A comprehensive undergraduate experience encompasses a broad survey of the humanities, arts, social sciences, and multicultural and global education, as well as mathematics, science, and technology. These disciplines are essential components of a liberal arts education that prepares students with the skills and knowledge to navigate an…

Institutional policies and policy systems are vital to the well-being of institutions of higher education. While many institutions dedicate time and resources to the development of key policies, the establishment of a well-designed and well-functioning policy system is often neglected. We refer to the discrepancy between the importance of…

Excerpts from observers of the conference "Policies, Practices, and Research in Teacher Education: Beyond the Looking Glass" illustrate the variety of recommendations to improve teacher education and the quality of teaching that emerged during this conference. Conference observers were Hendrik Gideonse, Shirley Hord, Thomas J. Lasley, Preston…

This congressional report presents amendments to the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 and recommends the amended bill's passage. The amended bill extends the authorizations for Gallaudet University and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). The bill repeals parts B and C of Title I, consolidating the authorities for the elementary…

This digest is based on a full-length report (with the same title) on advisory committees to universities and colleges. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way for colleges and universities to connect with their environments. An advisory committee is a group of volunteers…

This report addresses the advisory committee's role in the administration of institutions of higher education. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way to help connect universities and colleges to their environments. Advisory committees may range from those that consult to…

This report presents the evaluation results gathered from a 2-year study of a drug prevention program involving a consortia of nine colleges and universities located in Alabama and Florida. The consortia effort was intended to: (1) strengthen their respective drug prevention activities; (2) develop policies governing alcohol and drugs; (3)…

Examines the evolution of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). Presents an overview of the ERIC system. Discusses ERIC's historical development, including the three "signature strategies" at the core of its historical evolution; ERIC's redesign in 1986-87, and resultant policy emphases; current status; and eight…

This article focuses on the transfer of students from California community colleges to four-year colleges and universities. Following a brief introduction to laws and procedures specified upon the inception of community colleges in California in 1910, and a recognition of the difficulty in student transfer throughout the history of higher…

The recommendations in this task force report by the Task Force on Teacher Education are based on information on the academic program, student profiles, research efforts and pedagogical programs obtained from site visits to the colleges of education in the three state universities in Arizona. The first section of the report discusses the…

This paper deals with the need to redefine and comprehensively restructure teacher education programs, emphasizing what teachers can best learn, in what contexts, and at what stages of their cognitive and social development as professionals. The report is organized into 5 parts: Part 1 concentrates on what schools should do that they are not…

The evolution of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC); and changes in its mission and operating policies at its creation, the redesign of 1987, and during the present planning for a second quarter century are discussed. Eight program improvement initiatives are discussed. (SLD)

Using the University of West Florida as a case study, six major dilemmas facing institutions as they attempt to implement reforms caused by recent changes in state-level teacher education policies are identified: (1) keeping abreast of events including reform proposals; (2) providing input to reform panels; (3) dealing with public relations; (4)…

A perspective is given and recommendations are made for restructuring education personnel development with major emphasis on preservice teacher education. Issues facing teacher education are put in a socio-historical context. It is stated that teacher training has been largely separated from the public school system, and that training has been…

Three types of surveys were developed to obtain specific recommendations from key educational personnel for improving preservice teacher education programs. Deans, directors, and chairpersons of Florida teacher education programs provided profiles of faculty and students; the institution's standards for admission, selection, and retention of…