This article highlights a two-year institution's efforts to deliver personalized guidance and direction to students, providing essential support resources in hope of facilitating meaningful connections that will lead to increased enrollment, persistence, retention, and three-year graduation rates. The project includes efforts by student services…

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a mathematical model for measuring decision-making units' efficiency, was applied to resource allocation information in the division of occupational and technical programs at San Antonio (Texas) College. Input-output data were used to analyze existing programs' efficiency and proposed program modifications. (RW)

This document applies Dr. Mehar Aurora's method for conducting cost benefit studies to the Food Manufacturing Technology-Dairy and the Food Manufacturing Technology-Canning and Freezing programs offered by the Moraine Park Technical Institute. Costs to individual students enrolled in the programs include tuition, fees, housing, travel, books,…

In viewing retention as a process beginning at application and concluding at graduation, a Pennsylvania community college developed a comprehensive program addressing intake for new students. Enrollment, testing, academic advisement and scheduling were completed in one day, and students' families were involved. Student surveys showed considerable…

Though program evaluation has been an important focus of higher education for the last 20 years, traditional evaluation models have been ineffective for on-going programs, particularly those where the outcomes are multifaceted or undefined. Over the last five years, several alternative viewpoints on program evaluation have been suggested which…

After noting the lack of attention paid to the evaluation of staff development programs in practice and in the literature, this monograph presents a conceptual framework for planning program evaluations. The monograph first discusses the purposes of staff development evaluation and then considers three prerequisites for the development of an…

Discusses use of the Individualized Instruction Inventory to determine demographic data, practices and attitudes of North Carolina occupational education instructors. Describes a model, detailing tasks and evaluative measures, intended to collect data and assess the effectiveness of individualized instruction approaches. (Author/AC)

Presents a nine-step effectiveness plan for the continuing education department of a community college: dream big; study the president's dream; dream a vision for the department; quantify the program's past; study the district; build an identity; plan a schedule of classes; conduct evaluation; and inform long-range planning. (DMM)

Program reviews provide department chairs and faculty with vital information about the need for their program, changes that can improve the program's viability, and needs for resource allocation. In addition, well-designed reviews will determine program effectiveness and lead to improvements in program quality. In recent years, the role of program…

Reports the application of a systems approach to develop a personnel development system for Iowa's vocational personnel at the state's fifteen community colleges. Success of the system (which was the result of a year-long institute) is suggested by the fact that most of the colleges are now developing a local plan of action. (DTT)

Drawing on case studies of six urban community colleges, this report examines the community college mission with respect to economic and workforce development and describes model partnerships involving colleges, community-based organizations, government, and social service organizations to create pathways to employment for the urban poor.…

The Academic Program Review system at the State University Agricultural and Technical College at Delhi consists of two phases: preparation of a self-study report by specialized faculty providing instruction in the particular program, and review of the report and program operation by a visiting panel of experts in the field or academic discipline.…

Reports on findings of research using the Roueche-Baker Community College Excellence Model conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC). Describes MDCC in terms of organizational climate, situational leadership, teaching excellence, systems for student success, curriculum and educational reform efforts, and results of the reforms. (DMM)

This document is designed to provide enough information for technical colleges and similar institutions to conduct their own focus visits. A focus visit is defined as a full-day activity that takes place on the campus during which a team of 10-25 individuals (program faculty, former and current students, technical college staff, advisory committee…

Several years ago, the English faculty at the Schuylkill Campus of Pennsylvania State University entered into a cooperative venture with the campus learning center to use computer-assisted instruction in the basic rules of grammar as part of the remedial English course. The software used for the lab is the Houghton Mifflin English Microlab…