The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) promotes research on the civic and political engagements of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25. The following topics are covered in this issue of "Around the CIRCLE": (1) Common Social Studies Teaching Practices and their Civic Outcomes; (2) CIRCLE Jointly Hosts…

Looking back over the 14-year history of Oakton Community College (OCC) with its cluster system of organization, this paper examines the distinctions between discipline-oriented organization and the cluster system, and discusses the current rationale for OCC's maintenance of this approach. First introductory material describes how the president…

This report from the President of Oakton Community College (OCC) to the Board of Trustees presents and supports a recommendation to retain the college's interdisciplinary cluster system. Following introductory comments, the report discusses reasons for establishing a cluster college at the present, highlighting the benefits of this systems for…

This paper provides a brief overview of Oakton Community College's (OCC) cluster organization, which is believed to foster offering of true interdisciplinary education. OCC is organized into four learning clusters, each of 30 full-time and 40 part-time faculty, 1,500 students, and headed by a dean. Each cluster is semi-autonomous; authority is…

As part of a reorganization study underway at Oakton Community College, this report presents the pros and cons of retaining the college's interdisciplinary learning clusters or moving to discipline-based divisions. Following introductory material, the report explains the methodology by which two representatives from each campus cluster, one…

This report describes the organizational plan of Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC). LAMC has chosen a structure stemming from the cluster concept, involving semi-autonomous clusters, each small in size. These characteristics enhance student-faculty-administrator relations and permit each instructional unit to participate directly in its own…

A SUNY-Stony Brook program that involves students in a family-like grouping and offers courses built around one theme at a time is described. Student and faculty reactions to the Federated Learning Communities concept are presented. (MSE)

The philosophy of the cluster system operating at Oakton Community College (OCC) is described in this paper along with changes that have occurred in the system over the past few years. Part I describes the social, political, and educational environment in which the philosophy of the cluster system was forged. Additionally, this section identifies…

Considers the characteristics and benefits of learning communities/clusters/coordinated-studies programs, contrasting the unique features of the programs at LaGuardia Community College, Seattle Central Community College, and Daytona Beach Community College. Learning community characteristics involve 25 to 100 students working with three or four…

Oakton Community College is organized into four learning clusters, each comprising a group small enough to maintain "recognizability" and a sense of belonging. Each cluster has approximately 600 FTE students, 30 full-time faculty members, one learning resource faculty member, three counselors, and its own dean. The first of these…

Organized on cluster college concepts, the University of West Florida promises an education with the advantages of the small college while making available to students the kinds of resources a university can offer. Each college has at least one department from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, and education. (Author/MSE)

This publication summarizes the history and evolution of the Group Plan of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of six small independent colleges in southern California. The Claremont Colleges include Pomona College; Harvey Mudd College; Scripps College; Pitzer College; Claremont McKenna College; and Claremont Graduate School. The Group Plan, the…

The purpose of this report is to describe the development of the input/output governance model at Los Medanos College and to explore the governance issues pertinent to all community colleges. Considerations in creating the model included the issue of authority and responsibility in terms of legal sources, the authority and accountability…

Volume two of the two-volume annual report of the total revenue and expenses of provincially assisted universities of Ontario for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1979 is presented. Focus of this volume is on reports from the 22 institutions that are affiliated or federated with the province's 15 universities. Six tables are used to present the…

An overview of the evolution of the innovative University of California, Santa Cruz, looks at its origins, campus organization, curriculum and instructional philosophy, campus design, leadership and faculty, student population, campus life, and curriculum design. Strategies for and obstacles to effective change are highlighted. (MSE)