After arguing that treatment programs for the elderly need to be evaluated with better research designs, the authors illustrate how interrupted time series analysis can be used to evaluate programs for the elderly when random assignment to experimental and control groups is not possible. (Author)

A study of the training needs of extension specialists in 1890 land-grant institutions concludes with the finding that the greatest need for training is in the area of evaluating and reporting extension programs. Data were collected from questionnaires returned by 81 extension specialists and 14 extension administrators. (Author/EC)

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has focused attention on improving the academic achievement of all students, including more than 6 million students with disabilities and requires that all students be assessed. Students with disabilities may be included through accommodations, such as extended time, or alternate assessments, such as teacher…

Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), public school students throughout the country must participate in annual testing in specific academic areas and grades outlined in the law, including students with disabilities. Requiring the inclusion of all students with disabilities in state- and district-wide assessments helps ensure that schools,…

This paper asserts that the continuing decline in admissions to science and engineering graduate programs may lead to a shortage of skilled professionals that undermines the U.S. economy and to a shortage in higher education faculty. The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) provides academic activities and retention services to…

A student evaluation of teaching in an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was designed and implemented without formal validation. This study addressed the usefulness of the previous evaluation and whether the questions were the most valuable for students and faculty, especially for the improvement of teaching. An interview…

Of the many roles colleges are called upon to play, the role of partner in community development is a significant one. The visibility and importance of this function is particularly evident in rural and remote communities. These locations provide excellent opportunities to examine the dynamics of this interaction, and gain an understanding that…

San Antonio College, a college of the Alamo Community College District, develops a system of academic program review in order to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the instructional services provided at the institution. This document provides guidelines on completing a program review. Through the review, the college aims to produce the…

This booklet contains a blueprint of questions that can be used at public and private four-year colleges and universities by an institution-wide task force examining the first-year experience or the broader campus experience. The blueprint can also be used to aid in an overall process of campus self-study or assessment. The questions a task force…

The essays in this collection, initially written for an online audience, focus on the philosophy, methods, and outcomes of assessing the first-year experience of college students. Several recurrent themes highlight general agreement about best practices in first-year assessment, but the collection contains some differences of opinion also. The…

After a child's autism diagnosis, how can therapists, educators, and early interventionists best support parents and caregivers? This book is filled with the first-hand parent feedback professionals need to answer this critical question. Building on their research project that captured the experiences of more than 60 families, the authors reflect…

A study developed a plan for implementing the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Institutional Effectiveness Model at Lakeshore Technical College (LTC). A literature review identified several models in place for assessing effectiveness at colleges. Efforts were underway in the WTCS to develop implementation strategies. The president and…

This paper presents research results from evaluations of the effectiveness of coalitions, and also presents a discussion of the identified characteristics of effective coalitions, a measurement tool developed to assess coalition effectiveness, and the application of this tool. Characteristics of successful coalitions and partnerships that have…

Intended for child welfare caseworkers and others working with children and families in crisis, this guide presents principles and techniques of crisis intervention with child abuse or neglect cases. After an overview of the manual, the first section considers a definition of crisis, the elements and phases of crises, and the psychological effects…

Developmental screening is a brief survey of a child's level of functioning in the areas of fine and gross motor skills, cognitive abilities, speech and language (communication), social and emotional development, and sensory functioning. Screening differs from assessment, which is conducted after screening and may mean either a diagnostic…