The unit of faculty-student grouping at Oakton Community College (Illinois) is the learning cluster. Four learning clusters, led by appointed deans, serve 4700 students. The basis for assignment of faculty and students to a cluster is not homogeneity, but variety and balance. (Author/NHM)

Thomas Jefferson College, the first cluster college of Michigan's Grand Valley State Colleges, has become stable and successful in just 4 years. (Author/HS)

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…

Three short papers on the Centennial Education Program of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in existence since 1969 as a residential cluster college for about 200 undergraduates registered for a 6-semester-hour block of problem-centered, experiential learning, usually interdisciplinary. Focus is on the problems and roles of faculty in this…

The cluster dean's primary responsibility is to lead, supervise, and evaluate the faculty and staff within the learning cluster. He also participates in long-range planning and formulating educational policy. This article examines the cluster dean's relationships with faculty and department chairmen, and identifies advantages of the cluster…

Report on the advantages and disadvantages of the interdisciplinary cluster system at Oakton Community College (Illinois) after five years. Reviews effects on students, faculty, administrators, and curriculum. (RT)

An analysis of the curriculum, operation, and evaluation of the Bowling Green State University Humanities Cluster College, an interdepartmental living-learning program now accorded formal institutional status. Compares the 1975 program with those of earlier experimental years when the students were less career-oriented and pragmatic. (JT)

Explores institutional efforts to bring balance to past over-emphasis on rational and cognitive processes by underscoring the value of human feelings. Discusses specific community college programs exemplifying innovative approaches to institutional organization, human development education and staff development. (AC)

The University of Texas at Dallas is one of the 7 new upper level colleges and universities (institutions offering only junior, senior and graduate level programs) recently established in Texas. A curriculum plan has been devised at the University that provides a unique combination of program budgeting, interdisciplinary activity with no sacrifice…

This document presents a summary of the academic plan of The University of Texas at Dallas, a recently established upper level university (institution offering only junior, senior and graduate level programs). The document describes the academic organization of the University, the undergraduate programs, the graduate programs, the research policy…

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…

Both theory and organizational structure support the isolation of teaching faculty and counseling staff in most institutions of higher learning. At Oakton Community College (Illinois), a student-centered philosophy which contends that cognitive and affective growth are intimately related has lead to the integration of teachers and counselors. (NHM)

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)

This paper reviews the student-centered cluster college concept of organization employed at Oakton Community College (Illinois) and compares this approach to traditional organization by academic department or division. The advantages offered by the division structure include intradisciplinary interchange among teachers, coordinated budget…