This chapter provides a conceptual model that academic leaders can use to navigate the complex, and often contentious, organizational terrain of academic program development. The model includes concepts related to the institution's external environment, as well as internal organizational structures, cultures, and politics. Drawing from the…

A focus group (N = 36) consisting of board of trustee members, community college presidents, senior administrators, administrators, and faculty members from community colleges around the United States developed the top six critical issues faced with respect to instructional planning and services; planning, governance, and finance; and workforce…

This article reviews the scenario planning process implemented at the College of Marin (California). Scenario planning is a creative process in which a group of people who share a common fate develop stories about different ways their future might unfold, and use these stories to make decisions about what path to take. The Global Business Network…

This paper identifies five difficulties in teaching the analysis of social problems, and proffers "mind maps," a concept that refers to the ways in which students create a visual representation of their thinking patterns, as a possible solution. In constructing mind maps, especially for a Social Problems course, the following four steps…

Employs personal in-depth interviews as a first step in helping faculty to develop quality curricula by allowing them to articulate their instructional needs. Reveals three general themes: preliminary course-design considerations, instructional delivery methods, and faculty instructional needs. Discusses implications for expanding teaching…

In 1993, the California Community Colleges' Commission on Innovation published recommendations for the colleges to accommodate more students, respond to growing student diversity, and provide students with more advanced education and skills for the future. Included in the report are estimates of cost and savings for implementation. Focusing on…

There has been dramatic growth at community colleges over the past decade in the use of computer and video technology in instruction programs, in academic and career counseling processes, to access libraries and other information databases, and for specific student support services. This has resulted in the creation of new support staff positions…

In fall 1988, Arctic College (AC--Northwest Territories, Canada) in collaboration with Athabasca University (AU--Alberta, Canada) initiated the University Transfer Program (UTP) to provide first-year university education for full- and part-time students at the Yellowknife campus of AC. Program content, standards, and instruction were maintained by…