In general, there is little uniformity in the response of the states to the prolem of regulating the quality of accredited higher education. States' statutory schemes vary from absence of any mention of higher education to far-reaching legislation that assumes vast powers over higher education. The pattern that does emerge from an examination of…

The proceedings of the Western Conference on External Degree Programs held in San Francisco, February 17-19, 1974, are presented. The keynote address discusses strategies for educational innovation, while two other speeches discuss the stresses of universalism and an interim conference report. Notes and questions from small group discussions, the…

Non-traditional study has brought equivalency programs for adults, in-service education programs, institutes and special courses, continuing education centers, and external degrees. The key features of the non-traditional approach to education are redefinition of the roles of student and teacher, the use of learning contracts, and the multiplicity…

Despite the efforts of an array of Federal, State, and private agencies, the spectre of fraud in higher education is increasingly common. The logical arena for corrective action is the states. It is they who hold the authority to charter, license, and in essence permit America's more than 1,000 private degree-granting institutions to exist. But…

Analysis of data from four courses shows that (1) female open learning students complete their courses more often than male counterparts, (2) open learning students who register at certain campuses complete their courses more often than students who register at others, and (3) students who complete and return assigned questionnaires are more…

Empire State College (ESC), a statewide college without a campus, requires Nontraditional concepts of faculty, since their role as mentor in a contractual learning situation is more diverse than that of a traditional faculty member. The ESC mentor role involves several activities: advisement, intellectual development, evaluation, college…

Empire State College educational evaluation is oriented to the individual student and in the learning experiences mediated by the institutional arrangements it is essential that cost information be on an individual student basis. Therefore the basic unit of analysis chosen is the individual student contract. The costing model developed assigns to…

The library has traditionally been a center for independent learning and individual self-directed education. The Dallas Public Library, in cooperation with Southern Methodist University, set up a library independent study project (ISP). College credit could be obtained through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP); however, learning for…

In most debates about teaching, learning, and research, the spatial context of education is either taken for granted or ignored. But places can be viewed as more than empty frames for social action; they can be seen as both historically constituted by social processes and, in turn, constituting those social processes. This paper aims to restore a…

In the 1980s, nontraditional education is becoming an outdated term, because elements of such education have been integrated into most colleges and universities. The major innovation within nontraditional education is the external degree. Valley developed six major models of external degrees: administrative facilitation, modes of learning, the…

Bachelor Degrees for Soldiers (BDFS) is a system of voluntary, off-duty bachelor degree programs for Army noncommissioned officers and warrant officers. Bachelor degree programs within the BDFS system are designed to relate directly to the military occupational specialty of soldiers. In operation since October 1986, the program grew out of the…

Sir John Morris was Chancellor of the University of Tasmania. He was also Chairman of the Adult Education Board and the State Library Board. His views on adult education were well in advance of his time. While many viewed adult education as providing a leisure time hobby for those who participated, he saw it as part of the life-long educational…

The Computer Managed Review and Examination System (CMRE) is described as a sophisticated form of computer-managed instruction designed to meet the needs of students who have some knowledge of the subject matter in a course of study, but may need to review material on some topics and increase their knowledge of others. The program incorporates a…

There is no clear consensus of the term "learner-centered reform." Learner-centered reform has become by implication either the cause or the consequence of inflated grades, lowered admission requirements, affirmative action, elimination of language and other requirements, student evaluation of teaching, abandonment of research, and many other ills…

The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of graduates of an off-campus agriculture degree program. Additionally, selected teaching variables and attitudes related to agricultural courses delivered by videotape are described. Objectives were as follows: (1) describe selected variables related by graduates of an off-campus professional…