The purpose of the handbook is to bring information to bear on educational decision-making, from the classroom to the institutional level, for producers as well as consumers of educational services. It is divided into two parts. The first consists of basic information about American College curricula, and describes normative practices, their…

The loose smorgasbord distribution requirements and free electives of the '60s, have given way to more proscribed requirements and core programs. General education is a response to a need to reaffirm the connectedness among people. The agenda for general education is to teach those common experiences, relationships, and ethical concerns. (MLW)

The quality of U.S. higher education as described in three early nineteenth century reports are reviewed and compared with similar recent reports in substance and approach. (MSE)

Future-directed liberal education that will prepare students for effective living is the major challenge for higher education today. Such a curriculum should teach critical thinking skills, continuous learning, and creativity or fluency of ideas. It should also provide a sense of efficacy and responsibility. (Author/MSE)

After a survey of general education reform movements of this century, it is suggested that general education should focus on experiences that knit individuals into a community. Six themes are proposed: use of symbols, membership in groups and institutions, producing and consuming, relationship with nature, sense of time, and values and beliefs.…

There is a sense among today's students that they are passengers on a sinking ship, even though they are optimistic about their own futures. A new curriculum including interdisciplinary study, majors in problems rather than disciplines, career internships, and theses is proposed to counter student attitudes. (MSE)

Presented at the Annual Conference of the Southern Associations of College Admissions Counselors, Memphis, Tennessee, 1982. Discusses both the changing student and social conditions and suggests necessary changes in college curricula. (RC)

This article summarizes conclusions from a survey of the multicultural curriculum practices of 196 U.S. colleges and universities. Among findings are that 34 percent have a multicultural general education requirement, 54 percent have introduced multiculturalism into course offerings, and most institutions are seeking to increase faculty…

Stereotypes of the overall character of the college student population are seen to have persisted, inaccurately, for several decades. The dangers of such stereotypes are pointed out and educators are warned against policies and practices based on misconceptions about today's students. Information from national surveys of over 95,000 undergraduates…

This report is the second in a series of policy papers on the education of educators. It identifies several model teacher education programs, but also finds that the majority of the nation's teachers are prepared in programs that have low admission and graduation standards and cling to an outdated vision of teacher education. Both state…