A commitment to equity in our schools ensures that every student has the access and opportunity necessary to thrive in school, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and so on. Creating and sustaining equitable spaces requires examination of the…

This report documents the history and evolution of the Stuart Foundation California Leaders in Education (SCALE) Initiative through 2014. It tells the story of how the work began, what it entails, and how it has developed across time. The report also identifies lessons learned from the SCALE experience. These lessons can inform the participants of…

A past president of the American Society for Information Science discusses the past and present status of the organization and the field of information science and the advantages and problems resulting from the interdisciplinary composition of the field. (CLB)

A discussion of the use of advisory committees in college and university administration outlines their many potential roles at both program and institutional levels, identifying reasons they are established and often underused. Issues of advisory committee effectiveness are then explored by examining several types of underinvolved and overinvolved…

This guide to regulation of agency fees, the monies that unions collect from individuals in a bargaining unit who decline to join the union, discusses the rationale for the fees, outlines procedures for collecting them, and provides excerpts of representative agency fee provisions of existing contracts. The principle on which agency fees are based…

Advice is offered on promoting diversity within the college alumni association, based on the University of Kansas Alumni Association's experience. Suggestions include providing offerings that appeal to everyone; challenging alumni to participate in reaching out to others; and inviting alumni involvement when dissatisfied. (MSE)

It is important for alumni associations to project a consistent image. This can be accomplished in part by adopting a logo, either similar to or different from the institution's, or by instituting a visual identity program that conveys the association's personality and suits its marketing purposes. (MSE)

An effective campaign to recruit members to student organizations must use contemporary marketing strategies. Market positioning involves understanding the prospect's thinking, simplifying the message being conveyed, being first in the prospect's mind, and finding a market niche. The organization should be treated as a product, the potential…

In a panel discussion, four leaders of the Society of Research Administrators discuss how the organization and the issues it addresses have evolved since publication of an article about it in 1988. Topics include whether the organization has lived up to its founders' ideals, the nature of the membership, comparisons with another research…

With the proposed dissolution of the binary system of higher education in the United Kingdom, the central issue facing faculty unions with diverse memberships and interests is how their future relationships will be structured. Greater cooperation is seen as necessary for protection of the higher education teaching profession. (MSE)

Public schools are unique environments where the rights and responsibilities of one individual or group can easily, if unintentionally, infringe on the rights and responsibilities of other individuals or groups. This can leave public school employees wondering about the nature and scope of their rights. While it is well established that public…

This guide outlines procedures for vocational administrators and teachers to use in setting up and working with general occupational advisory committees and specialized occupational advisory committees. The guide covers the following topics: nature of the committees; procedures for selecting, appointing, and using advisory committee members; and…

The experiences of several colleges and universities in expanding, streamlining, and enhancing alumni association regional programs are presented. Issues discussed include event attendance, offering services efficiently, conducting focus groups, designing events and selecting speakers, and communicating with leaders and members. (MSE)

A survey of 110 private colleges and universities elicited information about the traits presidents regarded as ideal in members of a strategic planning team. The profiles drawn closely match those of "early adopters," a personality type found effective in facilitating acceptance of innovation in nonacademic settings. (MSE)

The use of focus groups to assess existing college student leadership efforts and as a step in developing better programs is examined. Procedures include assembling a planning team, identifying information needs, determining the composition of focus groups, soliciting and training volunteers, and using focus group results to design a program. (MSE)