This is the first of five documents comprising a report on the problem of innovation and change in the context of projects supported by the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Systems (NCIES). The presentation begins with a report about educational change. It is a summary of case studies of 13 selected projects supported by eight…

This report, one of 21 case studies, describes the history of a recent educational product. The Cluster Concept Program, developed at the University of Maryland, is directed toward the preparation of individuals for entrance into a spectrum of occupations. Three clusters of occupations are included: (1) Construction, (2) Electro-Mechanical…

Describes a computer-based education project in which PLATO terminals were used to facilitate education of disadvantaged South African adult Blacks. South Africa's socioeconomic and political background, problems of adult learners, reasons for using a computer-based solution, and project funding are discussed, and project observations and…

This paper describes career pathways, a framework or approach by which regions can better align publicly supported systems and programs to build a knowledge-economy workforce customized to the needs of local labor markets. A career pathway is a series of connected education and training programs and support services that enable individuals to…

This report presents the fourth study conducted by the Massachusetts Early Childhood Advisory Council since its inception in 1985, an investigation focusing on how interagency collaboration occurs in local early childhood programs in Massachusetts and whether mandating interagency councils is effective in promoting collaboration. The report also…

These five newsletter issues communicate activities of the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) and report on information resources and world-wide activities concerning children and child rights. The March 2000 issue focuses on children's right to education, assessing the matter form a range of differing perspectives, at international and…

Drawing on lessons from six case studies, this policy paper highlights the most innovative approaches states and communities are currently using to finance preventive and early intervention services as well as more traditional treatment services for young children's mental health. The case studies are based on interviews with policy and program…

The University of Wisconsin-Stout is in the third year of developing and implementing a long-range planning process in response to the decline in the traditional college-age population and scarce resources. Several basic principles that evolved with Stout's planning process are described, and a perspective for considering planning is suggested.…

The first stage of an evaluation and academic management project to be carried out at Bath University is presented. Included are the background to course evaluation, a proposed model, the development and testing of the model in the context of an innovative biology course at Queen's University, and the transferability of the model to other courses.…

An institutionwide strategic planning effort at Central Michigan University, in response to a need for rapid and significant changes in its information technology infrastructure, is outlined. The effort resulted in a matrix governance structure for information technology that acknowledges the value of both distributed support and a strong central…

The University of Maryland at College Park has taken an unusual step in turning over management of some student residences (two graduate student apartment complexes) to a private property management firm. The realty group found ways to convert necessary expenditures for property improvement into substantial revenue for the university. Suggestions…

The design, implementation, and evaluation of a British Columbia program to retrain French teachers in immersion instruction is described. The program's impetus was the need for pedagogically qualified and linguistically competent immersion teachers. (21 references) (Author/MSE)

It is argued that well-conceived college and university mission statements can be useful in setting objectives for planning and for public information dissemination and marketing. The experience of the University of Calgary (Alberta) illustrates a successful process of drafting and reaching agreement on such a document. (MSE)

The Total Quality Management (TQM) approach is defined and its implementation at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in undergraduate admissions is described. Benefits and challenges of TQM are discussed, first from the perspective of the manager responsible for TQM, then from that of a front-line staff member and TQM team member.…

The information division at Cornell University (New York) information resources division has determined that its traditional program development method is inadequate to meet the demographic, fiscal, and technological demands of the 1990s. It is changing its systems analysis and design procedures to deliver applications better, faster, and with…