning are described, and proposed solutions suggest a set of minimum characteristics applicable to all academic planning systems. Implementation of a program review system is discussed. (Author/LBH)

Most college and university retention programs do little to change the quality of academic experience for students, especially during the first critical year of college. One of the most promising reforms is establishment of "learning communities," which feature block scheduling to enable students to take classes together, are organized…

As colleges face budget reductions, they must consider the substantial hidden costs of unemployment benefits for terminated part-time faculty. Planning a sound program of benefits management that includes cost containment requires the cooperation of personnel director, chief financial officer, and chief academic officer. (MSE)

A comprehensive plan for program assessment by students in the San Mateo, California, community college district is described. Results compiled from the 29-item questionnaire identify the unique characteristics and problems of each college, and provide recommendations for improvement. The survey instrument is included. (BH)