The implications of the movement to individualize the curriculum in higher education are examined. The background and basic premises of the movement are explored and the realities and problems of the program at Empire State College are examined. The nature of contract education is discussed. (Author/MLW)

After a two-week introductory period, participants in the Unified Studies Program at Boston State College will engage in a study of eight important institutions chosen by students at a planning session in November. Each institution will be dealt with for one full week. After the spring vacation, small groups (4 or 5 people) will engage in…

The Unified Studies Program began at Boston State College in September of 1974. Its model is based on team-teaching, learning contracts, small interdisciplinary seminars, and other open-classroom and unified educational learning/teaching techniques. Boston State College had been compelled to shift its academic assumptions because of financial…

The Lincoln, Nebraska, Teacher Corps' contracting process offers an effective model for team teaching, individualizing/personalizing instruction, and demonstrating both teacher and learner levels of competency. (JMF)

Empire State College's alternative approaches to higher education are described in this report. The college is a nontraditional institution emphasizing the following innovative elements: (1) individualized education, carried out through learning contracts; (2) an open format for easy access, placing minimal constraints on time, place, residence…

The Doctor of Arts in Community College Education program is administered by the Center for Community College Education at George Mason University, Virginia. Coursework leading to the degree is designed to enable existing community college faculty to become more effective community college teachers and to educate prospective community college…

The Mutual Agreement Programing (MAP) process, as currently used in corrections, provides for the use of a legally binding contract between the inmate and the Paroling Authority. The contract outlines future inmate performance in the areas of skill training, education, institutional behavior, treatment, and work assignment or employment. It also…

The Northern Kentucky University Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology and Anthropology (ASAN), which is described in this report, involves a strong liberal arts background combined with a thorough preparation in social science research skills. ASAN students take introductory and basic methods courses in sociology and anthropology, applied…

The college internship program at the State University of New York, Fredonia, has evolved since 1975 and provides liberal arts students an opportunity to gain professional experience related to their field of study. Initial federal support permitted development of a centralized, all-campus support and administrative structure while leaving intern…

The program addresses three areas of concern at Western Michigan University: student attrition, minority student participation, and educational relevance. The project was based on previous work suggesting that students can more nearly achieve their optimum performance when programs provide clear-cut objectives, frequent accountability, and…