These proceedings contain 68 author-prepared abstracts of presentations given at the Seventh International Conference on the First-Year Experience, a 5-day conference that focused on the foundations for improving the undergraduate experience. The majority of the one- to two-page abstracts report on specific programs undertaken by colleges or…

A pilot study at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Green Bay campus examined the attitudes of college faculty toward adult students in classes comprised of both adult and traditional-aged students. During the study, researchers interviewed 10 teachers of intergenerational classes at the Green Bay Campus of the University of Wisconsin and…

Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) in training and development has consistently earned a place among the critical issues in the human resource development (HRD) field. Leadership educators may soon find that program sponsors and administrators asking for ROI information as well. This paper reports the ROI of the Southern Extension Leadership…

The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Kellogg Commission notes the perception that "despite the resources and expertise available on our campuses, our institutions are not well organized to bring them to bear on local problems in a coherent way." This article suggests some organizational patterns and…

A systematic procedure for reviewing a basic nursing curriculum, identifying needed changes, and developing and implementing a plan for change is described. Also examined are techniques used to evaluate the plan and to determine the relevance of the revised curriculum to community health needs. After presenting information on primary health care…

There is a general agreement that academic standards in Papua New Guinea high schools are below those in many other countries. This paper will examine this problem generally and also in relation to the teaching of mathematics and science. At Goroka Teachers' College, which is the only teacher training college for secondary school teachers in Papua…

The Supplemental Instruction (SI) model of student academic assistance helps students master classes that have a history of a high degree of difficulty as they develop and integrate learning and study strategies. This paper reviews research on SI, developed at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which has been selected as an Exemplary…

A study of the Australian higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors analyzed their education and training outputs (the education and training services and products provided by the sectors to other persons or entities) and outcomes (the effect of completion of a course provided by a sector for its clients). Data were…

This document presents El Camino College's academic program review guidelines as of January 1999. Academic programs are scheduled for full evaluation once every six years and involve a two-year process. By or before the beginning of each fall semester, the Office of Academic Affairs notifies the dean of each division as to which programs are to be…

The University of Brighton (England) pharmacy and biomedical sciences school developed an institutional intranet providing course information, Internet links, lecture notes, links to computer-assisted instructional packages, and worksheets. Electronic monitoring of usage and subsequent questionnaire-based evaluation showed the intranet to be a…

A project was conducted at Central College of the Houston Community College System to provide office skills training to students with developmental disabilities so they can obtain employment as office assistants in the community. The Office Occupations Certificate Program was designed for this purpose. Students involved included those with mental…

On-campus credit courses for the professional development of community college faculty have proven to be a highly effective means of improving the quality of instruction at McLennan Community College (Waco, Texas). If carefully designed, implemented, and evaluated, these courses can provide an appropriate alternative to faculty enrollment in…

A three-phase districtwide review of academic and occupational programs was initiated in the San Mateo County Community College District in March 1980. Phase I of the review involves a cost/yield efficiency study of programs and a determination of enrollment growth or decline over a 2-year period. Phase II of the process includes an in-depth…

Presented are the summary, conclusions, and recommendations after two years of the Experimental Freshman Year Program for underachieving high school graduates at Southern Illinois University. Findings are presented under four headings--(1) subjects' occupation or whereabouts in the year following their participation in the program, (2) retention…

Since 1994, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has funded 97 projects aimed at meeting the lifetime learning needs of the workforce, expanding the availability of flexible teaching and learning, and encouraging an active role for higher education institutions in wealth creation and in regional and local development. An…