A college or university's intercollegiate athletics program is a visible and sensitive component of a campus about which pressures for data and information can become intense quickly. The campus institutional research professional and other campus administrators must be prepared to face this challenge knowledgeably and responsibly. (MSE)

National Collegiate Athletic Association president's commission proposals are summarized for institutional control of athletic budgets, annual athletic program audits, annual submission of Division I athlete information to the NCAA, athletic program self-study requirements, enforcement procedures revision, timely infraction punishment,…

Representatives of 270 colleges are establishing a new accrediting agency to end the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business' 70 years as sole accreditor in the field. At issue are who should define the quality of business education and the role of research and faculty doctorates in accreditation. (MSE)

This study illustrates how the concept of "direct involvement" on the part of the accrediting agency can improve the quality of higher education. "Direct involvement" is defined as action by a representative of an educational agency that resulted in some observable improvement in educational quality. Categories and examples of direct assistance…

Nongovernmental accreditation of institutions and programs, a uniquely American process, is discussed. Institutions are shown to bear a large responsibility for making accreditation work as a major tool for improvement. The accreditation process, specialized accreditation, and future developments are described. (Author/LB)

Recent events have increased concerns about the potential for fraud in student loan programs related to loans for U.S. residents attending foreign schools. In 2002 the Office of Special Investigations of the General Accounting Office (GAO) created a fictitious foreign school that the Department of Education subsequently certified as eligible to…

Discusses results of a 1978-79 study of accrediting agencies sponsored by professional associations conducted by Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), highlighting decision making, staff, financial support, accreditation process, and standards documents. Current activities of the COPA concerning the accreditation of professional education…

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are emerging as an efficient way to address employee rights, particularly in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Well-managed EAPs help maintain a healthy, motivated, productive workforce, show effort to provide reasonable accommodation of employee needs, and may…

The Donor Agencies Workshop involved individuals from a wide range of academic disciplines and other fields that helped develop the expertise of foreign students, scholars, and trainees to increase the educational and economic resources of their home countries. This report presents the remarks made by the 47 workshop participants concerning: (1)…

A job placement course designed for first-semester students was introduced in a rehabilitation counseling master's program. An agency-based field experience was combined with classwork. Results indicate that substantial learning occurred and that students were able to deliver needed placement services. (Author)

One of 10 studies commissioned to investigate research needs and to stimulate planning activities, this paper reviews program evaluation in foreign language education (FLED), and offers a number of recommendations to improve present practice. It begins by noting that very little FLED program evaluation is taking place today, and by arguing that…

The criteria and procedures by which accrediting and state approval agencies are evaluated were assessed to determine how well they identify the agencies that can be relied on to make sound judgments of educational quality. The detailed examination of the content of the staff reports, the judgments of the relative importance of specific agency…

With artistic leadership, state agency roles can complement those of institutions and their governing boards, enhancing the renewal function of program evaluation and ensuring that evaluation centers on the improvement of educational effectiveness. (Author)

Differences among statewide coordinating boards/agencies and consolidated governing boards/agencies in level of authority for budgeting, program review/approval, and planning for public senior institutions were studied. The potential for effective linkage or integration of these activities was also explored. Forty-five state agencies completed…

Harlan Cleveland's book concerning the benefits and costs of open governing board meetings is reviewed and critiqued, especially in its suggestions for modification of statutes in the cases of presidential searches and program and board evaluations. (MSE)